Scholarships for students at state-owned universities would be paid for by taking more than $200 million from a fund — generated by slot machine proceeds — boosting the state’s racehorse industry.
Related
But Republican Pat Browne, chairman of the state Senate Appropriations Committee, says it is not simply a matter of putting the needs of children above those of horses.
Browne says the horse racing industry supports thousands of jobs, the same way farming does.
"If we use that logic, based on what we do in the Agriculture Department, we would transfer all the money — given the tremendous needs of our children — transfer all the money from the Agriculture Department to the needs of kids, because of course, we’re going to care about children more than we care about cows and chickens," Browne said.
Browne nonetheless said the scholarship proposal is an appealing one given concerns about the affordability of higher education.