22 too old

Intro: The House rejected an amendment that would increase the age of college students whose parents are eligible for child support from 21 to 22. RunTime:0:40
OutCue: SOC

Law will not require mom or dad to pay child support after their child who attends college turns 21.

Bill sponsor Democratic Representative Jeanette Oxford of St. Louis City proposed the amendment to increase child support from 21 to 22 for those still in college.

Actuality: OXFORD1.WAV

Run Time: 00:21

Description: In many cases, if we ended at 21 that requires the student to change how their financial arrangement is in that crucial senior year. We know that those who get a Bachelor's degree have considerably higher earning potential than those who have only a high school diploma. So I'm just wanting to make sure that every possible person can graduate from college in the state of Missouri.

Oxford's amendment was rejected in a voice vote.

Reporting from Jefferson City, I'm Rebecca Layne ... KSMU.

Intro: An amendment proposing child-support age changes got rejected in the House. RunTime:0:41
OutCue: SOC

The House voted for maintaining an existing child-support law age limit of 21 when it rejected Democratic Representative Jeanette Oxford's amendment.

Oxford's amendment proposed requiring parents to pay support for their child in college up to age 22.

Republican Representative Tim Flook says the amendment involves too much government intervention.

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Description: A lot of us think that's government intervention in a private decision of families about an adult child. A lot of us believe that that's creating a sense of entitlement, a sense of dependency on government on the issue of higher education.

Flook says the existing age of 21 encourages teens to graduate on time and become self-sufficient.

Reporting from Jefferson City, I'm Rebecca Layne ... KSMU.

Intro: Because of the rejection of an amendment, parents can relax their hold on their wallets knowing they wont have to pay child support after their teen turns 21. RunTime:0:41
OutCue: SOC

Parents won't have to pay child support for their child attending college after he or she turns 21.

This is because Democratic Representative Jeanette Oxford's amendment was rejected in favor of existing law.

Opponent Republican Representative Bryan Stevenson says messing with the age limit could mess up the bill.

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Run Time: 00:18

Description: It used to be 22, but there was a push last year to roll it back to 18. After a lot of hot debate and discussion on this topic, it was rolled back to age 21. I think if we go messing with this again, we're as likely to wind up with age 18 as age 22.

The House rejected the amendment with a vocal "no."

Reporting from Jefferson City, I'm Rebecca Layne ... KSMU.