GOVERNOR BRUCE RAUNER IS SIGNING A 600 MILLION DOLLAR HIGHER EDUCATION FUNDING BILL INTO LAW.
GOVERNOR RAUNER SAYS THE BILL IS A FIRST STEP TOWARD COMPROMISE BETWEEN REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS. IT SENDS OUT MONEY TO STRUGGLING COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES TO GET THEM THROUGH THE NEXT FEW MONTHS AND ALSO INCLUDES SOME MAP GRANT FUNDING. WAUKEGAN REPRESENTATIVE RITA MAYFIELD REMINDED DURING DEBATE THAT THIS IS ONLY A TEMPORARY FIX.

THE MOST IMMEDIATE RELIEF IS PROBABLY TO CHICAGO STATE UNIVERSITY WHICH WAS SLATED TO CLOSE THIS MONTH BUT WILL NOW BE ABLE TO REMAIN OPEN.
SCHOOLS HAVE NOT RECEIVED STATE FUNDING DURING THE 10 MONTH BUDGET STALEMATE AND SENATOR CHAPIN ROSE OF CHAMPAIGN SAYS MORE STILL NEEDS TO BE DONE.

GOVERNOR RAUNER SAYS THIS IS THE FIRST STEP TOWARDS COMPROMISE BUT THAT REFORMS ARE STILL NEEDED TO HELP GROW THE STATE ECONOMY.