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Green shoots breaking through

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There are once again competing proposals to get money to public universities that have been deprived of state funding during the nearly yearlong budget standoff at the Capitol.

The House Executive Committee signed off on a plan Tuesday from state Rep. Rita Mayfield, D-Waukegan, that would send a full year’s worth of funding to the universities hardest hit by the lack of a budget: Chicago State, Eastern Illinois, Western Illinois and Northeastern Illinois universities. Mayfield said she plans to amend the bill to add $10 million for Southern Illinois University, 5 percent of its annual state funding. […]

State Rep. Mike Fortner, R-West Chicago, is proposing a plan that cover one-third of annual funding to all nine public university systems and one semester’s worth of grants to low-income students through the Monetary Award Program, which isn’t included in Mayfield’s plan.

Fortner’s plan would cost $558.3 million, with the revenue coming from the state’s education assistance fund. The fund, which gets dedicated revenue from the state income tax, gambling and other sources, is expected to have $600 million available by June 30, the end of the fiscal year.

* But…

The “stopgap” proposal from state Rep. Mike Fortner, a West Chicago Republican, follows a handful of other plans that have been debated in Springfield but all failed as Democratic leaders and Gov. Bruce Rauner continue their nearly yearlong war over the state budget.

But a spokesman for House Speaker Michael Madigan called the idea a “distant third-place” among proposals to pay for higher education in Illinois, putting its future in question.

Ugh.

* I’m told, however, that Downstate House Democrats and many Senate Dems refused to support Rep. Mayfield’s bill. The new proposal will reportedly look more like Rep. Fortner’s idea.

Unless, of course, it falls apart yet again.

Stay tuned.

…Adding… A House Democrat involved with the process says they’re “Working through the numbers and working across the aisle.”

Keep your fingers crossed that somebody doesn’t try to blow this thing up.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Apr 20, 16 @ 12:46 pm

Comments

Is this where I say “shoot” or should I use the more tame, “shucks.”

Come on folks, keep up the momentum.

P.S. Madigan, your portion of the blame meter is going up. Still primarily on Rauner, but you’re not helping at this key period of hope.

Comment by Norseman Wednesday, Apr 20, 16 @ 12:50 pm
Dems who oppose Rep. Mayfield’s bill need to explain themselves. This is not a time for games.

Comment by isityouDB? Wednesday, Apr 20, 16 @ 12:57 pm
Somebody cover those green shoots before nightfall. It seems like there is a frost advisory. Please God let there be some movement.

Comment by Honeybear Wednesday, Apr 20, 16 @ 12:57 pm
===Dems who oppose Rep. Mayfield’s bill need to explain themselves===

The bill was opposed by the Senate Dems. We need a bill that is acceptable to majorities in both chambers. Mayfield’s bill was the problem, not Fortner’s.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Apr 20, 16 @ 12:58 pm
Mayfield’s bill neglects IMSA, which relies almost solely on state funding and would seem to fit in the same category as the Universities her bill funds at 100%.

Comment by Pot calling kettle Wednesday, Apr 20, 16 @ 1:00 pm
So, this is the concept, per the opponents of this approach: pretend the $600 million isn’t there, and hit up struggling middle class taxpayers for a whole lot more cash. Not the rich, the poor and middle class. Remember, despite all the proposals, Illinois’ highly regressive flat income tax is still very much the reality. Are those middle class taxpayers starting to catch on? I don’t know,but “do they think we are stupid?” comes to mind as an appropriate response.

Comment by Cassandra Wednesday, Apr 20, 16 @ 1:01 pm
I have a Mayfield bias but let’s just get something this year

Comment by illinois manufacturer Wednesday, Apr 20, 16 @ 1:01 pm
MAP grants are a suitable stopgap. They protect people who need to be protected.

University funding is a middle-class bailout and release valve that decreases pressure to restore services to the needy.

Pass a budget.

