An Open Letter To Governor Matt Blunt Regarding The Sale Of MOHELA To Sallie Mae

An Open Letter To Governor Matt Blunt Regarding Your Proposal To Sell MOHELA To Sallie Mae

January 26, 2005

Dear Governor Blunt:

We are writing because we are concerned about your recent decision to consider selling the non-profit MOHELA to Sallie Mae,

As Republican State Treasurer Sarah Steelaman put it in a recent news story:

“My main concern is that every child or student in Missouri should have an opportunity to go to college,” Steelman said.

“We have to make sure that they have affordable ways to do that. I
am concerned about how (the sale) affects student loans and student
loan rates.”

We agree, and we find the vague reassurances you have been offering very inadequate.

If it very difficult for us to see how a for-profit corporation is likely to provide equal or better service at the same or lower price, than a locally owned non-profit like MOHELA that has to respond to the people of this state.

Recent actions by your appointees to MOHELA, to fire the executive director, merely because he raised questions about your proposed sale, are also deeply troubling.

The questions and concerns of the parents and students who will be directly impacted by this decision should be addressed before this proposal moves forward.

Last summer, when a major decision was facing the University of Missouri regarding tuition, University Presdent Elson Floyd held a series of public meetings across the state so that he could hear the public's concern and answer their questions. Based on the feedback he received during that process, Floyd decided to pursue a different course than the one he initially intended.

We believe such a process is needed for this decision as well. Students and parents should have the chance to ask questions of you directly regarding this plan. Therefore, we urge you to set up public forums on the campus of every public university in the state, along with the President or Chancellor of that campus, so that parents and students can express their concerns directly to you, and to have their questions answered.

You say that no deal has been finalized. If that is true, we would certainly hope you would want public input from those people whose future is directly jeapordized by your plan.

We anxiously await your response to this request.

Sincerely,

View the signatures.