We have been reporting week by week on the cumulative destruction being wrought by this Springfield budget debacle. So far much of our coverage has been focused on nonprofits and social service agencies, which, because the state has stopped paying its bills, are about out of cash and have begun slicing staff and programs.
This week we report on the looming collapse of the state’s MAP program which grants college students small sums — $3,000 to $5,000 — to help pay tuition. We’ve talked to students at our local colleges who tell us the money is critical either to making tuition or to limit the student debt load they exit with from school.
We have reached the point now where actual people are about to get screwed over by callous political leaders. There is no place for gamesmanship when avoidable pain can be sidestepped. Our disgust with both Bruce Rauner and Mike Madigan is rising.