Walker Promotes Funding for SIU, Higher Ed

State Senate Candidate Jeremy Walker Remains Critical Of Governor’s Amendatory Veto To College Funding; Proposes Funding Formula

By Staff reports
Randolph County Herald Tribune
Oct 05, 2010

Chester, Ill. — Illinois State Senate Candidate Jeremy Walker was on Southern Illinois University’s campus earlier today promoting funding for the state’s higher education facilities. Walker called for the General Assembly to override the governor’s amendatory veto that cut $100 million from Illinois’ public universities and community colleges and proposed a funding formula to ensure higher education gets its fair share of funding in the future.

Walker called on the General Assembly to override the governor’s amendatory veto of this year’s budget that cut an additional $100 million from the state’s public universities and community colleges. State Senator John Sullivan, Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee joined Walker in his call to action.

“$100 million in cuts have recently forced SIU to potentially implement ‘shut down’ days which will affect both students and faculty,” Walker noted. “If we can restore funding, the university would not have to look at such drastic cost cutting tools. Sitting back and complaining doesn’t benefit our students, rolling up our sleeves and fighting for real solutions does.”

Walker also proposed a “One-Third/Two-Thirds” funding formula for higher education and K-12 schools. The proposed formula would require all new education funds to be distributed 33.3 and 66.7 percent for higher education and K-12 in that order. Walker says this formula would ensure that higher education is both affordable and available for students looking to attend college and is prioritized in the state budget process.

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