SPRINGFIELD — State Representative John Cavaletto, a Salem Republican, is co-sponsoring legislation that he says would

fully fund the MAP grant program for college students, would pay community colleges 90-percent of what they received in fiscal year 2015, and would also pay universities at 80-percent of their fiscal year 2015 levels.

The measure, however, is contingent upon the passage of the recently filed ‘Unbalanced Budget Response Act’ that would give Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner authority to reallocate funds and reducing spending.

Democrats aren’t keen on that plan, with House Deputy Majority Leader Lou Lang having called it a request for “imperial powers to shift dollars anywhere Rauner wants.”

Cavaletto calls the legislation is a realistic proposal that gives the governor the tools and real funding to provide needed help to students and colleges.

The total spending package is approximately $1.68-billion that would come from general funds.