Challenging a pair of bills passed last week in Springfield that appear to tip the scales in favor of non-citizen college students residing in Illinois, Republican state Senate candidate Mel Thillens expressed tacit frustration with executive decision-making.
"The politicians in Springfield can’t pass a balanced budget, and they can’t keep the promises they’ve already made,” he said. “Instead of tackling the problems we face, they want to create new benefits for persons here illegally.”
The bills in question are S.B. 2204, which allows non-citizens to sit as student trustees at Illinois’ public universities; and S.B. 2196, which gives illegal immigrant students at Illinois universities access to state-funded grants, assistance, tuition waivers and scholarships.
“This is just another example of why people are so frustrated by politicians who are protecting the systems they put in place instead of working to improve the quality of life for Illinois families,” Thillens said. “I’m going to Springfield to make sure government is working for us and to protect your interests."
S.B. 2204 passed both houses and is headed to the governor to be signed into law, and S.B. 2196 cleared the Senate and is now being considered by the House.
"Every child should have access to a world-class education, but that is not happening in Illinois,” Thillens said. “Today, two-thirds of fourth graders can’t read or write at the fourth-grade level. If we aren't teaching kids to read and write, they won't be able to attend and graduate from college. Rather than fixing our failing institutions, the politicians are set on expanding benefits for their own political gain.”
Thillens, who ran unopposed in the Republican primary earlier in 2016, will face incumbent Laura Murphy in the Nov. 8 general election.
“My opponent isn't making higher education more affordable for middle-income families; she isn't improving the quality of education we provide," he said. "She wants to make it harder for our kids to get scholarships."
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