Chicago Area Local News

By DEANNA BELLANDI and CHRISTOPHER WILLS Associated Press Writers
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) ― Illinois lawmakers head back to Springfield on Wednesday searching for new money for college scholarships and hoping to strengthen state ethics laws.

But officials don't expect to address thorny issues like an income tax increase.

One thing Gov. Pat Quinn, a Democrat, and lawmakers from both parties agree on is that restoring money for college scholarships needs to be a top priority.

Lawmakers cut funding in half for the Illinois Monetary Award Program, also known as MAP grants, when they cobbled together a budget with Quinn over the summer to try to deal with a state budget deficit of at least $11 billion.

But there's no agreement on where to get the money for the scholarships that 145,000 low-income college students rely on. Some of the options include collecting money through a tax amnesty plan or raising cigarette taxes.

Senate President John Cullerton has issues with the Republican tax amnesty plan because it would not bring in nearly enough money to provide the scholarships, said his spokeswoman, Rikeesha Phelon. Cullerton, a Democrat, doesn't object to raising cigarette taxes -- an idea proposed by Quinn -- but he prefers to spend that money on health care, which would then be matched by federal funds.

Phelon said Quinn was given the authority to move money around in the budget to cover important programs like the MAP grants, but he didn't use it.

"That's a management issue, and it was a choice," Phelon said. "He could fix it today."

House Speaker Michael Madigan, a Democrat, prefers raising the MAP money by increasing cigarette taxes, said his spokesman, Steve Brown. The additional tax money could be used for health care and bring in federal aid that would then free up state money to pay for scholarships, he said.

Brown called that a much more logical approach than "to give a break to tax deadbeats."

Republican House leader Tom Cross defended the amnesty plan his caucus is pushing, which would let individuals and companies pay delinquent taxes he says the state might otherwise not collect.

"It's an opportunity to bring in a little over $100 million to help college kids whose parents, I suspect in many cases, are struggling," he said.

What happens to a much-anticipated campaign finance reform measure is also up on the air. Lawmakers will be in session three days this week and three days later in the month.

Brown wouldn't say Tuesday whether Madigan intends to call the legislation for a vote despite complaints from some reform groups that it isn't strong enough.

The measure would replace the proposal that Quinn originally backed but vetoed over the summer, but reform groups still don't like it. They said the plan still fails to limit campaign contributions to candidates from political parties and legislative leaders.

"Unless those groups that are knowledgeable are comfortable with what is passed, I don't believe that's real reform," said Senate Republican leader Christine Radogno, who supports such contribution limits.

Phelon said the bill still represents a major improvement in state ethics laws, even if some people aren't satisfied.

"Not everyone's going to get everything they want. Welcome to Springfield," she said.

Cullerton also plans to vote Thursday on a measure that would let the public decide whether to change the state constitution so that governors can be recalled for corruption or incompetence, Phelon said. The House has already approved the measure.

Recall is a measure Quinn has strongly backed.

"The governor believes we're going to have a very productive session," Quinn spokesman Bob Reed said.

(© 2010 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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