Governor Quinn Statement on Illinois Senate Abolishing Legislative Scholarships

SPRINGFIELD - May 3, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn today issued a statement regarding the Illinois Senate's passage of HB 3810, which ends the troubled General Assembly tuition waiver program.

"Today, the Illinois Senate took a big step forward to do the right thing. I want to salute President John Cullerton for his leadership and urge the House to quickly concur with this long-overdue ethics reform.

"Abolishing a political scholarship program is the right thing for deserving students who need financial assistance to attend college. Illinois deserves to have a strong scholarship program that helps needy students go to college.

"As I have repeatedly advocated - scholarships - paid for by Illinois taxpayers- should be awarded only to those with merit who are in true financial need. As we continue to move forward to tackle reforming our pensions and Medicaid systems, this is an important bipartisan moment of progress.

"I look forward to working with the General Assembly night and day to make more progress in the remaining four weeks."