Blunt: My way or...

Included in a press release from Governor Matt Blunt's office communicating the Governor's desire to see bipartisan support for his bucks-for-bricks MOHELA plan was an interesting passage.

The governor made it clear that without bipartisan support it is likely the original project list for colleges and universities included in the Lewis and Clark Discovery Initiative will change. This action could mean that some education facilities might not achieve the initiative’s full benefits.

Someone on the Gov's staff may not realize that this weapon isn't loaded.

Last week a Republican-controlled Senate Education Committee already took it upon themselves to cut a number of projects from the $350 million MOHELA plan. Democrats, including St. Louis State Senator Maida Coleman, were quick to point out that most of the $115 million in projects that hit the cutting-room floor were all proposed for institutions in Democrat-controlled areas. In St. Louis that meant cuts of $5.5 million from a CORTEX-related facility at Harris-Stowe State University and $5.5 from the Center for Emerging Technology at UMSL.

The Republican leadership already demonstrated they are willing to cut millions from Democratic districts, any chance the Governor's statement will encourage their support?

In addition, the same day those changes were made in the committee the Governor's office released this statement:

“I am pleased that the Senate is moving forward with important higher education reforms and the Lewis and Clark Discovery Initiative."

It's most likely that the Gov's office may have seen a belated chance to try and juice some lemons. Each week that passes seems to punch a little leak in Blunt's Discovery Initiative.

Democratic skepticism is far outweighed by conservative opposition over the potential that the buildings may one day be used in stem-cell research. Sam Lee of Campaign Life has been a major thorn in the side of Blunt's plan to boost Missouri's role in biotech research. Despite the deep cuts made by the Education Committee, pro-life groups are still unconvinced.

Now word comes today that a financial advisor to MOHELA has turned the light from green to yellow while changes in student loan programs at the federal level are straightened out. The potential impact could reduce the deal's value by millions.

Originally a chance to parlay the assets of a successful program into funding to give Missouri an expanded role in the Biotech race, the Governor's program seems to have heightened old tensions and risks the possibility that the MOHELA assets may be squandered on investments that don't reap the rate of return, political or financial, the Governor wanted.

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