The chairman of the Missouri House Budget Committee says Governor Nixon’s proposed increase in public education funding is a political stunt. Ryan Silvey says Nixon takes another big chunk out of funding for higher education to pay for a very small increase in public school funding.

Silvey offers an alternative that would reverse Nixon’s higher education cuts. The money would come from the Governor’s increases for K through 12 schools, the judiciary, and an incentive program for certain businesses. It would also modify the Governor’s proposed pay raise for state employees, allowing it only for those making less than $70,000.