Children of public university employees may see their tuition waivers taken away if an Illinois lawmaker's proposal is approved.
Rep. Jack Franks, D-Marengo, says it costs the schools about $10 million a year to offer half-price tuition to employees’ children.
"I see the state of Illinois pretty much on a lifeboat,” Franks said, “and we're sinking and we can't afford to do everything. I wish we could, but this is not the time that we can continue to have these type of perks."
Franks says he wants to make college more affordable for everyone, but higher education budget cuts make the tuition waivers impossible to maintain.
The idea has come up before but failed to win approval. Opponents say those benefits make Illinois universities competitive in attracting employees.
"It's a different world now than it was a few years ago and’ honestly’ I wish we could keep this,’ franks said, “but we just can't afford it. And I'm not trying to be mean-spirited, but I look at all the taxpayers, and what we have to pay. Frankly we're subsidizing a perk that's really indefensible now.
Some lawmakers want the change to apply only to new hires.
Franks offered his proposal for discussion Wednesday during a meeting of the State Government Administration Committee, which he chairs.