By Tim Hare
In a session that he termed “topsy-turvy”, state representative Steve Hobbs (R-Mexico) reflected on the recently completed state legislative session during a Chamber of Commerce legislative breakfast held Friday at the Chamber’s facility.
“The peaks and valleys of the session were just amazing,” said the three-term state representative.
The session was embroiled in controversy largely as a result of proposed allocation of money from sale of assets of the Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority (MOHELA). Dominating much of debate in the legislative session, which concluded May 18, MOHELA became a focal point of controversy when socially conservative legislators raised concerns that $85 million from asset sales would be used for establishment of a health sciences center at the University of Missouri-Columbia.
It was argued by opponents that such a facility could be used for embryonic stem cell research – opposed by social conservatives – and in the end, funding for a health sciences facility, as well as $31.2 million in financial allocation for Ellis Fischel Cancer Center in Columbia – was removed as part of distribution of MOHELA revenue. Gov. Matt Blunt has since indicated that he will propose re-appropriation of money for the cancer center in a supplemental bill early next year.
The city of Mexico itself stands to benefit directly from the legislation authorizing $350 million in asset sales from MOHELA. Read more…
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