Wednesday, June 13, 2007
JOPLIN SENATOR NAMED TO POWERFUL POST
Sen. Gary Nodler, R-Joplin, was named chairman of the budget appropriations committee today by Senate President Pro Tem Michael Gibbons. The position will put Nodler in charge of the Senate committee in charge of drafting the budget.
Nodler was recently credited with rescuing the MOHELA sale, which was part of a higher education bill passed last month. When in Joplin for a ceremonial signing, Gov. Matt Blunt said Nodler rescued the controversial sale when it was on "life support."
Will this appointment translate into additional financial support for Missouri schools? Time will tell. Already, he gets glowing reviews from officials with Missouri Southern State University. They credit Nodler for fixing an inequity in the higher-education funding formula, which basically shafted MSSU on state funding in comparison to similarly-sized schools. This year's budget calls for MSSU to get an increase in state funding.
However, a key provision of Nodler's higher-education bill keeps universities from raising tuition fees past the rate of inflation. If universities find themselves receiving less money from the state, and if the Coordinating Board for Higher Education doesn't approve a tuition increase to keep up, then universities will be forced to scale back and/or cut programs.
Nodler was recently credited with rescuing the MOHELA sale, which was part of a higher education bill passed last month. When in Joplin for a ceremonial signing, Gov. Matt Blunt said Nodler rescued the controversial sale when it was on "life support."
Will this appointment translate into additional financial support for Missouri schools? Time will tell. Already, he gets glowing reviews from officials with Missouri Southern State University. They credit Nodler for fixing an inequity in the higher-education funding formula, which basically shafted MSSU on state funding in comparison to similarly-sized schools. This year's budget calls for MSSU to get an increase in state funding.
However, a key provision of Nodler's higher-education bill keeps universities from raising tuition fees past the rate of inflation. If universities find themselves receiving less money from the state, and if the Coordinating Board for Higher Education doesn't approve a tuition increase to keep up, then universities will be forced to scale back and/or cut programs.
Labels: EDUCATION, politics, STATE
// posted by MoJoe @ 16:34 
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