Beebe: No money for added lottery scholarships

By The Associated Press

Posted: September 21, 2012 at 3:17 p.m.

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LITTLE ROCK — Gov. Mike Beebe says no additional money from the state general fund is likely to wind up funding college scholarships.

Legislators are looking at ways they can adjust scholarship awards to plug an anticipated deficit in lottery-funded awards. Lawmakers also say they want to better target the awards to students most likely to maintain their grades and credit hours so they can keep getting state money.

Beebe says that any surplus in general fund money should go to public schools and the projected Medicaid shortfall.

Former Lt. Gov. Bill Halter, who spearheaded the effort to put the lottery before voters, suggested cutting other areas of state government to help fund more scholarships.

A proposal by state Sen. Johnny Key, R-Mountain Home, would reduce scholarship amounts to underclassmen.

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