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* WEEK TV…
A state lawmaker is urging Gov. J.B. Pritzker to release emergency funding and appoint a full board for Western Illinois University as the school prepares to lay off 132 employees.
“Western is struggling, as most state universities are right now, and having a full board in place would help to ensure the university’s success,” said Rep. Norine Hammond (R-Macomb). “I am asking Governor Pritzker to take immediate action to fill six vacant positions on the board so Western can move forward. Additionally, I am asking him to release funds in an effort to reduce the negative impact not only to the university, but our area.”
I checked with the comptroller’s office…
There are no funds being held up. Our office prioritizes payments to higher ed. WIU, SIU, EIU, all the state colleges get their payments together earlier than they were getting their state funding in years past. Same with MAP grants.
* So, I asked a House Republican spokesperson what funding Rep. Hammond was talking about. Andrew Flach…
Until a supplemental appropriations is brought forward, a good first step would be to appoint a full board of trustees followed by expediting the remaining operational funds owed to the university for this fiscal year and prioritizing the campus’ deferred maintenance projects.
Thoughts?
…Adding… Some commenters really need to take a breath. Rep. Hammond voted for the 2017 income tax increase and the motion to override Gov. Rauner’s veto.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 9:39 am
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I’ll take a BOT for the moment. We’ll take the rest from there.
Comment by DownstateR Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 9:45 am
After going along with a suicidal game of funding chicken for 3 years, great to see Rep. Hammond’s newfound concern for the only economic engine in her district
Comment by High Socks Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 9:45 am
Agree with Hammond, he should do something besides talk about fixing things.
Comment by Not Again Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 9:46 am
How will “prioritizing the campus’ deferred maintenance projects” help with cash flow? Is WIU paying for some of that maintenance on their own dime now, or something?
Comment by Perrid Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 9:47 am
What High Socks said…
Comment by Honeybadger Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 9:47 am
A Hammond ‘Hail Mary”…..why not - what’s to lose?
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 9:48 am
So the House Republicans want to front load WIU’s state cash now and then add more state spending at some coming date?
Well, that’s a certainly a new message from that caucus.
Comment by Michelle Flaherty Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 9:48 am
I wonder if rep. Hammond is one of those free market capitalist where only the strong survive?
Comment by Blue Dog Dem Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 9:48 am
How did Hammond vote when Rauner held higher ed hostage?
I’ll hang up and listen for my answer.
#PhonyHero
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 9:49 am
Past Boards of Trustees are complicit in the mismanagement that has created the crisis at WIU. Release of audio recordings, UPI FOIA requests, and OMA violations demonstrate this. Trustees have resigned and others’ terms have lapsed, leaving the University with no effective Board authority. Until a full BOT is appointed, independent of the Rauner political agenda evidenced in audio recordings and willing to act to establish competent University executive leadership, there is little chance WIU will be able to move forward. Rep. Hammond’s request that the Governor make the necessary BOT appointments is absolutely target and reasonable. Please, Governor, pay attention to it.
Comment by Flapdoodle Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 9:53 am
Hammond has to fight for her district. She has to say something.
Comment by Not It Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 9:55 am
Taking Rep. Hammond seriously here is a fool’s errand.
She was part of the breakaway reps that saved a third year, but make NO mistake.
Until Rep. Hammond says she was wholly complicit in hurting WIU and she’s learned from that and she’s sorry for that mistake…
… this is another phony attempt to *seem* to care by a former Raunerite trying to have us all forget the past.
I have the receipts. No pass. Thank you for saving the state when you did… but I won’t forget and atonement is here.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 9:57 am
===Hammond has to fight for her district. She has to say something.===
‘Cept during the 99th GA…
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 9:58 am
== “Western is struggling, as most state universities are right now, and having a full board in place would help to ensure the university’s success,” said Rep. Norine Hammond (R-Macomb). “I am asking Governor Pritzker to take immediate action to fill six vacant positions on the board so Western can move forward. Additionally, I am asking him to release funds in an effort to reduce the negative impact not only to the university, but our area.” ==
Replace “Pritzker” with “Rauner” in this quote, and someone please show us where she made this same statement prior to January 14.
Comment by Moby Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 9:58 am
Hooray. Hammond has recovered from her coma. Probably too late. Maybe GovJunk will invite her for a weekend in Italy to toast the destruction of one of the directionals.
Comment by Annonin' Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 9:58 am
Rauner enabler discovers she has a public university in her district. And it only took five terms.
