Ill. financial aid agency in limbo over budget

CHAMPAIGN -- Deanna Childress is a 21-year-old college senior, but she says that without grants provided by the state of Illinois she might not be.

Childress has used money from the Illinois Student Assistance Commission's Monetary Award Program to help pay for tuition at Aurora University.

Director Andrew Davis says the commission won't know how much money it will have this year for that program or others until the governor and lawmakers settle on a state budget.

Last year, the commission provided $430 million in aid to more than 200,000 students.

Although he hopes for more, Davis is prepared to get as little as $165 million this year. He says that if that happens, programs like the Illinois Veterans Grant won't get any money.