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I had this in yesterday’s Capitol Fax, and the Daily Herald picked it up today.
Latino lawmakers are asking Gov. Rod Blagojevich to abandon his call to give tax breaks to the parents of college students with good grades, saying it would help “higher-income†families while others struggle.In a letter delivered to Blagojevich’s office, the lawmakers say the state should put more money into existing student aid programs based on need rather than “tax breaks for the parents of well-off children who happen to earn good grades their freshman and sophomore years.â€
The letter was signed by state Sens. Miguel del Valle, Tony Munoz, Martin Sandoval and Iris Martinez, all Chicago Democrats.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Mar 30, 06 @ 3:47 am
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Latinos are mad at the “governor”. Blacks are mad at the “governor”. Whites are mad at the “governor”.
Good work, “governor”.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Mar 30, 06 @ 6:22 am
so apparently if your poor you deserve the money more than your smart?! The logic of some people blows my mind, then again it’s no surprise looking out for number one is more important than what is logical.
Comment by ISU REP Thursday, Mar 30, 06 @ 8:09 am
Generally speaking, I think college funding should be distributed based on need.
However, in Illinois, which Blago is trying to turn into a European style welfare state with a huge tax burden, the overtaxed middle and upper middle classes must take what they can from Blago’s state money pile. The tuition tax break is a miniscule tax break but it is a break.
Comment by Cassandra Thursday, Mar 30, 06 @ 8:34 am
ISURep
I think the complaint lies in the reasoning that rich kids generally have better schools, better access to tutors, better environment for learning and are ususally better prepared for college. If you don’t have to work, or worry about if you will have the money to pay for books, that takes quite a bit of burden off the mind so you can actually study. In college, some kids had to worry about work study jobs and figuring out a way to pay for books and fees, while other kids had access to liraries of past tests and all they worried about was dad going to put enough money in their account so they can go drinking this weekend. It is not about color, but opportunity.
Comment by Wumpus Thursday, Mar 30, 06 @ 8:44 am
Here’s the big problem with the Governor’s tax credit scheme: it’s funded by selling the ISAC loan portfolio.
In other words, the 335,000 hard working lower-income students that rely on ISAC to pay for their education will be placed at the mercy of for-profit loan companies like Sallie Mae so that PARENTS of upper income students can recieve a tax credit.
Because this plan is not means-tested, a millionaire investment banker from Winnetka would still be eligible for a $1000 tax credit if his or her child maintains a B average at any state university. Is that really fair?
Comment by U of I Student Thursday, Mar 30, 06 @ 9:38 am
Actually, the gov proposed the tax credit for any school in Illinois - public or private - originally. So the rich Winnetka lawyer could get a $1000 credit for sending his b-earning child to Northwestern, too. Good thing the MAP program has been underfunded for years….
Comment by Anon Thursday, Mar 30, 06 @ 9:54 am
Again to go along with what UofI said, this will be funded by selling off of the ISAC loans, that alone makes this a terrible idea, but tax credits for the rich? What party is this again in power?
Comment by So.ILL Saluki Thursday, Mar 30, 06 @ 12:10 pm
Governor Blagojevich, like former President Clinton, realizes that in addition to providing critical services to the poor and really needy, it is equally important for government to provide relief for the large majority of middle class citizens who work hard, pay their taxes and struggle to get ahead.
Why shouldn’t the middle class get some sort of break when their children study hard, work hard, and pay their own way.
Not all state services should be means tested. The people who may the taxes should occaisionally reap some benefits. If ISU Rep and U of I student would study more and blog less they might raise their GPA and qualify the tax credit with a B- average.
The only people who will miss ISAC are the laid off employees, many of whom will be forced to find real jobs.
The real people of Illinois will re-elect their spokesperson and advocate, Governor Blagojevich, by a wide margin in November.
We the real people shall prevail!
Four more years!
Bring her on!
Comment by Bill Thursday, Mar 30, 06 @ 3:18 pm
So the 335,000 lower income students that recieve loans from ISAC won’t miss ISAC?
By the way I have a 3.7 GPA and would more than qualify for the tax credit, but my parents make more than $150,000 a year and thus don’t need a $1000 tax credit. They would prefer that the money go the MAP program and be used on students that need it.
Comment by U of I Student Thursday, Mar 30, 06 @ 4:52 pm
Bill:
Thanks I have a 3.89 in my master’s program and I work 40 hours a week…I manage to study and work as well as get good grades… Unfortunately this program doesn’t apply to us grad students who are probably the most in debt out of anyone…but apparently that doesn’t matter, especially when Bill seems to be Blago’s little messenger boy…Only in Illinois would you be punished for being smart and successful…
Comment by ISU REP Thursday, Mar 30, 06 @ 10:59 pm
It’s interesting to note that Blago himself would not have been eligible for this credit.
Comment by OAD Friday, Mar 31, 06 @ 12:39 am