By RFD Radio Network

SPRINGFIELD – Gov. Bruce Rauner says he can address the state’s funding woes for universities and college students.

In a visit to Springfield’s Southeast High School, Rauner said he could boost funding for Monetary Award Program grants for struggling college students if lawmakers green light his plan to change the way the state engages in purchasing.

“We can’t have the money if we don’t figure out where the money is going to come from,” Rauner said. “So for MAP grants, I’ve said let’s pass procurement reform. That would save half-a-billion dollars a year. That’s much more money than we need for MAP grants. Let’s do procurement reform, pass a MAP grant bill and let’s fund our MAP grants right now. There’s no reason we can’t do that.”

The Republican governor said he’s also open to current legislation that would give him the power to reallocate state spending toward education as a means to fund MAP grants.

Rauner vetoed a Democratic-backed bill earlier this month that would have funded MAP grants and community colleges.