How would filling vacant board positions solve the cash crunch? Who’s she suggesting — Bezos, Gates Buffett, Griff and the like?
Mushroom pretending to do something.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 9:59 am
Rep. Hammond voted to override Rauner on the budget and voted for the income tax increase that went with it. She then explained to her red district the reason why it was necessary to vote even though that district was angry. She was re-elected by taking a hard vote for the betterment of the state. Who else can you put on that list? Pretty short.
She is an excellent legislator and has a high-level of integrity.
#NeedMoreLikeHer
Comment by Hoping for Rational Thought Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 10:00 am
===Replace “Pritzker” with “Rauner” in this quote, and someone please show us where she made this same statement prior to January 14.===
Narrator: Hammond didn’t.
Do NOT be fooled. Until Hammond atones, these words mean little to nothing.
Again, I have the receipts.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 10:00 am
Hammond better ask Sweeney to support more revenue.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 10:00 am
“Hammond has to fight for her district. She has to say something.”
Where was she during the last administration’s willful destruction of higher education? Wasn’t she cheer leading the dismantling of WIU?
Comment by Huh? Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 10:01 am
Not Again - But emergency bailouts won’t fix structural deficits. They simply delay the inevitable. And the longer you delay, the deeper the cuts will have to be to balance the revenues and expenditures. Decision makers have to be willing and able to make the tough decisions necessary to preserve the viability of the institutions they serve. Failure to do so will at best hinder progress and at worst result in fiscal insolvency. From the side of the aisle that loves to talk about balancing spending and revenues like a regular family at the kitchen table, this is a hypocritical request. I don’t recall any of the other public universities receiving significant bailouts during or after the impasse. None of the universities deserved the neglect and abandonment Rauner caused during the impasse. But you have to actually respond with action, not just keep up the facade as long as you can and then wring your hands as it all comes crashing down around you.
Comment by BigBoyPants Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 10:02 am
Exactly BBD and OW.
Not a peep from her when Rauner
Took the regionals hostage.
Heck Hammonds helped Rauner hold a gun on them.
Now she wants to restart life support?
On the other end of this.
I’ve got a lot of union
sisters and brothers
whose jobs are on the line.
They are the ones being sacrificed.
Jobs are life these days.
If you’ve ever struggled to find another job
If you’ve ever seen your savings drained away because you lost your job.
It’s a brutal brutal thing.
I’ll never forget when it happened to me.
And I had every kind of privilege.
Yet I struggled to find work.
It’s what drew me to my current job, helping
But I’ll never forget
standing at the gas pump
calculating in my head
how much gas I could put in
and still get a dinner on the table.
I got most of a tank
because I had found Hormel Completes
at the Schnucks.
The girls were young and thought they were cool.
“everything in one box”
But when you have to make that calculation
for reals
it changes you.
Privilege inoculates you from understanding
What that’s like.
Folks at the directional are about to be thrown into that.
78% of US workers live paycheck to paycheck.
Comment by Honeybear Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 10:03 am
===Rep. Hammond voted to override Rauner on the budget and voted for the income tax increase that went with it. She then explained to her red district the reason why it was necessary to vote even though that district was angry. She was re-elected by taking a hard vote for the betterment of the state. Who else can you put on that list? Pretty short.
She is an excellent legislator and has a high-level of integrity.
#NeedMoreLikeHer===
I’ll fix this for ya…
“Rep. Hammond voted with Rauner on the budgets and voted for an entire GA to stop full funding for WIU and all that goes with it. She then explained to her red district the reason why it was necessary to vote even though that district was angry; Rauner owned her switch. She was re-elected by taking a hard vote, hurting the state and WIU. Who else can you put on that list? Pretty short.
She was a Raunerite legislator, until she wasn’t, and has a high-level of phony to the hurt here.
#NeedLessLikeHerUntilSheAtones”
Better
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 10:03 am
Look, I agree Rep. Hammond is late to the party, but beating on her for that does nothing to address the WIU situation. Getting a full, functional BOT is essential to moving forward — Rep. Hammond is right about this, whatever her past record. If her voice can help persuade the Governor to act — an open question — then it’s welcome.
Comment by Flapdoodle Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 10:07 am
Guv Pritzker is now responsible for saving Republican legislators from themselves. What a time to be alive.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 10:08 am
Oswego Willy -
Aren’t you a nasty little person? I don’t need your help with edits or anything else. This garbage is what keeps this state in the crapper.
