State Rep. Carol Ammons (D-Urbana) has launched a petition drive in her district to lobby Gov. Bruce Rauner to restore cuts to the University of Illinois and Parkland Community College.
“Our public universities and colleges are vital to the prosperity of our community and state, as they support our economy, employ our neighbors and keep our most talented minds living in Illinois,” Ammons said. “When the governor rejected a budget that provided funding for the vital services college students rely on, he put the careers of thousands of students at risk.”
As part of an attempt to wrangle the state's budget woes, Rauner proposed a 30 percent cut in public education funding, including $209 million for the University of Illinois. Ammons hopes her petition drive will show the governor the extent of support for these institutions and sway him to forgo the proposed cuts.
“This petition drive will help send a message to the governor and the legislators he controls that there are real human lives being affected by their political games,” Ammons said. “Tuition rates are already at an all-time high and students simply cannot afford to take on more student loan debt that will follow them throughout life.”
Ammons has also recently taken a legislative approach to the issue by supporting a bill that would restore funding to higher education programs like the Monetary Award Program, which provides grants to help low-income students afford higher education.
Petitions are circulating on campuses. The petition can also be signed on Ammons' website.
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