Wednesday, May 9, 2007
Contact: Jessica Robinson, 573-751-0290
Blunt Lauds Budget for Enhancing Higher Education Opportunities
JEFFERSON CITY– Gov. Matt Blunt praised the Missouri General Assembly for passing a budget that enhances higher education opportunities.
“Missouri students know that higher education is an investment in their future and it is my goal for students in Missouri to know that they can receive a world class education right here in our state,” Blunt said. “I am pleased the General Assembly has once again sent me a budget that makes key investments in higher education.”
House Bill 3 provides among other things the governor’s recommendations for:
- $39.5 million increase for Missouri’s public two and four year higher education institutions
- $20.4 million increase for state scholarship programs, allowing additional students access to higher education and encouraging the state’s top academic achievers to attend Missouri institutions
- $1 million to develop a cooperative School of Engineering between the University of Missouri-Rolla and Missouri State University
- $420,000 increase for continued operation of the successful Missouri TeleHealth Network, which enhances access to medical care to people in underserved areas
The legislation complements Senate Bill 389, passed earlier this week, and expands scholarship opportunities, provides predictability in tuition costs, introduces accountability measures and enacts the Lewis and Clark Discovery Initiative that provides $335 million for new state-of-the-art learning centers for Missouri students.
After all budget bills are passed and submitted to the governor, the governor’s office will conduct a full review of the state’s budget to ensure it remains balanced and accountable to taxpayers before taking any action on the bills.