McHenry County Blog

A press release from State Rep. Kent Gaffney:

Gaffney, Sullivan Turn Down Legislative Scholarship Program

Ed Sullivan

Kent Gaffney

Barrington, IL… Due to State budgetary troubles, State Representatives Kent Gaffney (R-Lake Barrington) and Ed Sullivan (R-Mundelein) have jointly decided to turn down the General Assembly Scholarship Program offered to each legislator in the Illinois General Assembly.

The General Assembly Scholarship Program is an unfunded mandate that allows legislators to award up to eight scholarships each year covering tuition at State universities.

“While many people have benefited from this program, in times like these, unfunded mandates and extra costs to the State need to be reviewed,” said Gaffney. “Illinois just had its ninth bond downgrade in the past four years and the State is facing billions of dollars of unpaid bills. We need to look at every option available to save taxpayer dollars, this not the time to be awarding Legislative Scholarships.”

In 2011, 1,327 tuition waivers were awarded in Illinois, costing the State $13,508,800. This $13.5 million is an unfunded mandate on State universities, where the cost is then passed on to other students paying tuition. Tuition rates in Illinois have been skyrocketing the past few years. Since 2003, the University of Illinois’ tuition rate has gone up 53%, averaging $14,414 a year. With State finances in dire straights and taxpayers getting hit with a 67% tax increase, Gaffney and Sullivan want to cut costs by not participating in the program.

“I have participated in this program since I was first elected and many deserving students have benefited from these scholarships. However in these tough economic times, tough decisions have to be made,” said Sullivan. “My office will no longer be offering the General Assembly Scholarship.”

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Here’s what Mike Tryon is doing.

Mike Tryon

Some state legislators are refusing to grant legislative scholarships, but State Rep. Mike Tryon is not one of them.  Here is his press release on who can apply and how to do it:

Tryon General Assembly Scholarship Applications Now Available On Line

Crystal Lake…. High School seniors and current college students residing in the 64^th legislative district of Illinois are invited to apply for a General Assembly Scholarship from State Representative Michael Tryon’s district office.  The application is available on his website at www.michaeltryon.com.

The General Assembly Scholarship program awards eight one-year, tuition-only scholarships to the University of Illinois or any other public university in the state, and applications are judged by an independent scholarship committee.

“It is wonderful to be able to promote our state university system and reward some of our bright young adults for their hard work,” said Rep. Mike Tryon (R-Crystal Lake).  “This is one of the most fulfilling jobs I have as a state legislator.”

To qualify for the General Assembly Scholarship, students must meet the following requirements:

• The student must be enrolled in a degree-granting program for the 2012 Fall and 2013 Spring semesters
• The student must be a resident of the 64^th legislative district
• The student must show evidence of good grades and leadership potential as demonstrated through extracurricular activities
• The student must be planning to continue his or her education within the Illinois state university system

“College can be a tremendous tool for our young adults working to make their way in the world,” said Tryon. “I am very happy to be able to help a few of my constituents work toward their college degree.”

The deadline to submit a scholarship application is March 23 at 5 p.m.  Rep. Tryon’s district office is located at 1 N. Virginia Street in Crystal Lake.  For more information about the scholarship program, please contact Rep. Tryon’ District Office at 815-459-6453.

Here’s a press release from State Senator Kirk Dillard, a candidate for the GOP nomination for governor:

Dillard Renews Ethical Judgment Charge at Debate Important Party Nominates Candidate Who Can Win in Fall

(Lisle, IL) – Illinois Republican candidate for governor Kirk Dillard today renewed his charge that Andy McKenna’s ethics violation sends the wrong message to voters and contrasts sharply from Dillard’s record as a leader on ethics reform. GOP officials announced last week that McKenna, while Chairman, used party funds to further a possible run for political office.

Dillard has said that as Chairman of the DuPage County Republican Party he was never found guilty of ethics violations. “My opponent Andy McKenna, the ‘insider,’ cannot say the same,” Dillard said at the West Suburban Chamber of Commerce debate in Countryside.

Dillard also questioned the ethical judgment of Jim Ryan for taking hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from Stuart Levine, later convicted of influence peddling during the Blagojevich administration. “Unlike my opponent Jim Ryan, you won’t find any of my close friends or largest contributors sitting in a federal holding cell for a ‘pay to play’ scheme,” Dillard said. Ryan did not attend the debate.

Dillard argued that Republicans need to nominate a candidate who can win back the governor’s office in November, not someone who reminds voters of the Blagojevich/Quinn administration. “The stakes are too high. The judgment of our candidate for Governor should not be in question,” Dillard said.

Dillard has pledged to shut down his campaign fund when sworn-in as Governor. “The state is in crisis, and I need to spend all of my time governing, not fundraising,” Dillard explained. “We need a Governor who will lead by example to end corruption and focus all of his attention on making Illinois work again.”

Dillard was first elected to the Illinois Senate in 1994. He served as Chief of Staff for former Governor Jim Edgar and was Legislative Affairs Director for former Governor Jim Thompson.

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Not included in the press release was this criticism of opponent State Senator Bill  Brady:

“Sadly, we do have candidates here of my own party who lack ethical judgment too:  Bill Brady, I haven’t taken a $10,000 contribution from a contributor and given their child free tuition at the University of Illinois Medical School.”

I found that in the Sun-Times story about the debate.

A press release from State Senator Dan Duffy:

Duffy Withdraws from Legislative Scholarship Program

Barrington, Illinois – State Senator Dan Duffy (R-Lake Barrington) announced his decision to withdraw from the Illinois General Assembly Legislative Scholarship Program today.

“This was not an easy decision,” said Senator Duffy. “It was based on my commitment to fighting corruption, increasing transparency and fairness. Like many government programs, the recipients of these funds are happy to receive them. However, I have discovered that the Legislative Scholarship process has very little oversight and it is not transparent. It is therefore subject to possible corruption.”

The 26th District Senator noted,

“The only way to reduce the misuse of funds is to remove programs that make it possible. Unfortunately, the Legislative Scholarship Program is easy to abuse.”

“As an Illinois State Senator, it is critical that I fulfill the promises I made to my constituents,” explained Senator Duffy. “I have promised to fight corruption, encourage job growth and keep taxes low. This decision is just another step towards fulfilling those promises.”

By law, each member of the General Assembly may award the equivalent of eight years free tuition to anyone based on any criteria they choose. The only limitations are that the student attend an Illinois state institution, live in the legislator’s district and is not a close relative.

Only Maryland and Illinois allow legislators to award scholarships to students.