These scholarships are given randomly to whomever each legislator would choose. The economic need of the student need not be a factor, and therefore these tax dollars can be allocated to students whose families can well afford to pay their own way.

This legislative perk and a misuse of taxpayers’ money should cease. The 4.2 million yearly could be better used by the Illinois Student Assistance commission. The rewarding of friends and neighbors of the legislators with this scholarship money should stop.

With the onslaught of the federal governments attack on student loans, and the continuing increases in tuition, our low and middle income students need all the help they can get.

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The legislators should be busy studying how they can best assist to make higher education the best and most affordable that it can be in the state of Illinois. Let them study how to influence the banks to be more friendly to students. Our young people are constantly penalized because they can’t leave large deposits in their accounts.

Many European countries are student friendly, charging little or no tuition, and subsidizing housing. Phone rates are lower for college students, and banks do not penalize students for low balances.

Again I say let the legislators study how they can best help all Illinois college students, and drop the welfare dole perk to favored constituents.

Candidate for State Legislature