JEFFERSON CITY � The House Appropriations � Education Committee cut deeply today into Gov. Jay Nixon�s proposals for public schools and higher education, slashing his planned increases by more than $200 million.

But committee Chairman Mike Lair, R-Chillicothe, found $8 to address a pressing problem. The money is to be used �for two rolls of high density aluminum to create headgear designed to deflect drone and/or black helicopter mind reading and control technology.�

On the summary sheet handed out to lawmakers, the money is slated for �tin foil hats� and was tied to an amendment removing language barring the state from accepting federal grants to implement Common Core standards for public schools.

Critics on the right have focused the adoption of the standards by President Barack Obama�s administration and sought to portray it as an attempt to indoctrinate children. A recent posting on the Eagle Forum website was titled �Controversy and Porn Pervade Common Core Curriculum.�

�Basically, when you deal with conspiracy theorists, you do logic first,� Lair told the committee, noting that he has filed bills to limit how student data is shared and blocking the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education from mandating curriculum or textbooks to local schools.

There has also been criticism of Common Core standards from liberal groups, but Tribune education reporter Catherine Martin reported recently that many Columbia teachers like the standards.

�If you can�t deal with folks with logic, you use humor,� he said. �This is to stop all the problems from the black helicopters and drones. This is high density foil.�

After Lair's amendments were approved, Rep. Bryan Spencer, R-Wentzville, sought to restore the language banning the use of federal grants to implement Common Core. His amendment was defeated.