Illinois Senate Democrats call for funding college grants, compromise with governor - Doug Finke, State Journal-Register

Illinois Senate Democrats took turns Wednesday decrying the lack of a state budget and calling for the legislature to approve money to pay for grants to low-income college students. However, the first day of the 2016 spring legislative session ended where it began, with no budget approved and no apparent end in sight to the impasse that has now stretched into its seventh month. Nine Senate Democrats signed onto a bill introduced Wednesday to provide $168 million for the Monetary Award Program that provides grants to low-income students to attend colleges and universities. About 125,000 students received MAP grants last year that can be used for tuition and fees at institutions of higher education. The average grant was about $2,700. http://www.sj-r.com/article/20160113/NEWS/160119789