I guess I didn’t realize she had such power to change the course of Illinois.
Thanks for reminding me why I usually avoid these comments.
Comment by Hoping for Rational Thought Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 10:11 am
===Rep. Hammond is right about this, whatever her past record.===
Her past record exacerbated the situation, purposely voting against WIU, purposely hurting WIU.
I have the receipts. She needs to atone, otherwise this is as phony as she is.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 10:12 am
===I guess I didn’t realize she had such power to change the course of Illinois.===
Voting with Rauner to purposely hurt WIU… she could’ve fought for WIU, but chose Raunerism for a whole GA.
No one forced her.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 10:14 am
Too little too late from this WIU drop out
Comment by Stagman Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 10:14 am
Agree with OW. You don’t get to aid in the destruction then demand someone else fix it…
Comment by El Conquistador Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 10:19 am
I guess Hammond should have supported those budget bills in fy 16 that were $7 billion out of balance and just left the governor reduce where needed.
That would have been a real #profileincourage for a state legislator.
I didn’t see one tax increase to fund the spending that was being passed in the GA until the 2017 tax increase…which she supported.
Comment by Phenomynous Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 10:27 am
You can make this about castigating Hammond or you can make this about making a move necessary to establishing effective governance at WIU. One feels good, the other might do some good. You choose.
Comment by Flapdoodle Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 10:34 am
===You can make this about castigating Hammond or you can make this about making a move necessary to establishing effective governance at WIU.===
No.
Here is *exactly* what this is about.
Rep. Hammond is utterly phony to all she says here, as the whole GA she voted with Rauner to hurt bad possibly passively close WIU
Rep. Hammond’s votes put WIU further in jeopardy and were going to hurt, and she voted with Rauner anyway.
Hammond has NO credibility to call on anyone to do “something” to fix WIU until Hammond atones for her one votes that exaserbated the situation more.
Hammond can choose to be honest to her one role here.
Until she does, it’s a phony cry.
When Rauner went after WIU, she voted Red to help.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 10:39 am
Does Hammond agree with Sweeney that Illinois spends too much?
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 10:41 am
The important issue at hand is that the problems with WIU and other universities need to be fixed. They need a functioning board. How does the current situation serve students? Higher education in our state? The local economy in Forgotonia?
Comment by Sleep with One Eye Open Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 10:47 am
Flapdoodle- castigating Hammonds is about doing something. Understanding the part played in how we got here is vital to understanding how we can get out. Hammonds enabled Rauner to take the economic engine of her district hostage. Tremendous damage was done. Which may not be able to be undone. Remember
Rauner wanted the state to be bankrupt.
Rauner worked to destabilize the state. (gutted DCEO, He had the feckless Intersect Illinois take over function, Illinois saw very little economic development, certainly few jobs came in the 4 years,)
Rauner broke it so that he could fix it
The way he wanted. “Reforms” right LP?
So now, there probably isn’t enough money to help
Sorry Directionals
But it’s the fault of GA members like Hammonds
Who enabled Rauner.
Comment by Honeybear Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 10:53 am
Honest question. From an alum. What will a board do? I have a pretty successful buddy that tried to get on the board years back. For the right reasons. Man, these are political appointments. Many of these folks never attended. We were so naive. So I get they need a board. I think. But, if he appoints people that aren’t willing to cut limbs to save the body, why bother? Also, EIU and SIU watch closely.
Comment by Echo The Bunnyman Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 11:06 am
Maybe if some of these universities would hire highly competent administrators and marketing folks to go along with quality BoT members, the universities would be successful.
Just a thought.
Comment by Pick a Name Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 11:13 am
Is a phoney the same thing as a hypocrite.?
Comment by Blue Dog Dem Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 11:22 am
=You can make this about castigating Hammond or you can make this about making a move necessary to establishing effective governance at WIU. One feels good, the other might do some good. You choose.=
So what you are saying is..turn the other cheek?
Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 11:34 am
Norine Hammond is anything but some kind of Rauner apologist. Those not involved have no idea the courage and leadership that she displayed during extraordinarily difficult days, particularly with clueless Governor money bags in the mix.
She was outspoken within her own Caucus, tougher than nails on behalf of her people and took the big vote, both times, and owned it at great political risk.
This process is very, very fortunate to have someone of Norine Hammonds character and caring heart. NOBODY works their District more consistently and passionately than Norine.
