State Senator Ted House (D-St. Charles) wants 25% of the tobacco settlement to go to schools and wants to make sure local school districts get to decide how to spend the money. House says Missouri education is woefully under-funded, and says it should be a top priority of the tobacco settlement. The bill does have one stipulation, no more than 15% of the windfall for each district can go to school construction. Missouri’s estimated $4.5 billion will be spread-out over 25 years.
