Illinois cuts off funding for its public universities

[abelenkpe]

http://www.marketplace.org/2016/03/14/education/illinois-cuts-funding-its-public-universities

Illinois cuts off funding for its public universities

A state budget stalemate in Illinois, which has dragged on since last July, is offering a masterclass on the destruction political gridlock can cause.

At risk are the state's 57 public universities and community colleges, which were once a model for access and diversity.

In the mid- to late-1990s, Illinois was the top performing state in helping its residents attain higher education through need-based grants and affordable tuitions, according to a report by the University of Pennsylvania's Institute for Research on Higher Education. The report said such efforts helped minority communities.

Today, minority students are akin to collateral damage in a battle between the state's Republican governor and Democrat-controlled legislature.

The two sides can't agree on a state budget, so the government has been limping along since last summer using accounting maneuvers. While those measures have kept government functioning, the state cannot send funds it has promised to organizations, such as its higher-learning institutions.

(more at link)

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Surely cutting off aid altogether will make public universities more affordable. Who needs Sander's plan when we can let states cut off all funding and fire tenured teachers and staff?

http://www.sanders.senate.gov/download/collegeforallsummary/?inline=file

Summary of Sen. Sanders’ College for All Act
Eliminate Undergraduate Tuition at 4-year Public Colleges and Universities. This legislation would provide $47 billion per year to states to eliminate undergraduate tuition and fees at public colleges and universities.
Today, total tuition at public colleges and universities amounts to about $70 billion per year. Under the College for All Act, the federal government would cover 67% of this cost, while the states would be responsible for the remaining 33% of the cost.
To qualify for federal funding, states must meet a number of requirements designed to protect students, ensure quality, and reduce ballooning costs. States will need to maintain spending on their higher education systems, on academic instruction, and on need-based financial aid. In addition, colleges and universities must reduce their reliance on low-paid adjunct faculty.
States would be able to use funding to increase academic opportunities for students, hire new faculty, and provide professional development opportunities for professors.
No funding under this program may be used to fund administrator salaries, merit-based financial aid, or the construction of non-academic buildings like stadiums and student centers.
Student Loan Reforms
Restoration of Historically Low Student Loan Interest Rates. The College for All Act would lower student loan interest rates by restoring the formula which was in effect until 2006. Student loan interest rates would be cut almost in half for undergraduate students, dropping from 4.32% to just 2.32%. In addition, the legislation would ensure rates never rise above 8.25%.
Student Loan Re-financing. The College for All Act would enable borrowers to refinance their loans based on the interest rates available to current students.
Work Study Reforms. Today, the federal work study program receives less than $1 billion per year, and serves nearly 700,000 students. This legislation would expand the number of students and colleges that can offer part-time employment and participate in the federal work study program, and focus funding on schools that enroll high numbers of low-income students.
Simplifying the Student Aid Application Process. The bill would create a pilot program to eliminate the requirement that students re-apply for financial aid each year, simplifying the application process and removing significant barriers faced by low-income students.
Fully Paid for by Imposing a Robin Hood Tax on Wall Street. This legislation is offset by imposing a Wall Street speculation fee on investment houses, hedge funds, and other speculators of 0.5% on stock trades (50 cents for every $100 worth of stock), a 0.1% fee on bonds, and a 0.005% fee on derivatives. It has been estimated that this provision could raise hundreds of billions a year which could be used not only to make tuition free at public colleges and universities in this country, it could also be used to create millions of jobs and rebuild the middle class of this country.

[mucifer]

1. Yeah we have a republican governor in a stand off with the democratic legislature

he won't sign anything so nothing is paid for now and LOTS of heath care agencies for the poor have literally gone out of business.

[abelenkpe]

3. Yeah, seems to be standard script now

Government in standoff, can't get anything done. So nothing gets done, politicians wash their hands of responsibility and services end up cut for the rest of us.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

2. Don't underestimate Rauner's ability to squeeze Illinoisans, Sanders plan or no Sanders plan.

Almost any dollar that goes through Springfield is a dollar that can be held up.

[xloadiex]

4. Unfortunately a lot of prominent AA clergy

such as Rev James Meeks and pastor Cory Brooks backed this republican asshole and Rauner has stuck it right up the AA community's ass. It makes me wonder how much Rauner donated to their churches.

Meeks must have loved those fly fishing trips to Rauners ranch in Montana so much that he sold out his community.

Rauner is a Walker clone. He's a rich republican businessman who never should have been elected governor of this state.

I don't know why people think businessmen are qualified to run any office is beyond me, aka tRump.

[Donkees]

5. Is this related to the toxic interest rate swaps Bernie mentioned in Chicago?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1280144516

[in_cog_ni_to]

6. I'm biting my tongue so I don't say exactly what I think of that Teabagger SOB governor and his

enabling RW legislators, but my son's University is one that's probably going under. They've already let over 200 faculty members go, closed a dorm and cut things down to bare bones.

After 5 G-D Damn years and $100,000 he won't get his degree before it does go under. I-am-LIVID! Without grant money, he can't continue.

And what makes it even worse is his BROTHER (half brother) is a RW ILLINOIS SENATOR ENABLING THAT SOB RAUNER to do this - to his own brother. I may never speak to him again as long as I live.

Not only are students stressed with school, homework, life and jobs, now they have to worry about whether their University will be closing! Where do they go? What do they do? How do they do it? I know my son has put down roots in his college town with his girlfriend.

Those RAT BASTARDS should be run out of Springfield with pitchforks! I cannot tell you how much I hate them.

[abelenkpe]

9. I am so sorry to hear that

To go so far and not get a degree? Its criminal what is happening there. Don't understand why it doesn't get more press. Republicans are great at gumming up functioning government. Can your son transfer?

[in_cog_ni_to]

10. Maybe. If there's any Universities left standing by the time he gets through his next semester.

We shall see.

We NEED Bernie!

PEACE
LOVE
BERNIE

[truebrit71]

7. Fuck Bruce Rauner.

Twice.

Sideways.

[Bjornsdotter]

8. Rauner is the biggest POS

....to have ever come out of Illinois. I know a few who voted for him and I have no problem pointing out what an ass he is at every opportunity.