Rauner Accuses Madigan Of Blocking Higher Education Spending Bill
(CBS) -- Governor Bruce Rauner said he's supporting legislation to make money available for higher education and scholarships for students, but he insists his nemesis, House Speaker Michael Madigan, is standing in the way, reports WBBM Political Editor Craig Dellimore.
A bill sponsored by rebel Democratic State Representative Ken Dunkin and others would provide $160 million in emergency assistance for public universities and community colleges but Governor Rauner said Speaker Michael Madigan won't call the bill for a vote.
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"Speaker Madigan and his folks in the legislature are trying to create a crisis and create headlines around the crisis to impact the primary voting that's going on right now," Rauner said. "Political games are being put ahead of students' lives and we've got to stop this."
A spokesman for Speaker Madigan said the bill is being studied but it doesn't guarantee money to the schools and it eliminates $180 million in school construction money. He said the governor has been trying to cut money for higher education for a year-and-a-half.
