It was one of the worst ideas in recent memory as far as plans to plug budget gaps go, and now it’s officially dead thanks to the outcry of an enraged populace.
Gov. Jay Nixon said Thursday that he will not tap university reserves to help balance Missouri's budget, scrapping the idea just a few weeks after its debut generated a generally negative reaction.
Nixon's administration had floated an idea that would have taken $106 million from the reserves of five of Missouri's largest universities to help fund the higher education operating budget for the 2013 fiscal year. The reserves would have been replenished over several years with money from Missouri' student loan agency.
Asked Thursday about the idea, Nixon responded: "That is off the table."
He may not know a good idea when he sees it, but at least he can recognize a bad idea once it’s been used to beat him senseless.
That’s a silver lining, right?
- B.H.
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