Gov. Mike Parson is really excited about putting adults back in school.

Two days after a Missouri House committee gave his $22 million scholarship program the first of several approvals it will need to become law, Parson was in Springfield singing the praises of what he calls the "Fast-Track" bill and thanking sponsors and House Speaker Elijah Haahr for their support.

"I want to say: This is a piece of 'Fast-Track' legislation," Parson said. "And it's moving fast."

The program, one of the new governor's top priorities in his first legislative session, would cover the cost of tuition and fees for degrees and vocational certificates for many adults over the age of 25.

In his State of the State address last month and at Friday's press conference at SMC Packaging Group, Parson said too many Missourians are missing out on better-paying jobs that require just a bit more education.

More than 755,000 Missourians have some college experience but no degree or certification, according to a state news release. But Parson's higher education commissioner has said the program could help as many as 16,000 people get training for in-demand jobs.

"This (program) will open the doors for Missourians to earn more money for their hard work," Parson said.

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He said the move would also benefit businesses that too often find themselves with plenty of open spots but no one to fill them.

Haahr, a Springfield Republican, echoed that refrain.

"Particularly in southwest Missouri, where we have unemployment around 2 percent and poverty approaching 20 percent, we have a lot of people that have jobs," he said. "What we need is a lot of people with the skill set to get better jobs so they can provide living wages for their family."

SMC Packaging CEO Kevin Ausburn said the same thing.

"We're really excited to see the program," he said. "I think it's targeted towards a segment of our employee group, a segment of our population that really needs some help and assistance."

Parson, Haahr sidestep questions on Sunshine Law

Parson was a lot less excited about a question on a bill weakening the state's open records law.

House Bill 445, initially an uncontroversial ethics bill, drew the ire of open-government advocates this week after it was amended to exempt from public review “advice, opinions and recommendations” that any member of a "public governmental body" receives or prepares in connection with their decision-making process and any correspondence with constituents.

But when asked Friday whether or not he would sign the bill, Parson said he couldn't commit either way.

"There will be changes made in it," he said. "The reality of it is we don't know what that's going to look like until it comes to my desk."

Haahr, who voted for the bill Thursday, also sidestepped a question about his support for the measure.

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