Proposed ballot initiative would give student curator voting rights

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Intro:	Students will turn to Missouri voters in their push for a voting member of state university governing boards.
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Wrap: Secretary of State Jason Kander says he received a proposed ballot measure that would allow students to vote on state university school boards.

House Higher Education Committee Chairman Mike Thompson says this could be unfair to teachers and staff.

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Description: "If they do get a vote then you have turned your board from what we call a lay board into a constituency board. Now we have a special interest group on the board."

Columbia Representative Stephen Webber says he would support the measure if it's on the ballot.

St. Louis attorney Brad Ketcher, who submitted the initiative, would not disclose who he's working for.

Attorney General Chris Koster needs to approve the measure's language before signatures can be collected.

Reporting from the state capitol, I'm Matt Kalish.

Intro:	One lobbyist is making a push to give students a vote on the boards of Missouri's state universities
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Wrap: Secretary of State Jason Kander announced Tuesday his office received a proposed measure that would allow students a vote on their state university governing boards.

Chairman of the House Higher Education Committee Mike Thomspon says it would fundamentally changes the make up of these boards.

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Description: "What comes next? Do teachers have representation on the board? Does the booster club have representation on the board? Does the foundation have representation on the board? And you could go on and on."

The measure was submitted by former chief of staff to former Governor Mel Carnahan Brad Ketcher, who was also behind the failed tobacco tax initiative.

Columbia Representative Stephen Webber says he would vote for the measure if it's on the ballot.

Reporting from the state capitol, I'm Matt Kalish.

Intro:	The same St. Louis lawyer behind the failed tobacco tax increase is pushing a new initiative.
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Wrap: Former Governor Mel Carnahan's chief of staff Brad Ketcher says he wants Missourians to decide whether or not student should vote on state university school boards.

Students currently use a non-voting member to oversee governing board's actions.

Chairman of the House Higher Education Committee Mike Thompson says he's not sure what difference having a vote will make.

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Description: "They bring whatever issues are to the meetings, they can be in on literally all the discussions even some of the closed doors ones they just do not have a vote."

Attorney General Chris Koster still needs to approve the petition's language before it can start circulating.

When asked who was funding the initiative, Ketcher declined to comment.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Matt Kalish.