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WNIJ's summary of news items around our state.

Dem. Lawmakers Push Gov. Rauner To Fund MAP Grants

A group of Democratic lawmakers yesterday made a public ceremony out of delivering legislation to Gov. Bruce Rauner's office.

    

They're attempting to persuade him to fund MAP grants, which help low-income students cover tuition at Illinois colleges and universities.

Students and employees from several colleges applauded as State Senator Donne Trotter marched into Rauner's office.

Allen Miggins, an admissions counselor from MacMurray College in Jacksonville, said the ongoing budget impasse is making his job difficult on many levels.

"It's like we're promising them something that we're not even sure we have. And that's what we asked earlier. It's like, 'Hey, how are we promising them something that you guys are not quite sure that we're actually going to get?' So it's just difficult, on a professional level, to say 'Hey, we have this.' But really do we have it? That's the question,” Miggins said.

Rauner has promised to veto Trotter's bill, saying the state doesn't have money to pay for it.

Democrats have refused to support Republican initiatives that would fund MAP by giving the governor unfettered authority to move money around state government.

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