Quinn repeats call to abolish legislative scholarships

SPRINGFIELD -- Gov. Pat Quinn has a relatively new name for the embattled program in which legislators get to bestow tuition vouchers on college-bound students: political scholarships.

The Democratic governor again called for the state Senate to vote to end the so-called legislative scholarship program on Monday, telling reporters after a speech to the Illinois Association of Realtors that Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago, should allow an up-or-down vote.

"Where we really need to have the resources put is into those who are needy and deserving. They may not have political connections, but those are the students we should focus on," Quinn said at the Springfield Hilton. "I hope the Senate president calls that bill that passed the House. It has in the past passed the House. It's time for the Senate to act."

To committee

A spokeswoman for Cullerton said the measure, Senate Bill 3810, will go to the Senate Executive Committee, where it then will be assigned to the Subcommittee on Special Issues.

"If it passes the Executive Committee, there will be a floor vote," said Cullerton's press secretary, Rikeesha Phelon. "These bills will follow the normal legislative process. They will be heard in committee. Proponents and opponents will have the opportunity to testify, and there will be an opportunity to vote. If it passes, it moves on."

Subcommittees typically have only three members, two of them Democrats. That means fewer Democrats are exposed to political blowback if they kill bills that might be popular with the public.

The SB2914's sponsor, Sen. Dan Kotowski, D-Park Ridge, said he thinks his legislation will get fair treatment.

"It looks very possible to resolve this issue this session. … We've got to make sure the money goes toward helping students. I have every expectation this will get a fair hearing."

In the past, the Senate has tried to reform the program, but rejected attempts to end it.

Recent abuses

Several highly publicized examples of abuse of the program have come out of that chamber. In recent months, the Chicago Sun-Times reported that Sen. Annazette Collins, D-Chicago, gave scholarships to students outside her district.

The newspaper also reported in 2011 that Sen. Martin Sandoval, D-Chicago, gave scholarships to five different students, all of whom listed the same home address - that of a Chicago Democratic precinct captain in Sandoval's legislative district. The five included the son of a reputed Chicago mobster. Voter registration and motor vehicle records cast doubt on whether the students really lived at the address. The revelation caused the State Board of Education to refer the matter to the FBI.

In the past, lawmakers have also given the scholarships to the family members of political contributors.

Even Cullerton's former chief of staff, Andy Manar, who is running for the Senate from the 48th District, which includes downtown Springfield and the city's east side, called Monday for the perk to go.

"Improving access to higher education should not be based on whether you know a state legislator personally," said Manar in a news release. "People are hungry for reform."

Manar's opponent in the November election, Decatur Mayor Mike McElroy, agreed that the scholarships should end.

"It was the Democrats, the Chicago Democrats, on a couple of votes that made sure that it stayed," he said.

Chris Wetterich can be reached at (217) 788-1523.