 State Rep. John Bradley, D-Marion, said the bill is not mandating
universities to do this but provides them with an option in hard
financial times. Bradley said the state has dug the universities
into major financial holes, and they need an option to borrow money
to help make payroll and run the universities.The university
would have one year to repay the state, if they choose to borrow, or
10 days from payment disbursement from the state, and they cannot
borrow more than the costs to run the school.
Bradley said this is an unwanted situation for lawmakers and
universities, but it is necessary to keep these schools open.
"There is specific language in the bill that this is not an
obligation to the state," Bradley said. "Now having said that, they
are quasi-state agencies, so they're doing this based on the
appropriations that are owed to them by the state."
State Sen. William Haine, D-Alton, was the Senate sponsor and
agreed with Bradley that this is not an ideal bill, but it is
needed.
"These are extraordinary times and this is an extraordinary
remedy that we all take reluctantly," Haine said. "But, we should
listen to (the universities) and give them this option."
State Sen. David Leuchtefeld, R-Okawville, said the bill should
already have been passed because it is so important. He said the
House took too long with the bill, and it is important for state
universities to have this borrowing option, whether they use it or
not. He said lawmakers caused this problem for the schools by not
being fiscally responsible.
"This is a bill that should probably be on the governor's desk
already," Leuchtefeld said. "It was kind of messed up and games were
played in the House. Certainly it's not the universities' fault that
we put them in this situation."
[to top of second column] |
State Rep. Richard Myers, R-Macomb, represents Western Illinois
University. He said he has seen the school suffer financially to
meet payroll, and this is a good option for them to pay their bills.
"While the universities, especially my university, don't
particularly want to use this tool, it is a tool available to them,"
Myers said. "They need to keep their doors open, and meeting the
payroll is the primary concern of many universities. If this is a
way of meeting the payroll and keeping the doors open, I think it's
something we should allow the universities to have at their
disposal."
The bill will next go to Gov. Pat Quinn's desk, where he may sign
it into law. It would become effective immediately.
[Illinois
Statehouse News; By ASHLEY BADGLEY]
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