The many "Faces of Crowder," including a stack of chocolate candy bars, greeted guests who came to hear Gov. Matt Blunt tout his plan for increased funding for education. At Crowder College in Neosho, MO the awarding of needs based state scholarships increased six times over, according to figures compiled by the governor's office.
Supporters of Republican Governor Matt Blunt filled the Longwell Museum at Crowder College on January 18, 2008. The governor's visit was part of a tour of state educational institutions that benefit from his plan to increase funding by $1.2 billion over four years without an increase in taxes. Part of this figure includes the creative use of MOHELA funds to pay for the construction of classrooms and other educational facilities on campuses throughout the state.
Crowder College President Alan Marble, at left, was the first to make introductions calling Rep. Kevin Wilson, far right, to the mic. After naming Crowder the "best community college in the state, Wilson introduced Sen. Gary Nodler, seated to his right, who before introducing the governor, the final member of the trio, boasted that Blunt had earned the right to be called Missouri's "higher education governor." Blunt later on returned the compliment by calling the senator a legislative genius for getting a bill passed that mandates that tuition for higher education not exceed the rate of inflation without board approval.
In outlining the governor's programs such as Access Missouri Scholarship that has expanded student eligibility, the Lewis and Clark initiative providing funding for capital improvements in higher education and the Preparing to Care that addresses the shortage of health care professionals by creating an alliance between community colleges and universities, Alan Marble, Crowder president, echoed the words of Sen. Gary Nodler saying that Blunt had "consistently demonstrated his commitment to higher education."
 The old meets the new on the campus of Crowder College where a 47000 sq. ft. academic building is under construction and will contain the library increased 50% from its current size, the bookstore, a conference room with the capacity to hold 450 people and classroom space for 340 students. Among the offices to be relocated here are admissions and financial aid.
At left, presently housed on a wall in the Longwell Museum on Crowder's campus is the winning entry in the 2006 Thomas Hart Benton Mural Design Contest, an event that became a significant part of the annual spring festival held in Newton County. Heritage is the work of Carthage artist, Sherry Petty painted by the artist from her own winning design.
Dominating the skyline on campus, at right, is the base for a 65kw wind turbine, the labor of Art Boyt, director of Crowder's MARET center who has received worldwide attention for his alternative energy program. The turbine which will generate electricity should be operative this weekend, barring any unforeseen problems.
Addressing the visitors, Blunt said that educational funding was a priority in order for the state to be competitive in the global economy. While research and development was basically a federal responsibility, education was the state's responsibility and, he stressed, not an area in the budget from which to draw away funds. Quadrupling an investment in need based scholarships, Blunt said would ultimately build a more prosperous Missouri. That the legislature would go along with what he champions is in keeping with his and their business agenda.
At the end of his talk Blunt repeatedly asked the audience for comments. All was quiet until Nick Myers, Newton County's Republican Central Committee chairman pictured at left, cut the genteel silence with his comment that there was a "long way to go to make up for past underfunding."
Perhaps, what also should have been asked was, if education was no longer to be the scapegoat for budget cutting, then what was? Could it be health care?
Nixon criticizes health care cuts
Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon, the Democratic opponent running against incumbent Matt Blunt surprised the heck out of a lot of people when he showed up in Joplin a while ago to tout his policies and, not coincidentally, to ask for help in financing his campaign.
Nixon offered no explanation for being almost an hour late, and while some reporters knew about a scheduled press conference beforehand that might have accounted for the delay, some didn't. He also disappointed many who were armed with questions by not mingling with the crowd either before or after his speech.
Once he finally did arrive, Nixon, pictured at right, did waste no time in criticizing Blunt's health care and educational policies. He accused the present administration of turning down $1 billion in matching health care programs from the feds (matching $2 for every $1 in health care). He illustrated Blunt's "moving in the wrong direction on health care" by relating "Shannon's story," a physically challenged woman who had to give up rehab because she lost her coverage and couldn't meet the new poverty guidelines.
Rather than label Blunt as a "higher education governor," he had claimed that Blunt and the Republican-controlled Legislature were having a "war on education"--creating an educational funding formula that would take power away from local schools and supporting vouchers. Nixon accused Blunt of aligning with Republican Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder in an attempt to have taxpayer dollars support private schools. "When you're governor, you need to support public education," Nixon said.
In considering the inflationary increases that had made higher education unaffordable for many students, Nixon said, "Our job is to give the next generation a debt free education."
Sound familiar? What is great about an election year is that smart incumbents tend to listen to their opponents' criticisms.
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