Illinois Senate approves additional money for higher education

Posted on May 6, 2016

State Sen. Chapin Rose said Illinois lawmakers are showing some signs of bipartisanship in passing funding for higher education and human services. (Photo courtesy www.ilga.gov)

By Eric Stock

SPRINGFIELD – More help could be on the way to Illinois’ cash-strapped colleges and universities.

The Illinois Senate on Thursday approved 454 million dollars in funding for higher education. That funding would come from not paying back money from various state funds which were raided. It would get colleges at 60 percent annual funding levels.

State Sen. Chapin Rose, R-Mahomet, said while Illinois’ budget impasse is at 10-months and counting, there are some bipartisan achievements to build on as the legislature nears its May 31 deadline.

“Frankly, people are starting to come together to address things in a bipartisan fashion,” Rose said.

The Illinois Senate recently approved funding for social services. That measure, along with the school funding bill, awaits a vote in the House.

“This is a pretty important thing for us,” Rose said, referencing the number of students in his district who attend the University of Illinois, Illinois State and Eastern Illinois universities and several community colleges.

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].

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