Democrats offer alternative to Guinn scholarships

Assembly Democratic leaders are pushing their own version of the Millennium Scholarship plan.

The biggest difference between their bill and the Senate bill backed by Gov. Kenny Guinn is the amount of money earmarked for scholarships.

The Assembly bill would make 25 percent of the tobacco settlement money -- roughly $12 million a year -- available for college scholarships. Guinn has proposed 50 percent. The Assembly bill would put more money toward health care programs and smoking and drug abuse cessation than Guinn's plan.

"Let's just make sure we don't shortchange health care," Assemblywoman Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas, said.

Assembly Majority Leader Richard Perkins, D-Henderson, added, "We think that 25 percent is going to cover" all the high school students who step forward for the scholarship money.

Perkins and Buckley made a pitch for the Assembly bill version of the plan to Sun editors Monday.

Guinn, who has made his scholarship proposal a key feature of his budget, wants to offer $2,500 scholarships to high school students who earn a 'B' average or better and plan to attend Nevada universities. Community college students with the same grades would receive $1,500.

The plan has come under fire: Nevada Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa has said the money must be used for health care costs. The Nevada State Education Association, which represents 20,000 educators, agreed. Educators would rather see more money for anti-tobacco progams directed to teens.

The Democrats' plan features several other differences from Guinn's:

* Students can earn the scholarship by being in the top 20 percent of their class, as well as by receiving a 3.0 grade-point average.

* Priority would be given to students who plan to be education or health care majors.

* The state Board of Regents would manage the money, not a newly created panel, as Guinn has proposed.

Nevada's share of the national tobacco settlement is $48 million a year. The settlement came about when states sued the tobacco industry, seeking compensation for having to pay for illnesses related to smoking.

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