Forgive us if we're not ready to shout any hosannas over a stopgap funding bill designed to keep Illinois colleges and universities going through the end of this academic year.
Don't get us wrong, the hard-fought agreement to pay those institutions on the brink of insolvency money from an emergency education fund offers a glimmer of hope that a broader budget deal is at least possible. It's good news, too, that many students who rely on MAP grants will get the money they need to remain in school, for now.
But the unnecessarily long and divisive "negotiations" which led to the bill's approval just before lawmakers quit town for the Passover recess doesn't bode well for finding the common ground necessary to break a nearly 10-month-long budget deadlock that is threatening social service providers, elementary and high school students and local governments.
Still kicking that can
The bill signed by Gov. Bruce Rauner Friday also doesn't solve longterm problems for Illinois colleges and universities, it merely delays their reckoning. That's hardly surprising in a state that has demonstrated its mastery of the child's game "Kick the Can."
The deal helps higher-ed get through this academic year, but what will be the longterm damage to such universities as Eastern Illinois, Chicago State and Western Illinois if the state budget mess convinces scores of high school seniors to go to college elsewhere? What of the brain drain if professors decide they must look for more secure jobs?
The reaction from House Speaker Michael Madigan was hardly an encouraging sign that  legislative leadership is ready to come on board to resolve the budget crisis. Even our  famously shoot-from-the-hip GOP governor resisted the urge to respond after the powerful Chicago Democratic leader blasted him following the House vote Friday.
The speaker responds
"Gov. Rauner has said that crisis creates opportunity and leverage, and that government may have to be shut down for a while. Now, he has forced a situation where some universities are on the verge of closing. The plan the House passed delivers emergency relief for the state’s colleges, universities and students as we continue pushing for a more comprehensive budget and full fiscal year funding," Mr. Madigan said.
"While the governor has said he would approve this small portion of funding for higher education, it’s unfortunate he was unwilling to approve any further funding for human services. If he continues his unwillingness to assist our human service providers, he will be successful in destroying the safety net for those most in need and for critical state services, including services for women who need breast cancer screenings, victims of child abuse and victims of sexual assault. ...
"Time will tell if Gov. Rauner has further intentions of destroying our state institutions and human service providers, or if he will begin working with us to craft a full-year budget that is not contingent on passage of his demands that will destroy the middle class."
Certainly, to us, that doesn't sound particularly encouraging. Also, we can't help but wonder why a governor intent on "shutting everything down for a while," as Mr. Madigan has repeatedly claimed, would surrender such an effective bargaining chip as impending university shutdowns?
Perhaps the speaker was merely feeling the sting of being forced to act on the plan. And therein lies the best news in last week's deal. It clearly demonstrates that rank and file members DO have the power to force their leadership to do the right thing.
If this deal emboldens wise men and women of the House and Senate to demand more from their leaders and especially to put together deals which the leaders will find impossible to refuse, such as Friday's smart higher-ed bill we'll be eager, to take a seat in the front row of that hallelujah chorus.