MS Legislature

The House and Senate have passed a K-12 funding bill that is simply indefensible. Though revenue is at an all-time high, legislators chose to shortchange the Mississippi Adequate Education Program (MAEP) by $255-million, providing only a $10-million increase in the MAEP. Instead of investing in our children’s future, they socked millions of our tax dollars away in the Rainy Day Fund.  This […]

The K-12 funding bill conference report has passed the House and Senate. It underfunds the Mississippi Adequate Education Program by $255-million. The bill provides: $10-million increase in MAEP – MAEP will be underfunded by $255-million $60-million for a teacher pay raise Full funding of the Chickasaw Cession Interest Payment Full funding of the National Board

The conference report for HB 765 was filed today. Click here to read the analysis. The report, a final agreement between three Senate conferees and three House conferees who were assigned to negotiate on the bill, corrects none of the problems that were present in the most recent version of HB 765. Legislators should vote “nay” on HB 765 CR. Click here to read

Here’s the latest news from the capitol as of 7:00 p.m. on Saturday… Voucher BillThe voucher bill conference report has been filed, and it’s pretty much the same as the Senate version – bad. It does nothing to serve the interests of children with special needs. It’s still just a bill to privatize and “profitize” public education – will your

Mississippi’s budget is funded by two types of state revenue: recurring and non-recurring. Non-recurring revenue, often referred to by legislators as one-time money, is revenue the state receives in one year that will not recur in the future, such as court settlements. Non-recurring revenue comprises a very small portion of the total state budget. Recurring revenue, on

What They Say and What They DoWhen Legislators’ Actions Speak More Loudly Than Their Words  Parents have registered numerous complaints about what they perceive as a disconnect between what legistors say and what they actually do. Their points are well taken. See below the differences between what legislators say and how they vote.  What they say:  Legislators claim that they would like to adequately fund our schools if the money were

How do legislators turn recurring revenue into one-time money and avoid meeting their statutory obligation to fund public education?  Here’s how it works: legislators refuse to acknowledge the revenue that is right before their eyes, leaving it on the table until after the budgeting process is over. Then they sock it away in savings, call it a surplus, and leave

Mississippi’s budget is funded by two types of state revenue: recurring and non-recurring. Non-recurring revenue, often referred to by legislators as one-time money, is revenue the state receives in one year that will not recur in the future, such as court settlements. Non-recurring revenue comprises a very small portion of the total state budget. Recurring revenue, on

I have great news and a little not-so-great news to report on this deadline day.Just after noon today, Sen. Hob Bryan led a successful effort to add $60-million to the Mississippi Adequate Education Program (MAEP) appropriation. The amendment passed the Senate on a 26 to 24 vote. See that vote here.Please join me in thanking the 26 senators who supported better