After seven months without funding, the Illinois legislature today passed a proposal to pay for tuition waivers for low-income college students. It would also send money to community colleges. But the political wrangling over this issue isn't finished.
Just because the General Assembly passed funding for the Monetary Award Program, or MAP grants, doesn't mean the money will show up soon.
Democrats and Republicans agree the state should help low-income college students, but disagree on how. Republicans like House Minority Leader Jim Durkin say the state's continuing budget impasse means there's no money to pay them.
"This is a cruel hoax to students who think they're going to get their MAP funding provided and also the community colleges."
But Democrats say it's just a matter of priorities, and the first step in fully funding higher education.
Public universities have also gone months without state funding, but there's no money for them in this legislation.
That's not likely to make a difference. Governor Bruce Rauner has already said he will veto this bill.