By Marshall Griffin, KWMU
Jefferson City, MO. – Six MOHELA-funded building projects that were removed from a Senate Education bill last week have been restored.
They were removed by anti-cloning Senators over fears that an embryonic cloning procedure could be used at the facilities.
Senate Minority Leader Maida Coleman of St. Louis is pleased the original bill is back, but still has some concerns:
"We're taking money away from kids who need loans to go to college this legislation should only be about finding more ways to provide low-interest loans or forgivable loans for our kids," Coleman said.
The bill is scheduled for more floor debate next week before Senators take a final vote.
The proposal is formally known as the Lewis & Clark initiative and was crafted by Gov. Matt Blunt.
It would take about 350 million dollars in MOHELA funds to pay for new classrooms and labs on state university campuses in Missouri.