Quinn moves to abolish controversial legislative scholarships

[The Northerner]

SPRINGFIELD — Gov. Pat Quinn on Wednesday rewrote legislation to abolish the state’s century-old General Assembly scholarship program that has been beset by cronyism and scandal for decades.

The governor’s move will require a sign-off this fall by state lawmakers, who in the past have voted down efforts to get rid of the program that gives them the ability to hand out free college rides to anyone of their choosing.

“As I have repeatedly advocated in the past, college scholarships — paid for by Illinois taxpayers — should only go to those that have true financial need for them. I cannot in good conscience sign any legislation that continues to allow legislators to bestow this benefit on a select few,” Quinn wrote in an amendatory veto message to lawmakers.

The bill Quinn changed, which passed the General Assembly by veto-proof margins, would have barred lawmakers from doling out legislative scholarships to relatives and given them permission to turn over the selection process to the Illinois Student Assistance Commission if an individual lawmaker chose to.

Read more: http://www.suntimes.com/6992304-417/quinn-moves-to-abolish-controversial-legislative-scholarships.html

[madrchsod]

1. it`s about time someone stopped this...

quinn is not perfect but at least he is not insane

[SoCalDem]

2. Scholarships should have only TWO criteria

Grades
Financial need.