Halter: Proposed Lottery Changes are Shortsighted
By: KARK 4 News
Updated: February 14, 2013
Changes proposed for lottery scholarships at the Arkansas Legislature are gathering criticism from Arkansas's former lieutenant governor.
Bill Halter sent the following news release by email today:
Former Lieutenant Governor Bill Halter today blasted HB 1295 as a legislative proposal that ignores the express intent of Arkansans by dramatically altering the state's scholarship lottery program that they approved in 2008.
"This legislation will make it significantly more difficult for Arkansas students to achieve a higher education," said Halter. "With virtually no warning to tens of thousands of parents and students, this bill fundamentally changes the program to the point where it will reduce the number of Arkansas students able to enter a state college or university. It's a bad idea for students and parents and it's a bad idea for Arkansas."
"The fact that more students have received the scholarship than was initially projected is an enormous success that deserves to be built upon rather than cut," said Halter. "Arkansans approved the scholarship lottery to offer greater opportunities for higher education in our state."
"This bill ignores the expectations of Arkansans who voted overwhelmingly for the scholarship lottery that passed with clear majorities in every legislative district in Arkansas," said Halter.
"We must do more to expand opportunity for Arkansans and to strengthen our workforce to help build and attract better paying jobs. This legislation undercuts all of these goals," said Halter.
Bill Halter sent the following news release by email today:
Former Lieutenant Governor Bill Halter today blasted HB 1295 as a legislative proposal that ignores the express intent of Arkansans by dramatically altering the state's scholarship lottery program that they approved in 2008.
"This legislation will make it significantly more difficult for Arkansas students to achieve a higher education," said Halter. "With virtually no warning to tens of thousands of parents and students, this bill fundamentally changes the program to the point where it will reduce the number of Arkansas students able to enter a state college or university. It's a bad idea for students and parents and it's a bad idea for Arkansas."
"The fact that more students have received the scholarship than was initially projected is an enormous success that deserves to be built upon rather than cut," said Halter. "Arkansans approved the scholarship lottery to offer greater opportunities for higher education in our state."
"This bill ignores the expectations of Arkansans who voted overwhelmingly for the scholarship lottery that passed with clear majorities in every legislative district in Arkansas," said Halter.
"We must do more to expand opportunity for Arkansans and to strengthen our workforce to help build and attract better paying jobs. This legislation undercuts all of these goals," said Halter.
Comments
My wife is an educator and said when the lottery came out it was all just a scam to get gambling/lottery in the state, that it never was about the kids or advancing education. I don't know all the requirements, but the state should make a requirement that kids need to have lived and gone to school in state for atleast 6 or even all 12 yrs prior to being eligible to apply for the lottery. That would cut a lot of drifters from coming in to take advantage of the $ that should be for our kids that we, the full time citizens of AR have educated, raised and loved most of their lives. They deserve that more than new comers that haven't paid their dues in state taxes over the years like we have. And I agree that the kids who get the scholarship and goof-off in school to loose it should pay it back even if in their senior year. JonBonJobi
John J.
February 18, 2013 at 3:55 am
I understand you have to cut back on the amount but to go from $4,500 to $2,000 seems drastic. I thought the proposal was to reduce it to $3,800. I feel like a lot of kids will not even try to go if they know they will have to incur a lot of debt just to start their first year. This lottery is evidently not what most Arkansas citizens thought it would be. $2000 will not be enough to even pay for most dorm room and meal plans.
Kelley K.
February 14, 2013 at 2:46 pm
