Ja n u a r y 2 0, 2015 • $1 .0 0
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If [Obama’s] proposal is seen to fruition, it would be in line with our values.
Vicky Smith McHenry County College president
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PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA’S COMMUNITY COLLEGE PLAN A
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County Board to consider lobbying deal Will vote on contract extension By KEVIN P. CRAVER
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kcraver@shawmedia.com WOODSTOCK – As President Obama delivers his State of the Union address Tuesday night, the McHenry County Board will vote whether to renew its decadelong relationship with a lobbying group to advance its needs in Washington, D.C. The County Board will decide Tuesday evening whether to extend its contract with Ferguson Group for another year at a cost not to exceed $82,000. It is one of two lobbying-related decisions on Tuesday’s agenda, the other being ratification of county government’s state and national legislative priorities for 2015. Working with Ferguson to augment the pull of McHenry County’s congressional lawmakers typically faces little resistance among County Board members, save for a minority that questions either the cost versus benefit or opposes government lobbying on general principle. The County Board lobbies state lawmakers in Springfield through its memberships in groups such as the McHenry County Council of Governments and Metro Counties of Illinois.
The McHenry County Board will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the county Administration Building, 667 Ware Road, Woodstock.
The contract renewal does not include a rate increase – the county has had the $82,000 annual rate with Ferguson since 2011. The county paid it $93,000 in 2009 and 2010, according to records. In the 10 years since the county first hired Ferguson, control of Congress has swung from Republican control to Democratic control to a split, and as of this month back to Republican control. McHenry County’s representation in the House completely changed in 2012 because of post-census redistricting and now is represented by Republicans Randy Hultgren and Peter Roskam. The board’s 2015 legislative agenda at the state and national levels includes supporting a full interchange at Route 23 and Interstate 90, increasing capacity on Route 47 from Huntley through Woodstock, and the ability to ban the use of coal-tar sealants.
Rauner signs order aimed at helping veterans, minorities By SARA BURNETT The Associated Press
H. Rick Bamman – hbamman@shawmedia.com
Elgin Community College students are seen Thursday in the Health Life and Science building. President Barack Obama is proposing to make community college free for millions of students. Elgin Community College financed about 270,000 square feet of additional space, 26 new classrooms, five new computer labs and a new greenhouse after voters approved a $178 million referendum in 2009.
CHICAGO – Gov. Bruce Rauner signed an executive order Monday he said is a first step toward reducing disproportionately high unemployment rates among Illinois minorities and veterans. The order requires labor groups, contractors and subcontractors who work with the state to submit a report within the next 30 days with the number of minorities and veterans
participating in training or apprenticeship programs, which often are a pathway to full-time jobs. The Winnetka Republican also ordered the state’s personnel agency to review state law on hiring and contracting preferences for veterans and to prepare a report on the ability of minority- and veteran-owned businesses to obtain state contracts. Rauner said the reviews will help his administration determine what
See RAUNER, page A6
Leaders wonder where funding would come from By EMILY K. COLEMAN ecoleman@shawmedia.com CRYSTAL LAKE – Some good programs – school nurses, multicultural centers and services – have been sponsored by the state over the years. But while the mandate requiring the programs remained, the funding for it often disappeared. That trend is what has tempered McHenry County College President Vicky Smith’s response to President Barack Obama’s ambitious plan of making community college free for millions of students. “At MCC, we focus on making a college education as accessible as possible,” she said. “If this proposal is seen to fruition, it would be in line with our values.” The president laid out his proposal earlier this month in Tennessee, the home of a free community college program that has drawn 58,000 applicants, almost 90 percent of the state’s high school seniors. Under his plan, cost for the program would be split, 75 percent covered by the federal government and the remainder picked up by states. Students, both adult students and those just out of high school, would qualify if they attend at least half-time, maintain a 2.5 GPA and make progress toward completing
Voice your opinion Do you support President Barack Obama’s free community college proposal? Vote online at NWHerald.com.
State of the Union The president will give his annual State of the Union address at 8 p.m. Tuesday, which will be carried live by the major TV networks, as well as cable news providers. Follow a live stream at www.whitehouse.gov/SOTU. a degree or certificate program. But the proposal comes at a time of shrinking state revenue for Illinois’ community colleges. “That is a challenge that has some of us holding our breath,” Elgin Community College President David Sam said. “Where will the money come from? That is the challenge for us in Illinois.” College presidents were warned by the state to expect 20 percent to 30 percent less in general state aid in the next fiscal year, both Sam and Smith said.
See FUNDING, page A6
AP photo
Gov. Bruce Rauner and his wife, Diana Rauner, paint a University of Illinois banner Monday during a service day at Gage Park High School in Chicago commemorating Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The Republican governor later signed an executive order he said was aimed at lowering the unemployment rate for minorities and veterans.
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