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JEFFERSON CITY - Southwest Missouri legislators delivered a letter to Gov. Bob Holden Thursday requesting a meeting with the governor on "the future of Missouri's educational system."
The letter, obtained by the Globe, references the openness to such a meeting Gov. Holden expressed during a visit from local school administrators Wednesday.
Members of the Committee for Adequate State Funding for K-12 Education (CAFE) -- a group of more than a dozen school superintendents, school board and chamber of commerce members -- met with both the governor and a delegation of southwest Missouri legislators Wednesday, telling both parties they wanted to see less "finger pointing" and more action on education funding.
"Everyone has their spin and perspective, but someone has to step up and get something done," Neosho Board of Education member Steve Marble told legislators Wednesday night.
CAFE members said Gov. Holden had expressed a willingness to meet personally with local legislators about the issue, something that up to this point has not taken place. Rep. Kevin Wilson, R-Neosho, said southwest Missouri lawmakers saw the idea as "the right thing to do," and the letter was drafted Thursday formally requesting an audience with the governor.
"He (the governor) made the offer," Wilson said. "So I'm optimistic about this."
Gov. Holden was unavailable for comment Thursday afternoon. Jennifer Brown, contacted at the governor's office, said the governor was out of town and had yet to be informed about the letter.
Last July, Holden withheld $195 million of the money the legislature appropriated for elementary and secondary schools, and $22 million earmarked for higher education. In January, he released $75 million for public schools and $8 million for colleges and universities after the state received more than was budgeted from the federal government for the Medicaid program.
Republicans have charged that the governor continues to withhold from local schools money that the legislature appropriated last year. The governor has said he cannot release the money because the state may not collect enough revenue to fully fund the budget.
Rep. Bryan Stevenson said he was "glad and hopeful" about the possibility of meeting with the governor.
"I was told he was open to meeting with some new faces," Stevenson said. "With additional people in the room, we may be able to make some progress."
Stevenson said the meeting could be set up as early as next week.
INFOBOX:
Legislators who signed the letter:
-Rep. Kevin Wilson, District 130
-Rep. Bryan Stevenson, District 128
-Rep. Marilyn Ruestman, District 131
-Rep. Ron Richard, District 129
-Rep. Ed Emery, District 126
-Rep. Jack Goodman, District 132
-Rep. Dennis Wood, District 62
-Rep. Jerry Bough, District 142
-Rep. Jim Viebrock, District 134
-Rep. Larry Taylor, District 68
-Rep. Steve Hunter, District 127
-Rep. Bob Dixon, District 140
-Rep. Maynard Wallace, District 143