Illinois Senate Overrides Governor's Veto of Funding Bill for Community Colleges, MAP Grants; House Fails to Override

The Senate has voted to override Gov. Bruce Rauner's veto of hundreds of millions of dollars for higher education, but the Illinois House failed to override the veto.

The 37-17 vote Wednesday sends the override action to the House. It would authorize spending $397 million for the income-based Monetary Award Program for needy college students and $324 million to help finance community colleges. House Republicans, though, and one Democat voted against the override.

Republican Rauner vetoed the measure because there isn't enough money to cover the cost. He has bickered with Democrats who control the Legislature, and there's still no budget for the fiscal year that began July 1.

Many colleges covered MAP funding for thousands of students during the fall semester but some said they wouldn't be able to continue this spring. Four-year colleges have received no state money this year because of the stalemate.

St. Sen. Dale Righter of Mattoon said he voted against the override since the measure provides no funding for universities such as Eastern Illinois University, which is in his Senate district.