Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner applauded Friday's passage of the stop gap funding bill for Illinois state community colleges and universities.

In a written statement, the Governor said, quote:

"By passing this bipartisan agreement, lawmakers in both chambers put aside political differences to provide emergency assistance for higher education, ensuring universities and community colleges remain open and low-income students can pay for school."

The Governor went on to say that he's hopeful that the General Assembly will build on the bipartisan momentum in the weeks ahead to negotiate a balanced budget with reform for Fiscal Years 2016 and 2017.

Illinois State Comptroller Leslie Munger in a written statement, said that it was heartening that the Governor and legislative leaders have come together to authorize funding college funding.  Munger directed her staff to begin processing payments immediately, giving top priority to students and the institutions that are suffering the most.

Munger added that she hopes that the spirit of cooperation she saw in the passage of the college funding, will continue and lead to a comprehensive balanced budget.