Find out what students said they would say to Gov. Bruce Rauner if they had the opportunity to speak to him. 

There is currently an eight-month state budget impasse due to a lack of agreement on Rauner’s Fiscal Year 2016 budget between legislators and the governor. Without a finalized budget, state appropriations cannot be given to NIU, which is about 26 percent of NIU’s budget.

“I think there should be more funding towards higher education, especially nursing, law and engineering,” said sophomore nursing major Kailey Soloman.

“These bills are really high. More poor people need help going to school financially,” said junior business major Timothy Bauer.

“[Rauner] could make sure that everything has the right funding and the community has the right resources,” said Laurel Vollman, sophomore early elementary education major.

“If I could write a letter to the governor, I would say it’s about time we look towards a compromise rather than sticking to a party line,” said senior acting major T.C. Fair. “Nine months without a budget and moving into a new year that needs a budget is longer than anyone has to wait.”