Anti-MOHELA sale bill to be proposed

By Michael Sewall

Published Dec. 8, 2006

As the new session of the Missouri General Assembly approaches, the Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority debate is heating up.

Rep. Clint Zweifel, D-Florissant, held a news conference Thursday to discuss legislation he will propose regarding the MOHELA sale.

When the 2007 session begins, state legislators will debate the future of the Lewis and Clark Discovery Initiative, a plan proposed by Republican Gov. Matt Blunt. The plan would give Missouri colleges $350 million from a $1 billion sale of assets by MOHELA.

If passed, MU would receive $94 million from the initiative.

"I was concerned about the way debating was going," Zweifel said.

He said the debate should be focused on student success and independent financial analysis about how to help students.

Zweifel, who proposed legislation regarding MOHELA a few months ago, said he wants the proposed legislation to renew the spirit of the original intent of MOHELA.

"The legislation would be that MOHELA should be using assets to give low-cost student loans and loan forgiveness," he said. "But that's it."

The former legislation Zweifel attempted to pass went through the House but was halted in the Senate after the governor threatened a veto, Zweifel said.

"I hope the governor considers this," he said.

Blunt's initiative would sell student loans in return for money for infrastructure, including a new health sciences research center, a plant sciences research center and a life sciences incubator.

"I don't think MOHELA's purpose is to build buildings," Zweifel said.

He said students deserve more than that and the focus should be more on helping students afford education.

Although the purpose of the sale upsets Zweifel, the direction the debate has been going is a main reason for the legislation proposal.

"The governor has mishandled the entire process," he said. "The debate has left me with little faith that this can be moved forward."