House Committee Revives School Funding Proposal

A special House committee has reconsidered its rejection of a proposed new school funding formula and has passed the bill onto the full House for debate. Committee Republicans first agreed to reconsider the school funding formula approved in the Senate, then voted 15-8 to send it to the full House for debate. House leadership had urged a change of heart, but movement seemed to begin when Governor Matt Blunt personally lobbied fellow Republicans reluctant about the new school funding plan. The Governor personally intervened to revive the bill and get it out of committee. Blunt has enhanced the package to attract votes: It totals $970-Million and is to be phased in over seven years. It moves on to the full House where its fate remains uncertain.