When the Legislature returns for veto session next week, there will be three big topics of discussion: right-to-work, Gov. Nixon's illegal and unethical publicly financed stadium scheme and higher education scholarships for illegal immigrants. I'll likely write about right-to-work next week. And I've used more column space on Nixon's plan to spend your money without any public oversight than probably any other topic.
The issue in next week's vote to override Gov. Nixon's veto of Senate Bill 224 is simple to state: should illegal immigrants be eligible for college scholarships in Missouri?
How we arrived here is a little more complicated.
The Missouri A+ scholarship pays for tuition, books, and fees to any public community college, vocational or technical school in Missouri for students who graduate from an A+ eligible high school with a GPA 2.5 or higher, 95 percent attendance in high school, 50 hours unpaid tutoring or mentoring, and "a record of good citizenship" without unlawful use of drugs or alcohol. Students must first apply for federal financial assistance. Then the A+ scholarship will complete the unpaid balance of tuition and general fees, provided there are sufficient state appropriations. Of 611 total public high schools in Missouri, 533 are designated A+ schools.
Prior to President Obama's immigration order last year, illegal immigrants were not eligible for A+ scholarships because they had to show that they had applied for federal financial assistance. After Obama's action, the Missouri Department of Higher Education promulgated an administrative rule in September 2014 declaring illegal immigrants eligible for A+. (As chairman of the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules, I examined the rule last year and concluded that, regardless of your position on the policy, the Department of Higher Education was essentially compelled to change the administrative rule based on the Missouri statute at that time.)
In November of last year, it appeared the A+ scholarship program would be short the funds necessary to pay for all that had been promised to students. The Legislature had appropriated $33.1 million. Gov. Nixon decided to withhold $2 million. Then, even after Nixon released the full funding, the Department of Higher Education sent a letter to students warning them that funding could fall four credit hours short for the spring semester.
The Post-Dispatch article pointed at multiple sources for funding difficulties - increased college costs and a dramatic increase in the number of students who qualify because of an increase in high schools designated as A+ schools. The Post-Dispatch article quoted several Missouri education officials concerned about whether the state could keep up and their "fear" that the state would have to "beef up student requirements to reduce the number of participants." In March of this year, the Department of Higher Education announced sufficient funds would be available after all.
With that as the background, the Legislature passed Senate Bill 224, which added one more requirement for A+ eligibility: applicants must now show they are either "a citizen or permanent resident of the United States."
When Gov. Nixon vetoed the bill, he claimed it was a "harsh measure imposed unfairly on children who have done nothing wrong." But Nixon misses the point. SB 224 does not make illegal immigrants ineligible to attend Missouri colleges. Ineligibility for a scholarship that makes college free or nearly free is not a punitive measure. SB 224 recognizes that Missouri taxpayer funds for higher education should be reserved first for Missouri students whose families worked hard and played by the rules, to use former President Bill Clinton's phrase. I voted yes on SB 224 in regular session and will vote to override Gov. Nixon's veto in veto session.
Speaking of those families who work hard and play by the rules, there's a huge class of Missourians who are ineligible for A+ scholarships under current law - those who attend non-public schools or are home schooled. So under current law, an illegal immigrant is eligible for an A+ scholarship but the kid whose middle class working parents save money so they can attend Helias (or any other private school) is not. Catholics need not apply if they send their children through parochial schools.
I plan to sponsor legislation next year expanding A+ scholarship eligibility to students in private schools and home schools who meet standards comparable to the public schools in the A+ program. That bill, which seems reasonable, faces long odds. If it happens to run the legislative gamut to land on Gov. Nixon's desk, I'm eager for his reaction.
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Come watch me (and others) get embarrassed on the basketball court - and raise money for CASA
The Missouri Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program provides an independent voice in our court system for abused and neglected children. CASA volunteers donate their time and love to help children grow up in safe, permanent, and loving homes.
On Tuesday, Sept. 15, the Harlem Ambassadors are coming to the Blair Oaks gym to raise money for CASA. I'll be playing for our hometown equivalent of the Washington Generals. Tip-off is at 6:30 and tickets are just $5. This should be a fun night for the fans.
And who knows, maybe someone will show up with a time machine and I'll play like I'm 17 again, and not the slow-as-molasses old man I've grown into. Others playing for the J.C. Generals include Kirk Farmer and Helias basketball coach Josh Buffington. Come see all us get a basketball pride-bruising for a good cause.
State Rep. Jay Barnes, R-Jefferson City, represents Missouri's 60th District.