Health & Fitness
Quinn Signs Kotowski's Bill to End Legislative Scholarships
The new law is another victory in Kotowski's efforts to reform spending in Springfield and ending perks for politicians.
SPRINGFIELD, IL – Senator Dan Kotowski’s (D- Park Ridge) battle to change politics as usual and reform government spending took an important step forward today when Governor Quinn signed House Bill 3810 into law. The law, which was championed by Senator Kotowski in the Senate, terminates the long-standing, yet controversial legislative scholarship program.
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"This is a perfect example of program that got corrupted and abused due to lack of oversight and proper evaluation. Misspending of taxpayer dollars is one of the reasons I sponsored and passed historic spending reform,” said Senator Kotowski. “That law ends automatic funding in the state budget and requires programs to work and provide real value for taxpayers. This program didn’t work and now, with today’s action, it is gone.”
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The legislative scholarship program gave legislators the ability to award tuition waivers to students who attend public universities in Illinois. Media outlets and watchdog organizations examined the program and found legislators had taken advantage of the program to benefit friends and families. The new law not only puts an end to the program, but creates a task force dedicated to examining other tuition waiver programs as well.
The law represents another victory in Senator Kotowski’s efforts to reform spending, punish political corruption, and end unnecessary perks for politicians. A list of Senator Kotowski’s other significant achievements in the fight against corruption is provided below:
- HB5424 (Spending Reform): Requires the state to live within its means, fund what works and get rid of what doesn’t. State agencies and programs must now produce real results and value or they’re gone. No more “automatic” funding.
- SB375 (Contract Reform): Opens up state contracts to competition to end the “sweetheart” deals of the past and save taxpayers money.
- SB266 (Cutting Salaries): Cuts legislators salaries by $3,100 and requires them to work twelve days without pay.
- SB2551 (Ending Public Corruption): Confiscates pension sand campaign funds from politicians convicted of fraud or corruption.
