Lawmakers: Focus on making college affordable - Matt Hopf, GATEHOUSE NEWS SERVICE

House Joint Resolution 54, backed by two Chicago Democrats, requires the state’s higher education agencies to study how to make going to college more affordable. It passed the Legislature in the fall. That’s a particularly tough assignment now. State government owes universities hundreds of millions of dollars in overdue payments. The University of Illinois system is owed more than $400 million, while Northern Illinois University is due $60 million. Universities and colleges have been forced to raise tuition and other costs to keep up for dwindling state help. State Sen. Ed Maloney says it’s time to do more.