Senate works to perfect bond bill for higher education

April 19, 2004
By: Josh Hinkle
State Capital Bureau
Links: SB 1221, SB 1305

The Missouri State Senate worked to perfect a bill to improve higher education in Missouri. Josh Hinkle reports from the capital.

Story:
RunTime:
OutCue: SOC

The bill would authorize a $350 million bond for construction and renovation at Missouri higher education facilities.

Senator Jim Mathewson proposed an amendment to the bill to add more than $22 million for community colleges, but felt uneasy about the possible effects of entire bill.

Actuality: math11
OutCue:
Contents: "I DON'T KNOW IF I'M GOING TO VOTE FOR THEM WITH IT ON THERE OR NOT. I'M BEING HONEST, OKAY? BECAUSE I DON'T THINK IT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF YOUR CHILDREN AND MY GRANDCHILDREN THAT WE CONTINUE TO BORROW OURSELVES INTO PROSPERITY. I'VE SEEN PEOPLE TRY THAT ALL MY LIFE, BUT I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYBODY SUCCESSFUL."

Missouri has over 50 community colleges.

The bill is now up for first round approval in the Senate.

From the state capital, I'm Josh Hinkle.

###

State Senators worked to perfect a bill to improve higher education in Missouri today (Monday). Josh Hinkle reports from the capital.

Story:
RunTime:
OutCue: SOC

If the bill passes, it would authorize a $350 million bond for construction and renovation at Missouri higher education facilities.

Senator Jim Mathewson proposed an amendment to the bill to add more than $22 million for community colleges... but felt this higher education bond would actually hurt Missouri in the long run.

Actuality:
RunTime:
OutCue:
Contents: "I STILL HAVE A DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT THIS THING'S THE RIGHT THING TO WITH OR WITHOUT MY AMENDMENT. BUT I PROMISE YOU THIS, SENATOR, KNOW THIS... THERE WILL BE NO QUESTION IN MY MIND IF THIS AMENDMENT DOESN'T GO ON THERE. BECAUSE THE PEOPLE THAT I SERVE ARE BEST SERVED BY THEIR COMMUNITY COLLEGES."

Students attend over 50 community colleges in Missouri.

The bill is now up for first round approval in the Senate.

From the state capital, I'm Josh Hinkle.

[Missouri Digital News is produced by the State Government Reporting Program of the Missouri School of Journalism (home of the The Journalist's Creed) with support from the Missouri Press Association, the Missouri Broadcasters' Association, KMOX Radio in St. Louis and KSMU Radio in Springfield.
You can contact MDN at .
MDN was designed and is managed by Phill Brooks]