Supporters of a college scholarship bill say the state should help more high school graduates move on to higher education. But some lawmakers say further spending will only make the state's budgetary struggles more acute.
THE BILL WOULD SPEND 6-AND-A-HALF MILLION DOLLARS FROM THE STATE�S GENERAL FUND OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS TO HELP LOW-INCOME STUDENTS PAY FOR COLLEGE OR TECHNICAL SCHOOL. REPUBLICAN STATE SENATOR NED GORDON OF BRISTOL IS THE BILL�S MAIN SPONSOR. GORDON TOLD THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE THE PLAN WOULD EXTEND THE CHANCE OF A GOOD EDUCATION AND A GOOD JOB TO MORE OF THE STATE�S RESIDENTS.
003 05 it looks at those people who may be on the cusp, who have very limited means, and says we�re going to provide you with some incentive, some oppty to participate in the edn we hold so dear in this state
THE NEW HAMPSHIRE POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION COMMISSION SAYS STATE SCHOLARSHIPS CURRENTLY HELP NEARLY 3-THOUSAND STUDENTS ATTEND SCHOOL. MOST OF THOSE STUDENTS COME FROM FAMILIES MAKING 20-THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR OR LESS. THE BILL WOULD EXPAND THE PROGRAM BY HALF. SUPPORTERS SAY THAT WOULD PROVIDE MORE QUALIFIED WORKERS FOR NEW HAMPSHIRE BUSINESSES. BUT LAWMAKERS LIKE REPUBLICAN STATE SENATOR ROBERT BOYCE OF ALTON BAY ARE RELUCTANT TO ADD ON TO STATE SPENDING.
004 41 we�ve got a budget to balance and everything we spend outside the budget makes it more difficult to balance the budget
BOYCE IS ALSO DUBIOUS ABOUT THE BILL�S PROVISION ALLOWING STUDENTS TO USE THE SCHOLARSHIPS AT PRIVATE COLLEGES. HE SAYS HE�S CURIOUS WHY LAWMAKERS WOULD SUBSIDIZE PRIVATE EDUCATION AT A TIME WHEN MANY WANT TO BOLSTER THE STATE�S PUBLIC UNIVERSITY SYSTEM. A RECENT REPORT FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE SHOWS THE STATE LAST IN THE COUNTRY IN PER CAPITA SPENDING ON PUBLIC HIGHER EDUCATION. FOR NHPR NEWS I�M
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