Tuesday, February 13, 2018

Chicago, IL – After three years of unbalanced budgets and a historic 736-day budget crisis, Bruce Rauner’s gross mismanagement has hurt children and families across the state. This week, the Pritzker campaign is highlighting not just the numbers on spreadsheets, but the real faces harmed by Rauner’s heartless cuts.

Students’ potential has been stifled by Bruce Rauner’s budget mismanagement as he leveraged their future and sent them fleeing. Here are the facts:

• $1 billion in economic activity linked to public higher education disappeared.

• Nearly 130,000 students saw their MAP grants threatened during the budget crisis while Rauner vetoed their funding.

• 72,000 fewer students enrolled in Illinois public colleges and universities.

• 7,500 jobs were lost at higher education institutions.

• Dozens of programs were cut at state colleges and universities.

• Seven percent tuition and fee increases were passed on to students.

• 31.5 percent was slashed from higher education budgets in Rauner’s 2015 budget proposal.

• Five public universities were downgraded to junk bond status.

“Bruce Rauner has led an all-out assault on public education in Illinois and stifled our students’ futures,” said JB Pritzker. “Bright young people are fleeing the state after this failed governor held their MAP grant funding hostage and wrecked the finances of our public colleges and universities. We need a governor who understands that education is the key to breaking down barriers to opportunity and building a better future. That’s the type of leader I will be for Illinois.”

Read about how JB will invest in higher education in his jobs plan HERE.

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