Local Lawmakers React to Legislative Scholarship Ban
House Minority Leader Tom Cross and Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno applauded Gov. Pat Quinn for signing off on legislation to abolish the controversial program.
Local lawmakers applauded Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn on Wednesday for signing off on legislation to abolish the state's scandal-ridden legislative scholarship program.
The adoption of House Bill 3810 ends 100 years of legislators being able to award deserving or undeserving college students with annual scholarships to state universities, the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
The controversial program came under fire in recent years after legislators began misusing it, awarding scholarships to children of legislative employees and campaign donors instead of students in need of financial aid.
“There is no place for political scholarships in Illinois,” Quinn told NBC Chicago. “I believe in the power of education, the importance of ethics and integrity, and the idea that you can get ahead in life with a little hard work."
Under the new law, members of the Illinois General Assembly can no longer award scholarships after Sept. 1. Students nominated for the program for the 2012-13 school year will still receive the scholarships, according to NBC Chicago.
House Minority Leader Tom Cross (R-Oswego) applauded the legislation.
“Over the last couple of years, the Illinois House has voted to eliminate the program. Finally, the bill has made it through the Senate and onto the Governor’s desk for signature today,” Cross said in statement. “Because of the abuses of some lawmakers, the program became tainted.”
According to Cross, the new law will also create the Tuition and Fee Waiver Task Force to conduct a thorough review and evaluation of the tuition and fee waiver programs offered by public institutions of higher education. The task force will be required to submit a report of its findings by April 15, 2013.
Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno (R-Lemont), one of the bill's co-sponsors, released a statement Wednesday applauding Quinn for abolishing the program.
“At a time when the state is looking to cut costs and show we are serious about cracking down on impropriety, eliminating this oft-abused program was the obvious next step,” said Radogno, who voluntarily opted out of the legislative scholarship program years ago.
Oswego Resident
6:21 pm on Friday, July 13, 2012
I would like to thank Rep. Cross for my daughters scholarship 6 years ago. With his help, she graduated with honors from U of I and is now a teacher in D 308. The program did work as intended for some people.
mike ellison
12:26 pm on Saturday, July 14, 2012
Actually, the program never worked in the way that people thought. The scholarship money came from your fellow taxpayers and it's clear that you don't even realize that because you are thanking Rep. Cross.
Typical of people who think 'government' should pay for their needs when it's actually their neighbors dishing out the money.
Oswego Resident
1:17 pm on Saturday, July 14, 2012
Mike,
I knew exactly how the program worked, thank you very much. Of course the scholarship was paid from State funds, ie taxpayers. Where else would a State of Illinois scholarship come from? I also think the scholarship is given in the form of a tuition waiver and not an actual check written to my family. We applied for the funds, along with everyone else that was eligible, and turned out to be one of the recipients that year. What's so wrong about the State offering a little break to State residents in order for them to get a great education at a State school?
And no, I have absolutely no connection to rep Cross other than to live in his District ( I didn't even vote for him)
Oswego Resident
1:19 pm on Saturday, July 14, 2012
Mike,
I knew exactly how the program worked, thank you very much. Of course the scholarship was paid from State funds, ie taxpayers. Where else would a State of Illinois scholarship come from? I also think the scholarship is given in the form of a tuition waiver and not an actual check written to my family. We applied for the funds, along with everyone else that was eligible, and turned out to be one of the recipients that year. What's so wrong about the State offering a little break to State residents in order for them to get a great education at a State school? And btw, it wasn't a full ride, it was one year of tuition only. I paid the rest of the 20k myself.
And no, I have absolutely no connection to rep Cross other than to live in his District ( I didn't even vote for him)
Jane Enviere
2:29 pm on Saturday, July 14, 2012
The program should have been done away with a long time ago.
Oswego Resident
3:22 pm on Saturday, July 14, 2012
Why do you think the program should have been cancelled years ago Jane?