By AP/KWMU
Jefferson City, MO. – Missouri House Democrats are backing a twelve-point-six percent funding increase for Missouri colleges and universities.
Democrats said Tuesday they would support a $111 million spending increase for public higher education institutions, which would mark a record high in state funding.
They say the increase is the same amount recommended by the Coordinating Board for Higher Education.
But there's no word on whether Governor Matt Blunt will propose an increase that large, or whether Republican legislative leaders would go along with it.
Funding for colleges and universities grew by two percent in the current state budget.
But because of several years of budget cuts, higher education funding still has not returned to the level appropriated in 2002.