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.

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

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

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“[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.

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“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.”