The higher education budget would give $5 million to "grants for cooperation between technical schools and other community resources," said Rep. Dick Franklin, D-Independence, the bill's sponsor.
Rep. Dick Franklin, D-Independence who sponsored the bill in the House, said the committee changes made the bill more viable. "The more clutter we put in there, the more it's misunderstood," he said.
The English-only bill's sponsor, Dick Franklin of Independence, says he wants to encourage immigrants to learn English as quickly as possible. Kansas City Representative Steve McKluckie, who opposes the bill, says it could mean even invitations to public English as Second Language classes would have to be printed in English only, which the people who need the classes couldn't read. McKluckie:Actuality:
Independence Representative Dick Franklin is determined to make English Missouri's official language. But members opposing the bill, such as Kansas City's Steve McLuckie, are offering and then with-drawing so-called frivolous amendments just to make a point. After a humorous attempt to read the Latin inscription on Missouri's state seal, McLuckie asked Franklin if the symbol would have to be changed to accommodate the English-only law. Representative Franklin -
"Appropriating this money is a safeguard," said Rep. Dick Franklin, D-Independence. "If we don't do it and a judge says we must pay this, where does it come from?"
"We have made very little changes from the governor's recommendations because they were so adequate," said Rep. Dick Franklin, D-Independence, chairman of the Education Appropriations Committee. "We feel real good about the budget this year."
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