Any other take on the subject is drivel from those who are not close to the process.
Comment by Truthseeker Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 11:34 am
Truth. Sounds like she’s just like Madigan. Nobody works their district like him. Guy just got
reelected for the gajillionth time.
Comment by Blue Dog Dem Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 11:45 am
We have short memories here. Overriding Rauner’s budget veto and voting for the tax increase was a huge coup. It signaled the beginning of the end for Rauner and Hammond was one of he first Republicans to push a stick in Rauner’s eye before it was cool to do so. We’re much better off with people like Hammond.
Comment by A Parent Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 12:07 pm
Ignoring Hammond, the primary issue here is what to do about WIU? The petition (which I signed) argues specifically for emergency funding, and the appointment of empty and expiring seats on the BOT. As one who lives, here, I see the need for emergency funding daily. We do need help. And a full BOT is always better than a half full BOT.
That said, I think some of my colleagues are misguided in thinking that emergency funding will allow us to recover lost jobs. It will not. It is needed, but it will not return lost jobs. I also think some of my colleagues are misguided in thinking that if we get a new BOT, we can steamroll them into returning lost jobs. A new BOT will probably make cosmetic changes to the leadership of the campus, so as to appease faculty malaise. But they will not create new and additional revenues. We will still be operating on an minimalist appropriated budget. So in the end, while I support filling the BOT and I support emergency funding to meet basic campus needs, I think it foolish to think a new BOT will bring back jobs.
Comment by H-W @ WIU Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 12:18 pm
==Is a phoney the same thing as a hypocrite?==
No. Hypocrisy is unconscious and natural. It’s when people are inconsistent, usually motivated by self interest.
Almost everyone is a hypocrite.
Phoneiness is deliberate and manipulative. For example, If I hate cats but pretend to like my boss’s cat to get something from her, that’s being phony. If I take care of her cat and find out even though I still hate cats, I really like this particular cat, that’s hypocritical.
Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 12:25 pm
==When Rauner went after WIU, she voted Red to help==
Not only is OW correct on this but her votes also had the same effect on EIU, SIUE, SIUC, etc. for those years, and those universities are now experiencing similar pain because of those votes. Why should anyone else now vote now to bail out WIU? She wouldn’t stand up to Rauner then, but everyone else is supposed to stand with her now?
Comment by Lester Holt’s Mustache Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 12:45 pm
If anyone else was representing WIU, they would never have been able to vote for a tax increase. She took this vote knowing that she would be attacked by the conservative Dan Proft crew and that her democratic opponent would attack her on it too.
Should it have been done earlier. I think we all would have liked to see stability in government. However, when it was time to vote on a $5 billion tax increase. Hammond literally doubled down with her votes when others would have folded like a lawn chair.
Comment by One of Three Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 12:47 pm
Truthseeker- Look in OW’s hand.
Them’s the receipts
Hammonds was for the destruction.
OW what was it the “owl” used to say?
Comment by Honeybear Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 12:49 pm
H-W @ 12:18 — You’re right this isn’t about Hammond, it’s about whatever might slow WIU’s free fall. That’s all that matters in the context of the OP. Though I think more-than-cosmetic leadership changes may have greater benefits than you suggest.
Comment by Flapdoodle Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 12:59 pm
Representative Hammond slapped WIU around for two years at the behest of her leader, Boss Rauner. For two years she did that.
Now she says I won’t do it anymore. Take me back, give me a second chance. No forgiveness without a sincere apology and a complete acknowledgment for the damage she caused.
OW is right.
Comment by don the legend Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 12:59 pm
“Who?”
I’ve said my piece.
If the GOP wants to be relevant, they need to own the mistake(s) of Rauner abd be that instrument of cooperation.
Pretending it never happened isn’t helping.
Best of luck to WIU and all the universities. Sincerely.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 1:01 pm
==She took this vote knowing that she would be attacked by the conservative Dan Proft crew and that her democratic opponent would attack her on it too.==
Please spare us the profile on courage bit, she won her primary by 12 percent. And you’re completely wrong on the second part, her dem opponent John Curtis specifically applauded her in the general for (finally) voting to support WIU over Rauner.
Comment by Lester Holt’s Mustache Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 1:03 pm
Lester-
I would love to show you the mailers that hit my mailbox during the fall campaign.
Comment by One of Three Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 1:10 pm
EIU and SIUC got hit especially hard too, seems like WIU is asking for special treatment.
