NEWS From the Office of Representative Scott Fitzpatrick
158th District
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
July 13, 2015
CONTACT: Rep. Scott Fitzpatrick
(417) 847-7343
With Veto, Governor Opens Up Taxpayer-Funded
Scholarships to Illegal Immigrants
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – This week Governor Nixon vetoed legislation that would have
prevented students, living in the country illegally, from participating in the Missouri A+
scholarship program.
SB 224, sponsored by Senator Gary Romine (R-Farmington) and carried in the House by
Representative Scott Fitzpatrick (R-Cassville), requires students to be United States citizens
or permanent residents in order to qualify for the Missouri A+ Scholarship.
The scholarship program has, for over 20 years, paid for full tuition for qualifying students
at any Missouri public community college or vocational/technical school. Funding shortfalls
forced cutbacks to the program for the first time this year. Despite tenuous funding and
growing student participation, the Nixon Administration sought to expand the program to
include students living here illegally.
“This is absolutely a step in the wrong direction,” said Rep. Fitzpatrick. “Our state made a
promise to Missouri taxpayers and their children—that we would make college accessible
and affordable. This year Missouri struggled to fulfill that promise and students saw cuts to
their scholarships. If we allow the Governor’s veto to stand, A+ scholarships may see
additional cuts and taxpayers will be forced to fund scholarships for illegal immigrants.”
