Governor Jay Nixon (D) continues to take his opposition to a cap on the K-12 funding formula around the state.

Governor Jay Nixon (UPI/Bill Greenblatt)

Governor Jay Nixon (UPI/Bill Greenblatt)

Bills in the House and Senate would reinstate a 5-percent limit to growth in the formula for funding elementary and secondary education. Republicans backers say without the cap, the formula will continue to reach growth levels the state can’t afford to fund. They say it was removed years ago in anticipation of lottery revenue that never reached expectations.

Nixon says reinstating it would cut funding by about $418-million.

“I hate to be so cynical about this, but I think there are members of the legislature that want to lower the fully funded number so that they can go back to their districts and say that they hvae delivered for education when they haven’t,” said Nixon to students at Rock Bridge High School in Columbia.
Nixon said putting the cap back would contradict the message that should be sent to students, “that in a global economy we must continue to raise the bar, so that they can be prepared for whatever the future brings.”

The House and Senate have both passed legislation that would reinstate that cap.

Earlier story:  Missouri house gives initial approval to cap on K-12 funding formula growth