Gov. Jim Edgar vetoed a college savings plan Friday where the state would have automatically paid tuition to an Illinois public college after a student graduates from high school.

Edgar criticized the program, dubbed the Future Education Account Act, as “short-sighted, instant gratification policy-making” in the face of a budget crisis, the Chicago Tribune reported.

However, Democratic State Treasurer Patrick Quinn is pushing for an override of the veto. “Governor Edgar is clearly out of step with the needs of the people of Illinois,” Quinn said.

The plan would have had participating parents making monthly payments based on the age of their child when the payments start—ranging from $90 per month for a newborn to $245 for a 14-year-old, Quinn said.

Also, the monthly payments would not rise even if tuition was increased, he said. State reports show that tuition has gone up 173 percent over the past decade.

The plan also offered repayment if the child decides not to go to college along with a plan to help pay if the child decides to go to a private college.

Susan Folion, Illinois Student Association legislative director, supported the idea of the plan, but she was critical of the details.

She complained that the plan did not sufficiently outline what the state would do with parents who moved in and out of state, or how parents would handle the payments during difficult financial times. “There are just so many variables,” she said.

She also questioned whether the plan was any better than individual savings plans offered by private banks. However, a spokesperson for Quinn said the state program would be better because tuition is guaranteed (unlike a private program).

But even if the plan were approved, Folian said the program fails to address the “real problem” of skyrocketing tuition.

Instead of the education accounts, Edgar said he supported the continued use of college savings bonds which have been sold every year over the past four years.

The state allowed for the sale of 210 million bonds which sell at $5000 each, a source familiar with the bonds said.

Most of the bonds, which would be paid back with interest in two to 21 years, depending on the type of bond, were sold last week. The bonds do not guarantee tuition payment.

Quinn said he will push to have the veto overturned with a two-thirds senate vote by next month.