Soda tax sought for scholarships

HELENA (AP) - Student government lobbyists have come up with an idea to provide a $1,000-a-year renewable scholarship to a Montana public college for nearly every Montana high school student.

The students persuaded several key legislators to co-sponsor a bill that would refer the scholarship program, supported by a tax on soda pop, to Montana voters for approval in the November 2004 election.

House Bill 760, to create the Montana Citizen Scholarship Program, was introduced Friday and referred to the House Taxation Committee.

Its chief sponsor is Rep. Tim Dowell, the Democratic minority whip. T...