Comment by crazybleedingheart Wednesday, Apr 20, 16 @ 1:01 pm
==Dems who oppose Rep. Mayfield’s bill need to explain themselves==

The Mayfield bill only funds five universities (and the fifth university, SIU, only at 5%). Broader funding would likely gain broader support.

Comment by Pot calling kettle Wednesday, Apr 20, 16 @ 1:03 pm
There is also a Senate Bill sponsored by Righter from Mattoon.

http://www.1043theparty.com/syn/256/25594/righter-legislation-gets-critical-funding-to-eiu-other-institutions-and-map-grants

Comment by MSIX Wednesday, Apr 20, 16 @ 1:05 pm
Broader funding in any compromise HAS to recognize that some schools are in more dire straights than others. Mayfield’s bill has plenty of room to compromise and add funds for other schools. In reality her bill “pays” cash out of EAF but covers that bill from a budget perspective via forgiveness of sweep money. So that means Mayfield’s $s are IN ADDITION to the 600M. So the best plan would be to take and full fund the 4 strugglers, bump slighly up the $ to the others by % (as the stop-gap does), add some for community colleges (as Senate bill does), and pay for MAP out of General Revenue Fund (as the Senate bill does). Done. Problems solved for now with higher ed. You are welcome Springfield.

We can at least dream, right?

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Apr 20, 16 @ 1:09 pm
Norseman, “P.S. Madigan, your portion of the blame meter is going up. Still primarily on Rauner, but you’re not helping at this key period of hope.”

Blame can shift rapidly at this point.

Come on Speaker Madigan, a compromise bill leaning to Fortner’s plan. Rauner’s people saying $600 million available. Isn’t that Rauner’s way of saying 60 and 30 will do it, Rauner will sign the bill? There’s no time to waste.

Comment by Jimmy H Wednesday, Apr 20, 16 @ 1:22 pm
At this point, the universities will take what they can get.

Nobody in the GA, particularly the leadership, should be hailed as a white knight in this mess.

Comment by isityouDB? Wednesday, Apr 20, 16 @ 1:30 pm
Well that’s the thing — there were bound to be bumps in the road. They just haven’t been on the road for 10 months.

What a waste. But move on.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Apr 20, 16 @ 1:53 pm
Are Community Colleges in this bill or are they purposefully left out to create another crisis when some of them start shutting doors?

Comment by Ahoy! Wednesday, Apr 20, 16 @ 1:59 pm
“The new proposal will reportedly look more like Rep. Fortner’s idea”

I’m told, however, that Downstate House Democrats and many Senate Dems refused to support Rep. Mayfield’s bill. The new proposal will reportedly look more like Rep. Fortner’s idea….
Except the purchasing loopholes are left behind.

Comment by Annonin' Wednesday, Apr 20, 16 @ 3:28 pm
Is completely depleting the Educational Assistance Fund a good idea? I thought part of that money was supposed to be for K-12?

Comment by Juvenal Wednesday, Apr 20, 16 @ 6:26 pm
Juvenal, EAF is used for both higher Ed and k-12.

It’s one of the General Funds, so of the 32 billion the state is expected to receive in revenue, if things were functioning properly, billions of dollars would be going in and out of that fund this year. (It gets GRF transfers to cover its approps that cash from other sources can’t cover.)

It can also be used to cover things like SURS contributions. So this concept that it is just 600 million lying around is pure hogwash. It adds $600 million to the deficit. But you know, the Governor is looking for an out, so whatever lets him rest easy I suppose.

Comment by Juice Wednesday, Apr 20, 16 @ 7:48 pm
@Juvenal The EAF money is for higher ed also. K-12 has already received its money (plus a significant increase) from the fund, because it has not been taken hostage like higher education. This money is for higher ed; the only remaining bill to pay from the fund for the fiscal year.

Comment by Mia Wednesday, Apr 20, 16 @ 8:24 pm
Juice…
It does not add to the deficit; it is collected revenue sitting in the fund. If you want to argue that it should be used to pay down the deficit, fine. But using it for its designated purpose does not increase the deficit.

Comment by isityouDB? Thursday, Apr 21, 16 @ 9:50 am