MOHELA Clears House, But Is It Over?

What's the point of having lawmakers anymore if the voting public should decide everything?

Stem cells. The minimum wage. Taxes. Now, MOHELA?

Allow lawmakers to crack down on sex offenders, get tough on meth and bring back money for a local bridge, ya know -- the hard decisions.

But anything controversial -- send it to the voters, even if they don't have time to juggle the details of 7 ballot initatives per election cycle!

That rant is sponsored to you by the lastest MOHELA maneuver.

MOHELA is on its way to the Governor to be signed.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Lawmakers gave final approval today to a $350 million plan to finance college buildings with student loan agency money, delivering a victory to Gov. Matt Blunt after more than a year of political and legal wrangling.

Democratic State Rep. Clint Zweifel declared the battle isn't over. He wants voters to make the ultimate decision on whether Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority assets should be used to pay for construction projects.

Zweifel said there is still no independent financial analysis to determine if the sale will harm student borrowers.

"MOHELA exists to make college education affordable for Missouri students, not provide the Governor and lawmakers money for pet projects," Zweifel said. "I'm sure Missouri voters will overwhelmingly reject this flawed and bungled deal if given the chance."

How?

Get the signatures of at least 5 percent of voters in 6 of 9 state Congressional districts.

Place it on the November 2008 ballot (ya know, when nothing else is goin on.)

"This is too important an issue to give up without a fight," Zweifel said.