Illinois lawmakers work on a $600M lifeline for colleges

(AP) — A vote on a rare bipartisan agreement to send $600 million to financially struggling colleges and universities in Illinois was delayed Thursday during a roller-coaster evening that once again highlighted how dysfunctional the Legislature has become in its tenth month without a budget.

Lawmakers have to act soon because they're on break next week for Passover and higher education institutions have been limping along without state support since July 1, when the budget for the current fiscal year should've taken effect.

The money for the bill is possible because of a surplus in the state's Education Assistance Fund, which takes a portion of income taxes for public schools and colleges.

[...] several of her colleagues complained before the vote that the bill didn't provide enough funding for colleges and bemoaned the fact that there was no money for struggling social service programs.