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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — The latest on lawmaker action Wednesday at the Illinois Capitol in Springfield (all times local):
6 p.m.
Public universities have responded to Gov. Bruce Rauner's criticism of their spending habits.
The Republican governor's deputy chief of staff sent a memo to legislators Wednesday criticizing hefty tuition hikes over the decade and wasteful spending on administration and executive compensation.
But the memo didn't mention steep declines in state funding during the same period.
University of Illinois President Timothy Killeen says the school has taken steps since Rauner assumed office, like putting a freeze on hiring and on tuition for instate students.
Illinois State University spokesman Jay Groves pointed out state support for the school in Normal has dropped $8 million from what it was a decade ago.
The memo was distributed just before Senate Democrats made a public plea for reimbursing $182 million that colleges fronted last fall to pay for income-based tuition grants that the state hasn't paid for because there's no budget.
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2:45 p.m.
Gov. Bruce Rauner is taking a shot at Illinois universities over their spending.
A memo from Rauner deputy chief of staff Richard Goldberg sent to lawmakers Wednesday says colleges have raised more than $1 billion in new revenue through tuition hikes in the past 14 years. It says schools are top heavy with administrators, pay executives too much and fund exorbitant "golden parachutes" to leaders who resign for misconduct.
The memo comes as advocates point out that universities are one of the last areas that have received no state funding during this year's budget stalemate.
The Senate is considering a plan to help pay back schools that paid tuition-grant funds up front for students this school year.
The memo also criticizes schools' use of private jets and lobbying contracts.
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11:55 a.m.
Voters would have the option of recalling elected officials throughout Illinois with a bill proposed by state Sen. Napoleon Harris.
The Democrat from Harvey says voters should have the power to recall an elected official who breaks the public's trust. Currently, Illinois only allows governors to be recalled.
Harris says his bill will be introduced Wednesday, the day the Legislature returned to Springfield for a new legislative term. His proposal would amend the state constitution so voters would have to approve it through the November ballot if both chambers pass it.
Rep. LaShawn Ford has introduced a bill allowing the recall of Chicago mayors in the aftermath of public outcry over recent police shootings. But Harris says Ford's bill should've gone further.
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This story has been corrected to say bill would go to ballot if both chambers pass it and would not require the governor's signature.
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11:15 a.m.
State Sen. Andy Manar (meh-NAR') says the number of registered voters in Illinois could increase by 2 million people with automatic voter registration.
The Bunker Hill Democrat says that automatically registering voters when they get driver's licenses would save money and make it easier for people to vote. Manar pitched his plan at a state Capitol news conference Wednesday as the Senate returned to Springfield. He introduced the idea in May but it has not had a hearing.
Manar says Illinois has 9.7 million eligible voters but only 7.6 million registered voters. Oregon and California already offer automatic voter registration.
Republicans resist the idea. They say automatic registration is open to fraud. Supporters say people getting driver's licenses already are identified as eligible. The bill is SB2134.
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This story has been corrected to ... APNewsNow. Corrects that statewide recall bill doesn't need the governor's signature.
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