Post by Logan on May 7, 2016 1:24:13 GMT -6
SPRINGFIELD -- Democrats and Republicans in the Illinois Senate believe they've found a successful formula for ending nearly yearlong partisan standoffs over state spending.
For the second time in as many weeks, senators from both sides of the aisle came together Thursday to approve funding for public universities, community colleges and grants to low-income students, all of which had been deprived of state money since the fiscal year began July 1 without a budget in place.
The winning formula: spending bills that aren't tied to items on Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner's pro-business, union-weakening "turnaround agenda" but are tied to specific revenue sources.
“It’s worked in the Senate, and I strongly encourage the House to do the same as we have done,” said Sen. Pat McGuire, D-Joliet, chairman of the Senate Higher Education Committee, “because it’s the best thing to do -- the best way to move forward, obviously, in a bipartisan manner -- for all the people of Illinois.”
Read more: thesouthern.com/news/local/education/senate-passes-million-funding-bill-for-higher-ed/article_ea97ea66-7657-5395-9321-6e64fcfa6fae.html
For the second time in as many weeks, senators from both sides of the aisle came together Thursday to approve funding for public universities, community colleges and grants to low-income students, all of which had been deprived of state money since the fiscal year began July 1 without a budget in place.
The winning formula: spending bills that aren't tied to items on Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner's pro-business, union-weakening "turnaround agenda" but are tied to specific revenue sources.
“It’s worked in the Senate, and I strongly encourage the House to do the same as we have done,” said Sen. Pat McGuire, D-Joliet, chairman of the Senate Higher Education Committee, “because it’s the best thing to do -- the best way to move forward, obviously, in a bipartisan manner -- for all the people of Illinois.”
Read more: thesouthern.com/news/local/education/senate-passes-million-funding-bill-for-higher-ed/article_ea97ea66-7657-5395-9321-6e64fcfa6fae.html