Legislature 2008: PROMISE

Lawmakers still aren't biting on Gov. Joe Manchin's proposal to require PROMISE scholars "to pay back at least some of their tuition if they take a job outside West Virginia upon graduation," The Associated Press reports.

AP education writer Shaya Tayefe Mohajer spoke to legislators, school officials and even students while checking on the bill's prospects at the Capitol.

"Manchin's proposal isn't exactly popular with legislators, or the state's PROMISE scholarship administrators who have seen a huge, yet immeasurable, cultural shift since the scholarship's implementation," she reports. "They say the PROMISE scholarship has helped more West Virginia high school students dream of -- and plan for -- a college education."

Tayefe Mohajer also notes that the House Education Committee voted Monday to advance a PROMISE-related rules bill -- ignoring the governor's legislation in the process.

Manchin earlier told AP that he was willing to be flexible regarding the details of a change to PROMISE, but urged lawmakers to continue the dialogue.