Speaker: Vouchers bill likely to pass

The speaker of the Missouri House of Representatives said a bill that would put a cap on the money public universities receive from the state - and would divert money to voucher-like scholarships - will pass the House.

By Jedd Rosche

Published March 10, 2006

The Missouri House of Representatives speaker said he expects a bill that would put a cap on the amount of state funding that public universities receive and divert money to voucher-like scholarships to pass the House.

The bill cleared the House Higher Education Committee on Tuesday with a 5-3 vote, said Representative Carl Bearden, R-St. Charles, the bill's sponsor. Bearden said the full House would vote on the bill in April.

Speaker Rod Jetton, R-Marble Hill, said the bill, which he is co-sponsoring, might change when reviewed by the House.

"I feel comfortable the bill will get to the floor," Jetton said. "There will be amendments added, but I feel comfortable it will pass through the House."

Bearden's bill would limit state funding for all state colleges and universities to roughly $1 billion. Bearden said that cap would be in place for about five years. The cap would keep the funding level at approximately the amount it was at in fiscal year 2001. Any money in excess of the cap would be diverted to student scholarships. Missouri students could use the scholarships at any Missouri public or private school.

Jetton said the bill had broad support in the House, with most opposition coming from university administrators.

"From what I've heard, the response has been positive," Jetton said. "Many people support these scholarships. The higher cost of tuition is a concern for many representatives."

Bearden said he is working with two others on amendments for the bill.

"I'm discussing with Rep. Rupp about his request to change the bill to trigger the temporary cap at (fiscal year) 2002 as opposed to FY 2001," Bearden said.

According to the Missouri Department of Higher Education, public universities received $1.21 billion in fiscal year 2002.

According to the bill, the scholarship money would be directly deposited to each university and at most would total $1,000 per student.

Representative Charles Denison, R-Springfield, who sits on the Higher Education Committee but was not present for the vote, said he had not decided whether he wOULD support the bill.

"At this point, the bill is good," Denison said. "I'm just not really clear on its intentions."

Denison said he would wait until all amendments were finalized before making his decision.

House Minority Leader Jeff Harris, D-Columbia, said he opposes the bill because it could use public funds to pay for private education.

"I'm opposed to any bill that would cap or freeze funding for University of Missouri," Harris said. "It's bad for the UM system and it's bad for students."

UM system spokesman Scott Charton said UM system officials testified before the vote on the bill's financial impact. Charton said the presentations indicated that state appropriations would not reach the level of fiscal year 2001 by 2011.

"Vice presidents Steve Lehmkuhle and Nikki Krawitz offered analysis and information about the bill — not in support or opposition, but noting positive aspects and potential problems," Charton said.

Charton said Krawitz, the vice president for finance and administration, indicated in her presentation that the bill might not be appropriate because inflation and Missouri's economy could alter the status of state appropriations.

"Our concern is that, under the legislation, state funding could take more than a dozen years to get back to the bill's suggested funding high-water mark of 2001," Charton said. He said setting the cap at the 2001 funding level did not anticipate future inflation. Charton said the scholarship could make the financial aid process less efficient.

"There is a concern that this legislation adds a new layer of complexity for students and families seeking financial assistance for college," Charton said. "And there are concerns that existing scholarship programs are not fully funded."

Bearden said that reaching the fiscal year 2001 level of funding was possible in less than 15 years.

"Higher education appropriations now are roughly $80 million below the fiscal year 2001 level of funding," Bearden said. "Even the 2011 date the university testified about in committee describes the most pessimistic view."

If the House approves the bill, it would then go to the Senate education committee.