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* From the La Salle County Times…
Students, faculty and staff gathered at Illinois Valley Community College on Monday to assure their voices were heard by legislators.
State Rep. Jerry Long, R-Streator, was the sole legislator in attendance at a legislators forum created for college officials and students to share concerns about higher education funding during the ongoing budget impasse. All of the 14 legislators in IVCC’s district as well as Gov. Bruce Rauner were invited to the event. […]
The college used to expect around $3 to $4 million from the state, but that amount fell to $611,000 in 2016. This leads to the college requiring more from students and taxpayers. […]
“I guarantee you I will fight tooth and nail to make sure we have the general fund that you need and also the MAP grants,” Long said. “Those are extremely important and I make you the promise that I will do what I can to fight for that.” […]
The representative said he was dedicated to finding funding for the school, but also said a stopgap budget would only “keep digging a hole” that would make the future financial situation even more difficult for the state.
Good on Long for being the only legislator to show up, but he’s a Tier One freshman target in a district that’s been represented by a Democrat since about forever. The Democrats already have a candidate against him. So, while he may “fight tooth and nail” for more state revenues, I’ll be the most surprised human in the world if he votes for a tax hike (or the second most, after Leader Durkin).
Also, the House’s stopgap isn’t really a stopgap. It’s a supplemental approp that spends money which is just sitting in two state accounts gathering dust. Even if they wait until they get a real budget to spend the money, it’s pretty much guaranteed that the cash will be used for its intended purposes anyway. So, why wait?
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, May 9, 17 @ 1:35 pm
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“So, why wait?”
Because Rauner said so. If Long truly wants to help his constituents, vote for them, not for Rauner when the time comes on that supplemental approp. Won’t hurt if he took the floor, too, and chastised some of his fellow Republicans who keep sitting on red and yellow, especially on overrides.
Comment by Anon221 Tuesday, May 9, 17 @ 1:40 pm
Job creators get excited sbout reducing state funding for a Downstate community college by 80%.
If those job creators ask “do you want fries with that?”
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, May 9, 17 @ 1:56 pm
==also said a stopgap budget would only “keep digging a hole” that would make the future financial situation even more difficult for the state.==
Not mentioned: Long opposes tax increases. He really has no way to pay for what he claims to support. He repeats what he has been told by his handlers, and he seems to believe it.
Comment by Pot calling kettle Tuesday, May 9, 17 @ 1:58 pm
>He repeats what he has been told by his handlers, and he seems to believe it.
That was my perception when I met him as well.
Comment by Earnest Tuesday, May 9, 17 @ 2:56 pm
Glad he went; although Long is unfit for the job if he doesn’t understand Revenue is needed to do what he says.
Who is running against him? I’d hope someone besides Skoog?
Comment by Seats Tuesday, May 9, 17 @ 2:59 pm