Quinn stumps to restore college financial aid

CHAMPAIGN -- Gov. Pat Quinn kicked off a statewide push to restore $200 million in college financial aid cut from the state's budget by appealing to University of Illinois students to pressure lawmakers.

Quinn told more than 200 students and faculty gathered Wednesday afternoon on the Champaign campus the state's Monetary Award Program is the key to college for many low-income students.

Funding for the program was cut in half in the budget passed by lawmakers and signed by Quinn last summer. That means the program, which is known as MAP, doesn't have money to give to students next spring.

Quinn says he considering a tobacco tax and other options to find the money.

He plans stops around the state Wednesday and Thursday to press his case.