Why more is always better in Senate oversight of higher education

Some senators were apparently so concerned over the recent multimillion-dollar contract buyout of fired University of Minnesota basketball coach Tubby Smith that yesterday they named an amendment after him.

The "Tubby Smith" proposal for the U would prohibit state appropriations from going toward the buyouts at the U's athletic department.

The Senate adopted it, even though it seemed unnecessary. A tweet by an Associated Press showed the proof:

kpottermn: #UMN staff -- Tubby Smith Amendment (bans state $ from buying out coaches) is already law - bit.ly/13jnUHa #mnleg

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