Since July, Rauner-led Republicans had staked out a couple of positions. One alternative was to fund universities at 80 percent of what they received in the 2015 budget year, fund community colleges at 90 percent and fully fund Monetary Award Program grants. But the $1.7 billion in costs was tied to a measure creating new authority for Rauner to shift money around in the budget — something Democrats would not allow without knowing what he was planning to do.