Governor Blunt is stongly considering calling a special session for the beginning of next month to move the MOHELA sale forward. Blunt says the parties that have agreed to the sale of $350-million in Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority assets are worried about lawsuits. He says they’ve called for legislation to protect them and Blunt says he wants to give them that protection as quickly as possible. Spokesman Brian Hauswirth says Blunt has spoken with several legislators about calling the special session. Hauswirth says the special session would take place in early January after legislators have convened. It’s unusual for a governor to call a special session this early in the year. Blunt also says a special session to validate the MOHELA sale would mean construction of research facilities and other projects on college and university campuses throughout the state could get underway by late spring – in time for the summer construction cycle. An early start on construction for these facilities would mean universities would have quicker access to resources in biotechnology research.
