Posted by Michelle Manchir at 3:48 p.m.
SPRINGFIELD — Illinois lawmakers would be banned from offering scholarships for public universities under a measure the House approved today to address concerns about the often-abused awards that have been distributed to relatives, political donors and the children of political allies.
But an end to the long-standing controversial practice is far from guaranteed — a Senate version aims to reform how the scholarships are handed out but would not ban them altogether.
The House voted 80-36 today in favor of a ban on legislative scholarships.
Sponsoring Rep. Mark Walker, D-Arlington Heights, said legislators’ privileges should not include handing out tuition waivers.
"My goal here is to set up a system whereby needy students in the state get access to education by applying to universities and applying to financial aid and other grants. I believe this is the best way to do it," Walker said.
Still, both Democrat and Republican opponents came down hard on the measure. Many, like Rep. Edward Acevedo, D-Chicago, said the scholarships provide the only path for the poorest students in their districts to get a college degree.
"We have parents probably working two or three jobs just to put food on the table for their families and we’re not going to give them that opportunity to continue their education?" said Acevedo, who represents a Southwest Side district.
Other opponents accused Walker of merely appeasing critics of the scholarships. A Tribune analysis last fall found that some legislators gave free rides to the children of campaign donors, party loyalists and state employees.
Republican Rep. Rosemary Mulligan of Des Plaines voted against the ban, saying the waivers evenly distribute scholarship money for students across the state.
"You could address the abuses by legislation as opposed to letting the newspaper take cheap shots at us over things that perhaps do really help a great number of people," Mulligan said.
The Senate last week approved separate legislation to prohibit a legislator from giving a scholarship to someone whose family could be linked to a campaign contribution within the previous five years. The House has not yet voted on that proposal.