Post by title1parent on Oct 13, 2009 5:22:56 GMT -5
www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=328446&src=
Take politics out of scholarships
Daily Herald Editorial Board 10/13/200
State lawmakers must overhaul the tuition waiver program that permits them to hand out valuable state university scholarships.
Over the years, the well-meaning program that allows each state senator and representative to give eight, one-year tuition waivers for an Illinois public university to any district resident has been the target of criticism.
It's not hard to figure out why.
Free tuition worth up to $12,000, depending on the university, provides the kind of clout to reward contributors and strengthen connections.
In a state that has raised political shenanigans to an art form, a perk like that is ripe for abuse.
To make matters worse the state budget is a mess and state universities aren't reimbursed for the tuition recipients don't have to pay. The universities cover the cost, meaning there is less financial aid for truly needy students.
While we await a better economic climate and a dependable funding source for this program, our lawmakers can take a positive step toward transparency and turn over distribution of scholarships to the agency in charge of financial aid.
Last week, the Daily Herald's Joseph Ryan reported that few if any lawmakers know about or use a portion of the law that allows them to remove any question of impropriety by giving their scholarships to the Illinois Student Assistance Commission to dole out the funds.
A commission spokesman told us not one of Illinois' 177 lawmakers has asked to use that provision. A Daily Herald report in 2003 also found no lawmaker using it.
Many lawmakers, like state Sen. Carole Pankau, an Itasca Republican, have taken steps to remove themselves from the process, such as setting up panels to vet applicants. However, Pankau still has taken heat for some of those waivers ending up with the children of a campaign donor.
Other lawmakers, uneasy with the scrutiny the scholarship program attracts, avoid potential controversy altogether and don't give any out.
Taking the money out of lawmakers' hands would at least address the ethical question and allay critics.
It would remove politics from the equation and add a level of transparency that is needed throughout Illinois government.
"If you want something ironclad, that seems to be an option they should look seriously at," said David Morrison, deputy director of the watchdog group Illinois Campaign for Political Reform.
At least one area legislator, freshman state Sen. Dan Duffy of Lake Barrington, likes the idea.
Multiple attempts to abolish the tuition waiver perk have failed throughout the years. We see the potential value of a scholarship program that achieves geographic balance. Removing politicians from the selection process accomplishes the accountability the program needs.
Take politics out of scholarships
Daily Herald Editorial Board 10/13/200
State lawmakers must overhaul the tuition waiver program that permits them to hand out valuable state university scholarships.
Over the years, the well-meaning program that allows each state senator and representative to give eight, one-year tuition waivers for an Illinois public university to any district resident has been the target of criticism.
It's not hard to figure out why.
Free tuition worth up to $12,000, depending on the university, provides the kind of clout to reward contributors and strengthen connections.
In a state that has raised political shenanigans to an art form, a perk like that is ripe for abuse.
To make matters worse the state budget is a mess and state universities aren't reimbursed for the tuition recipients don't have to pay. The universities cover the cost, meaning there is less financial aid for truly needy students.
While we await a better economic climate and a dependable funding source for this program, our lawmakers can take a positive step toward transparency and turn over distribution of scholarships to the agency in charge of financial aid.
Last week, the Daily Herald's Joseph Ryan reported that few if any lawmakers know about or use a portion of the law that allows them to remove any question of impropriety by giving their scholarships to the Illinois Student Assistance Commission to dole out the funds.
A commission spokesman told us not one of Illinois' 177 lawmakers has asked to use that provision. A Daily Herald report in 2003 also found no lawmaker using it.
Many lawmakers, like state Sen. Carole Pankau, an Itasca Republican, have taken steps to remove themselves from the process, such as setting up panels to vet applicants. However, Pankau still has taken heat for some of those waivers ending up with the children of a campaign donor.
Other lawmakers, uneasy with the scrutiny the scholarship program attracts, avoid potential controversy altogether and don't give any out.
Taking the money out of lawmakers' hands would at least address the ethical question and allay critics.
It would remove politics from the equation and add a level of transparency that is needed throughout Illinois government.
"If you want something ironclad, that seems to be an option they should look seriously at," said David Morrison, deputy director of the watchdog group Illinois Campaign for Political Reform.
At least one area legislator, freshman state Sen. Dan Duffy of Lake Barrington, likes the idea.
Multiple attempts to abolish the tuition waiver perk have failed throughout the years. We see the potential value of a scholarship program that achieves geographic balance. Removing politicians from the selection process accomplishes the accountability the program needs.