A state lawmaker wants to eliminate a benefit for public university employees. Representative Jack Franks says it costs the schools about $10 million a year to offer half price tuition to employees' children.
"It's a different world now than it was a few years ago, and honestly I wish we could keep this, 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.”
Franks, a Democrat from Marengo, offered up his proposal for discussion during a meeting Wednesday. Opponents say it could cause Illinois universities to become less competitive with neighboring states.