Tempers Flare In Senate Over Life Sciences Bonding – SMS Name Change Bill

The Senate begins debate on legislation combining two bills – the Southwest Missouri State name change bill and the funding for life sciences bill. The life sciences’ spending proposal has generated a good deal of controversy. It was expected there would be fireworks from Senate Democratic Leader Ken Jacob of Columbia over the proposal to change the name of Southwest Missouri State University to Missouri State. But, it was Senator Matt Bartle of Lee’s Summit – a Republican – who dominated the discussion with his concerns over $350-Million in bonding being proposed for universities – primarily life sciences. He says the bill has become bogged down with so much else in order to make it politically acceptable. Senate Leader Peter Kinder of Cape Girardeau says compromises must be made to achieve successful bills and he won’t apologize for making compromises. Kinder insists 92 percent of the money generated by the life sciences bill would be set aside for life sciences. The bill has been shelved for the time being.