But Republicans showed little willingness to engage in debates on the merits of cuts that had already been approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee. Sen. Bill Foster, R-Poplar Bluff, said that while many of the cuts were painful, he couldn't vote to restore funding for individual programs as it would then be difficult to hold the line on restoring all the funding.
This coalition of lawmakers, which includes Childers, hopes to draft a new formula in time for the 2004 legislative session, said Senate Education Committee Chairman Bill Foster, R-Poplar Bluff. During the summer, an informal group of lawmakers plans to hire an education consultant and meet with representatives from statewide education associations.
Sen. Bill Foster, R-Poplar Bluff and chairman of the Senate Education Committee, said most specific issues with the state's foster care system relate only to individual counties or areas and will likely be solved by using consistent policies across the state.
On the Senate side, Education Committee Chairman Bill Foster, R-Poplar Bluff, has never served on an education committee. Foster was elected to the Senate in 2000 after serving in the House for seven years.