Is the Quad Cities campus self-sufficient yet? My wife and I both enrolled in graduate programs in Macomb but then had to go to the QC campus for some of our courses because faculty were driving up there to teach. They even had a bus at one time, taking faculty and students up to the QC for classes and then bringing them back.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 1:27 pm
==Is the Quad Cities campus self-sufficient yet?==
Seems like the folks in Macomb are asking the same question.
https://www.tspr.org/post/budgetary-tale-two-campuses
Comment by City Zen Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 1:41 pm
It is too early in the afternoon to be playing with your Willy . . . . . . . .Oswego.
You would trade Norine Hammond for whom? She IS what you represent as your aspiration for the Republican Party.
You are too sophisticated politically for this silliness. You know better. Poke some holes in the top of your jar and breathe brother.
Comment by Get it Right Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 1:50 pm
–It is too early in the afternoon to be playing with your Willy . . . . . . . .Oswego.–
You have a strict regular schedule, do you?
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 1:52 pm
First things first, and get a BoT appointed for now. Some other publics need similar attention. But Echo at 11:06 makes an important point about boards, and needing to cut limbs to save the body. The higher ed situation is so critical now (and not just because of recovery from the lack of budgets) that we need a single statewide governance system like NY or Wisconsin and others. The IBHE hasn’t and can’t assume this role. But so many governor appointed trustees are often alumni, donors, community members, former employees, etc. and they just can’t make the hard and necessary decisions to save their home institutions. Fixing this (other than just letting natural selection take place) will take one unified system whose trustees have relevant expertise, ability to prioritize, and the emotional distance from their home campus to make the tough calls. With this approach I think its still possible to maintain all the state unis and save what they mean to towns like Macomb, even though their programs will have to be changed and downsized.
Comment by Our Joe Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 1:57 pm
Discipline is a noble quality Word . . . . . . .
Comment by Get it Right Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 2:00 pm
I hope one of the few remaining WIU Board members, Tod Lester, is removed. Here is what he had to say about layoffs, in an illegal closed door BOT meeting last summer:
“We’re doing the things Springfield wants to see done. We’re making the hard decisions. We’re gonna go out there and lay people off. I mean, we’re talking about program eliminations at some point,” said board member Todd Lester.
“These are the things I think Rauner has been beating the drum on since he’s taken office. So in that regard we’re on the forefront of this thing then. Hey, we’re doing what they’ve asked. We’ve got a better story to tell, I think.”
https://www.tspr.org/post/dark-days-transparency-shared-governance-wiu
Comment by Joe M Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 2:52 pm
Hammond has been all over the place since Rauner took office and stood with him instead of her constituents for at least two years. Yes she was re-elected by a small margin, but did y’all notice she did not win McDonough County, where she lives and where WIU is located?
Comment by Former Merit Comp Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 4:04 pm
I hope Lester stays and I’m a big lefty (he is a Republican). Lester is the only one asking for budget info on the Quad Cities and also on Athletics (BOT never sees their budget). The quote about doing what “Springfield” asks was unfortunate, but Lester was/is the only one trying to make the Admin open their books.
Comment by Listen to the tapes Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 5:26 pm
WIU has long standing issues that a one time cash infusion will not fix. An aging campus, declining enrollment surpassing what other State Universities are experiencing, and a history of poor management. The announced layoffs are years late and only the first step in what will be required to bring the campus into balance with both campus needs and student interest.
Until the campus comes up with a reasonable ‘right sizing” plan any additional funds are not only a waste, but allows the administration to delay taking the necessary actions for long term viability.
Comment by Robert0117 Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 5:35 pm
His bank has a business relationship so he must go but I think he also said we can’t cut our way out of this and yes Athletics must go. NCAA says it’s 9 million loss. QC is about 1 according to the story above. Tri states pr has more details tonight. Including the program cuts.
Comment by Not a Billionaire Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 5:49 pm
In the tape their were threats from the Ncaa to sue US. I would love to get that outfit into discovery.
Comment by Not a Billionaire Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 5:50 pm
Formerly WIU-sponsored Tri States Public Radio has provided good honest coverage of WIU.
https://www.tspr.org/topic/crisis-confidence-wiu-and-illinois-budget-impasse
But that made WIU Administration and Board members mad, so they cut off all Tri States Public Radio’s funding as of March 1st.
Comment by Joe M Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 6:05 pm