Members of the Illinois House spent Thursday evening congratulating themselves thinking they were minutes from passing a bipartisan measure sending 600 million dollars in emergency funding to the state community colleges and public universities. But... the vote never happened.
Frustrated at months of stalled talks between Democratic leaders and Republican Governor Bruce Rauner. ... rank-and-file House members cut a deal both sides thought they could live with. It didn't spend money the state doesn't have. And it gave strained institutions some needed cash.
But sponsor Democratic Representative Rita Mayfield of Waukegan... withdrew her legislation just before the vote, stunning Republicans, like House Minority Leader Jim Durkin. When it looked like the plan was still moving forward, Durkin had said the governor was ready to sign it.
"A lot of things brought us here today and got us to this bill. But I just want to thank my colleagues over here that i serve with for hanging tough."
During debate, Democrats complained the measure didn't address human service agencies who have also gone without state funding. Both the House and Senate are in today.
Southern Illinois University President Randy Dunn said legislators need to find a solution soon.
"Well, I'm not sure what just happened because even the old hands here in the Capitol were surprised by this. But clearly, we're at the point of existential crisis for some of our institutions. And there has to be a patch. There has to be a stop gap."
Jack Thomas, president of Western Illinois University, was visibly angry and requested a few minutes to calm down before answering questions.
"We were all excited tonight, thinking that they were going to come to an agreement, and then BOOM! No budget right now, everything has been put on hold."
A representative of Chicago State University - slated to close at the end of this month - had previously agreed to an interview but cancelled after the deal collapsed, telling me "We have nothing to say."
