For Immediate Release
Thursday, May 27, 2010

PHILANDER SMITH COLLEGE GETS BUNTING, NOT FUNDING

Lincoln took $1.2 million from big banks and voted against reconciliation bill that included $85 million for Historically Black Colleges and Universities

North Little Rock – Despite recently voting against $85 million for Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Senator Blanche Lincoln will hold a campaign rally at a historically black college, Philander Smith, in Little Rock on Friday. The student loan package included in the health care reconciliation bill she voted against included $85 million in funding for historically black colleges and universities. That vote was one of the reasons the Arkansas NAACP gave Sen. Lincoln a grade of F on their state report card.

“This is another example of Senator Lincoln's typical Washington hypocrisy, and why Arkansans need the change Bill Halter represents," said Halter campaign manager Carol Butler. "When the big banks need her to vote against funding for Historically Black Colleges, Blanche Lincoln chose the banks, not the students. She’s more interested in using a Historically Black College as a political prop than in helping the students who go there."

Senator Lincoln has taken more than $1.2 million from big banks and investment firms. On Mar. 25, 2010, Senator Lincoln voted against HR 4872, the reconciliation portion of the health care bill that included a student loan reform package opposed by the big banks.

The legislation passed with Senator Lincoln joining only two other Democrats and all the Republicans to vote against it. (Roll Call Vote 105, 111th Congress)

The student loan package included $85 million in funding for Historically Black colleges and Universities to help low-income students attain degrees in the fields of science, technology, engineering or mathematics.

“Senator Lincoln is asking for votes from Arkansans she didn't vote to support," concluded Butler. "Bill Halter took on the insiders to pass the Scholarship Lottery to help these students. Senator Lincoln is evidently more interested in preserving her own political future than in helping these students create better futures as scientists, engineers and mathematicians.”