Illinois lawmakers OK $600M fix for colleges

The lobbying event was coordinated in response to the state lawmakers' lack of agreement with Gov. Bruce Rauner on a budget for Fiscal Year 2016. However, NIU students felt that House Bill 2344 was a more logistically realistic bill to lobby for, Holt said. Already, some universities have had layoffs, and Chicago State University had expected to close its doors.

But assurances by the Rauner administration that there would be a way to fund the bill helped to seal the deal, according to sources.

The House and Senate was expected to vote on it Thursday, but instead adjourned for the night.

The proposal also includes some funding for higher education, which received $600 million in one-time money in a separate bill passed earlier Friday. Both the House and Senate are in today.

Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno says the plan is a model because IL has the money and the situation is a "reset in budgeting".

Very importantly, every bit of spending in this bill is paid for - both Higher Ed and Human Services.

The funding plan represents a partial break in a crippling 10-month budget stalemate between Rauner and Democrats who control the state legislature that has hit the state's higher education and social service systems acutely. The bill also includes $74.1 million for community colleges - 27 percent of annual funding - and $167.6 million for about a semester's worth of MAP grants. We will continue disbursing funds as they become available, with final payments being made in July.

In a news release, Governor Bruce Rauner praised lawmakers on putting their political differences aside and passing the legislation, allowing institutions to remain open and low-income students to have a way to pay for school.

The governor says he's hopeful the General Assembly can build on the bipartisan momentum and finally pass a state budget.

But many Democrats are still wary about the budget impasse really coming to an end with Rauner continuing to push his Turnaround Agenda items.

In the House, two Democrats voting against: Rep. Scott Drury of Highwood and Rep. Jack Franks of Marengo.

"We're delighted. We're relieved and pleased", Dr. Callhoun said. "Folks we are imploding". The U of I may be forced to make additional significant reductions in faculty, staff, academic offerings, student programs, economic development initiatives and public service if it does not receive more than the 27.8 percent of last year's appropriation that is provided in the stop-gap bill.