State lawmakers are reacting to a recent news story that 260 students at Northeastern Illinois University may be kicked out of their campus jobs because of the budget impasse. Northeastern is looking to furlough some of its employees to save money because it’s not getting anything from the state without a budget.
Northeastern says a new state rule says before it can furlough employees - the university first must get rid of many student campus jobs. State Representative Chris Welch is the chairman of the House Higher Education Committee.
"I feel the students’ pain. I think it’s just tragic that they and the entire university system are going through the things they’re going through."
Welch says the best legislative recourse to keep the students from losing their jobs - is to finally pass a state budget.