Governor Rauner's budget message highlighted the need for more funding for early childhood and K through 12 education.
But, Rauner failed to mention any funding plans for higher education.
SIU President Randy Dunn says he's puzzled why the governor consistently promotes that and ignores talk of any funds for higher education, instead taking shots at the bloated bureaucracies at colleges and universities.
As Illinois' former state school superintendent, Dunn says he's all for increasing the money for K through 12 education. But, he says there is also room for increased efficiencies.
"As we look at the number of districts across the state and the things that are funded within the K-12 budget, I dare say we could find some areas for reform and reduction as well."
President Dunn says his system would lose around $100 million by the end of fiscal year 2017 without state funding.
Dunn says that's unacceptable to him and to the other presidents of public universities in Illinois, who will be coming together to propose an alternative funding bill to state legislators.
"Instead of being pawns in this, I think you're going to have to see all of us become more assertive, put together our own bill that we think is necessary to fund higher education for the state- acknowledging that we have to play our part in looking for reductions, increased efficiencies."
When asked about what he thought of the Governor's speech, Democratic Representative Brandon Phelps of Harrisburg said Rauner is still avoiding the big issue - how to reach a budget deal.
"I wish he would have talked about specifics, but as you know, you saw it; he didn't really talk about much specifics. All he really talked about was the feel good stuff. To funding early childhood and K through 12. Well, we all want that! So I just want him to get more specific and I'm ready to work with him."
Rauner gave democratic leaders a choice in trying to solve the ongoing budget impasse.
Rauner said they can work with him to make Illinois law more favorable to business, or give him free rein to make drastic cuts across government.
Phelps said the governor might want to rethink that proposal.
"If we give him the whole kit-n-caboodle of the budget and let him try to make the cuts, he's going to make a lot of people upset, because then he's going to have to pick and choose. I don't know why he would want that path."
Republican State Senator Chapin Rose says Democrats in the legislature have the numbers to pass a budget, and need to act soon.
But, Rose says he fears that if there's no budget agreement in the next two months -- Illinois' budget impasse may continue a lot longer, with grave results.
"My fear is, if you get past the middle of April, this thing's going to drag on until the November elections ... And at that point in time, you will have wholesale shed blood in the streets all over the state of Illinois, from everything from higher education to social services. And a lot of the things that people of both parties believe pretty strongly in will have been devastated."
Rauner talked about a willingness to compromise.
He said lawmakers did not have to approve all of his turn around agenda in order to reach an agreement on tax increases.
Paul Simon Public Policy Institute Director David Yepsen says this is a positive step in the right direction to fixing Illinois' problems.
"Illinois is in the worst fiscal condition of modern times arguably worse than the great depression and it's not going to get solved with spending cuts or tax increases, its going to take both and its also going to take what the Governor wants to do in terms of reforming the way Illinois economy operates so that the state can operate more efficiently and we can be attractive to business."
Yepsen thinks since the state has gone through most of the current year without a budget, more legislators will be willing to come together and work out their differences in order to pass a spending plan.
But, Senator Rose says the fact that the Illinois House adjourned until March First shortly after the governor's budget address makes him wonder if Democrats are very concerned about an ongoing budget. impasse
