2008 Woodie Awards
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.(AP)--The top House Democrat dropped his support Monday for Gov. Matt Blunt's plan to finance a college building boom with student loan agency money, citing recent concerns raised by a financial analyst. Blunt's proposal would take $350 million over six years from the Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority to finance building projects at nearly all of Missouri's public colleges and universities.
Tuition stabilization may be good for students, but at the same time it may not be so good for universities. Sen. Gary Nodler (R-Joplin) has included a tuition stabilization program as part of his omnibus higher education bill (SB 389). He said he included this in his bill because right now students and parents are at the mercy of the universities when it comes to tuition raises.
The Missouri House unanimously passed a bill that would continue to bring more jobs to Missouri. House Bill 327 changes the quality jobs bill passed three or four years ago. "Quality jobs has been a huge economic development engine for the state of Missouri.
The Missouri State Park Board bill made it to committee this week and drew opposition from a national association. Clyde Williams, a representative from the NAACP, showed up at the House corrections and public institutions committee meeting to oppose HB 495.