Senate leader Michael Gibbons says the Senate is ready to act on Governor Blunt’s MOHELA deal, whether in the regular or in a special session. Gibbons says he understands Governor Blunt is anxious for the legislature to act on the proposal to pump $350 million into college capital improvements, primarily to invest in Missouri’s bio-technology industry. Gibbons says a special session concurrent with the regular session would speed up the process. He points out a special session would allow the governor to tailor the call narrowly and focus the legislature solely on the MOHELA proposal, needed to fund Blunt’s Lewis and Clark Initiative. The Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority board has agreed to sell assets to finance the governor’s proposal. The governor is seeking legislation that would shield the board members from lawsuits that might be filed by those who oppose the MOHELA sale.
