SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) issued the statement below following Gov. Rauner’s veto of MAP grant funds.

“It’s disappointing that two days after the governor identified education as his top priority, he vetoed funds that give 120,000 students an opportunity to go to college. We have to fund these grants to give Illinois students a chance at a better future.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) issued the statement below following Gov. Rauner’s second annual Budget Address.

“While I do appreciate the governor’s call to live within our means, Democrats and Republicans must come together to invest in our neediest populations,” Murphy said.

“Last year, the governor drastically slashed programs for people with autism on World Autism Day and proposed cutting services to women with breast and cervical cancer. Giving him total control of the budget could have drastic consequences for our state’s most vulnerable citizens.”

SPRINGFIELD – Nearly 100 students from Illinois colleges joined State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) and other legislators today to deliver Senate Bill 2043 to Governor Rauner. The legislation, which recently passed the Senate and House with large majorities, provides funding for Monetary Award Program grants, or MAP grants.  

“Today, I stand with the 1,900 students in the 28th district who have so far been abandoned this year because of the lack of funding for MAP grants,” said Murphy. “Eliminating these funds is short-sighted and will have a long term impact on our state economy.”
The grants are given to low and middle-income students to allow them to pay for the growing cost of higher education. Due to a veto last spring by Governor Rauner, nearly 120,000 students face uncertainty about their future.

While many colleges and four-year universities have been able to continue to provide funding for students during the fall semester, nearly 1,000 students were unable to return to school this year as many schools ran out of funds.

Previously, the governor had committed to vetoing the funds for the students. However, the governor and his staff did not comment on the bill when it was delivered.

“The governor has already shown a commitment to funding education. I strongly encourage him to continue to invest in our future workforce by funding MAP grants,” said Murphy.

SPRINGFIELD – Nearly 120,000 Illinois students are facing an uncertain future as a result of the governor’s veto of Monetary Award Program grant funding last spring.

While many colleges and four-year universities were able to continue to provide funding for students during the fall semester, nearly 1,000 students were unable to return to school in 2016 as some schools’ funding dried up.

To provide some stability for students, the Illinois Senate passed Senate Bill 2043, co-sponsored by State Sen. Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines).

“MAP grant funding is one of the few resources available to working families to make the skyrocketing costs of college tuition more affordable,” said Murphy. “Eliminating this funding is short-sighted and will have a long term impact on students and our state work force.”

The proposal also includes $260 million in funding for community colleges, which remain unfunded during the budget impasse.

“We must continue to invest in our community colleges, like Harper and Oakton Community College, to give students the opportunity to go to school, earn an education and achieve the American dream. Failing to invest in these programs fails an entire future generation,” Murphy said.

The proposal passed the Senate with a vote of 36-12-3 and will now head to Gov. Rauner’s desk.