[barb02]

I just returned home from a shopping trip to Chicago to receive an email from our university president about a possible 30 day furlough for all university employees. Plus,summer classes may be canceled. The great state of Illinois is a gigantic mess!!! It has not paid any payments to the universities this academic year. They are now getting fined for interest on health care bills as they have not paid our insurance premiums since March. Some doctors and dentist are now refusing to see patients who are states employees if they do not personally pay their bills.

[gonnamakeit]

Originally Posted by barb02

I just returned home from a shopping trip to Chicago to receive an email from our university president about a possible 30 day furlough for all university employees. Plus,summer classes may be canceled. The great state of Illinois is a gigantic mess!!! It has not paid any payments to the universities this academic year. They are now getting fined for interest on health care bills as they have not paid our insurance premiums since March. Some doctors and dentist are now refusing to see patients who are states employees if they do not personally pay their bills.

This is just awful! I feel for you and others in your situation.

gmi

[SandyC]

We talked to a state rep and he said Quinn went around telling some state universities that they should front the MAP grants to students and promised they would receive their money from the state. Is he crazy? They haven't even paid the last ones yet. I also heard veteran's education benefits may be halted which affects my sons and all veterans and families of Illinois. It will be an interesting year to say the least. I told my younger son not to worry we will find the money one way or the other.

Barb, I hope they aren't serious because a month without pay would affect so many, not to mention summer classes. Some teachers rely on year round pay and that will hurt many financially.

[Jodylee]

I'm sorry, Barb . That is just awful news for everybody in the state . I hope it doesn't actually happen. The insurance problems are just shameful!

[barb02]

Sandy, the state does not reimburse the schools for the vet's tuition waivers. The schools have to cover it. And since we are not getting any funding from the state for the MAP grants, it is just creating more problems.

I am not sure what the president even means by 30 days -- one month or 30 working days? Since most faculty (including myself are on 9 month contracts) but have our salary spread over 12 months, would it mean 1/9 of our salary? School should be interesting tomorrow. He sent out the email late on Friday afternoon.

[SandyC]

I was talking about the MAP grants in regards to reimbursement according to Quinn, not the veterans grants. I don't know about the tuition waivers, never heard of that. I was talking about one of the grants they are possibly going to deny and is funded through Illinois. The boys benefits/grants are through the state and called the POW/MIA scholarship. It is for dependents and spouses of veterans who are POW/MIA, deceased during wartime or 100% service connected. I used it and the boys attend school under this program because Jim is a 100% service connected Illinois vet. It is strictly from the state here in Illinois and only available through state universities. This is why we have to live here in Illinois until the boys graduate.

The Illinois VA funds the money and if the state doesn't help give them the money then the program may be affected. Other states have a similar program but this one is possibly affected here. The Chapter 35 and GI Bill grants are federal and so far not affected.

Let us know what the president says. It seems Illinois can't get it together. I also heard this state is in the top ten of being in the most debt. So many programs we use and support are not being funded. So sad.

[Dejibo]

same boat in NH. Loads of layoffs, and cancelled sessions. The union turned down the last bargaining session, so the govenor started laying off. its a wild ride to be a state employee these days.

[karousel]

Barb it sounds like a nightmare.

[Debbie D]

Barb, I am so sorry you have to deal with this mess...I told my DD not to come to Illinois to teach...I heard that Gov. Blago raided the teacher's pension fund, and there's a bunch of IOU's in the box.

Sounds like this is just the beginning of the dominoes that are going to fall in state after state...

[SallyC]

Im so sorry, Barb. What a nightmare. It just isn't fair! This is Obama's State....Hmmmmmmmmm.

I hope it all gets straightened out, somehow. All of You, going through these hard times, have my hopes and prayers.