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TOP THREE ADVOCACY ISSUES FOR 2010 

The Mizzou Legislative Network (MLN) is moving forward in its preparation for the 2010 Legislative Session with the approval of the MAA 2010 Legislative Platform.  

MAINTAIN FUNDING FOR MU

This year we are asking the Missouri General Assembly to first do no harm to the operating budget of the University of Missouri in its 2010 legislative session.  This priority is set forth in its platform as stated below: 

Maintaining funding for the University’s core operating budget is the highest priority.  The Mizzou Legislative Network supports the UM System’s request of $451 million for the FY2011 operating budget.

Second, we are asking the Missouri General Assembly to protect Missouri’s future by supporting higher education in the difficult budget times ahead.  For more detail on the MU 2010 budget and the historical changes MU has experienced in state funding support, you can review MU Director of Budget Tim Rooney’s 2010 MU Budget Snapshot presentation. 

HIGHER EDUCATION BOND PROPOSAL

It has been almost a decade since the state has provided capital funds for projects at public higher education institutions. We support the university’s capital request of $50 million for the reconstruction of the College of Engineering’s Lafferre Hall, as well as an addition to the building. We also support the request for almost $18 million in critical deferred maintenance for our flagship university. During last year’s session, a higher education bonding initiative to assist with the state’s capital needs was held up. It is time for lawmakers to pass this resolution and allow the people of Missouri to vote on that initiative. Therefore, the second platform issue for MAA in 2010 is:

The Mizzou Legislative Network supports the concept of a bonding proposal that, if approved by a majority of voters, would provide sufficient funds to build the highest priority capital projects at public higher education institutions, including those projects directly benefiting the University of Missouri. 

ACCESS MISSOURI SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

The third platform issue for MAA in 2010 is: 

The Mizzou Legislative Network supports adjusting the Access Missouri Scholarship Program to equalize awards for students at public and private four-year education institutions.

MLN supports a change to the state’s Access Missouri Scholarship program to equalize the scholarship monies to students at private and public four-year universities. Currently, students attending private universities get more than twice as much as students attending public universities. Given that Missouri ranks near the bottom (45th) in the U.S. for its per capita funding of public higher education, but near the top (fourth) in the percentage of state funding going to students at private institutions, something needs to change. We need to equalize the Access Missouri program so all four-year students get the same amount.