JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — A man who helped create the state’s higher education loan authority filed a petition Friday to allow voters to decide whether to approve a plan to sell part of the authority’s assets to support college scholarships and buildings.
The plan, approved by lawmakers and pushed by Gov. Matt Blunt, would use $350 million from the Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority over six years for college scholarships and campus construction projects.
Former MOHELA board member Allan Purdy filed a petition Friday that would leave the final decision of whether that plan should go through to voters. The issue would be on the ballot in November 2008.
The state constitution allows measures already approved by the Legislature to be put on the ballot for approval. Petition gathers would need signatures from at least 5 percent of the voters in six of the state’s nine congressional districts.
Throughout the week, Blunt has traveled the state to ceremonially sign the higher education bill.
A spokeswoman for the governor did not immediately return a call seeking comment Friday.
Blunt first introduced a plan more than a year ago to use proceeds from the sale of some MOHELA assets to pay for buildings focused on life science research. After the Legislature did not approve the plan in 2006 and critics of embryonic stem cell research raised objections, Blunt reshaped it to focus on agricultural projects.
However, the plan still has critics, who say using money from the quasi-governmental loan agency could endanger the availability of future student loans.
Rep. Clint Zweifel, among most vocal critics of the plan throughout the process, told reporters earlier this month that he planned to try to get the legislation authorizing the plan on the ballot. Earlier this week, Zweifel, D-Florissant, backed off that pledge.
Legislation approved by lawmakers made it to the ballot in 1982 when voters defeated a measure that would have allowed heavier and longer trucks on the highways.
As lawmakers considered the plan to sell part of the Chesterfield-based loan authority’s assets, Purdy frequently testified against the idea. He warned Senate and House committees and the current MOHELA board that problems with higher education funding shouldn’t be solved using money from student lenders.
Purdy said that in 1981 he assisted then-Gov. Kit Bond to create MOHELA to make it easier for college students to get loans.
Local News
<img src="http://www.joplinglobeonline.com/images/zope/new.gif" border=0> 2:59 p.m. Petition calls for statewide vote on higher ed plan
- Local News
-
-
Local voter turnouts for nonbinding primary lighter than predictions
The fact that Missouri’s presidential preference primary would not count for much was not lost on local voters, at least judging from voter turnouts reported Tuesday by election officials in the region.
-
Rick Santorum favored in Southwest Missouri
Former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum trounced Mitt Romney in Southwest Missouri as well as statewide in Republican balloting Tuesday in the state’s presidential preference primary.
- Primary Results: Area Ballots
-
Baxter Springs panel places $8 million bond issue on ballot
The Baxter Springs Board of Education has approved placing an $8 million bond issue on a May 8 election ballot, said Superintendent Dennis Burke.
The vote on Monday was 7-0 in favor, Burke said. -
Mike Pound: Icy water of Shoal Creek awaits plungers
I admire people who are able to sky-dive. Well, I admire people who are able to sky-dive in a “they are crazy” kind of way. The thing I admire about people who are crazy enough to sky-dive is that at some point they actually have to make the decision to jump out of a perfectly good airplane.
-
Voters in Neosho mention faith when making choices
Voters in Neosho mentioned faith as reasons to vote for a particular candidate in today’s presidential preference election.
-
Voter: Important to support chosen candidate
Fresh from casting his vote for Rick Santorum at the Joplin Museum Complex polling place, Steve Hull, 50, of Joplin, said it’s important for people to vote from their hearts for the candidate they think best represents them as a person. That’s why he chose Santorum, he said.
-
Conservative voter: Romney winning because of split between Gingrich, Santorum
Jennie McKenna, of Joplin, voted for Rick Santorum, the former Pennsylvania senator, calling him the best candidate on Tuesday’s presidential preference ballot.
-
Missouri takes “robo-signing” mortgages to court
The state of Missouri has filed criminal charges against a shuttered Georgia company accused of using fake signatures on phony foreclosure documents.
-
Mo. House endorses voter photo ID requirement
The Missouri House on Tuesday endorsed a new attempt by the Legislature requiring people to show photo identification at the polls while voters across the state were casting ballots in a presidential primary.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Former Komen Exec Defends Funding Cut
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
Calif. Gay Marriage Ban Ruled Unconstitutional
Jury Selection for Ex-UVa Athlete Enters 2nd Day
Raw Video: Giants Celebrate Another Super Bowl
Cab Driver Helps Wis. Family Escape House Fire
Greek Leaders Seek Deal As Bankruptcy Looms
Bernanke: Recovery Depends on Consumer Spending
Staff Removed at LA School During Abuse Probe
Eastwood in Super Bowl Ad 'Compassionate'
Stranded Fishermen Rescued From Bay of Green Bay
Analyst: Outside Troops Won't Intervene in Syria
Police: Father Planned Deadly Fire for Some Time
US, UK Pressure on Syria; More Homs Violence
Raw Video: Mass Killer Wants Medal, Freedom
Court Strips Contador of Tour De France Title
Runaway Goat Leads Police on Wild Chase
And the Winner for Best Super Bowl Ad Is...
Romney Latest Poll to Join Let-me-explain Club
