Jackson Free Press

We just received this from Barbour's office: Contrary to what some have said, the "Operation: Streamline" legislation does not affect funding for education at all. There are no bills dealing with schools, teachers or K-12 funding. My executive budget submitted last month simply accepts the Legislative Budget Committee's unanimous recommendation for K-12 funding * nothing less. Read full statement ...

[Full verbatim e-mail] As you may know, our "Operation: Streamline" plan deals with consolidating different state agency functions and giving me the responsibility and authority to find efficiencies within my Administration. The ultimate goal of the plan is to eliminate Mississippi's looming $709 million budget deficit in two years so revenue will be available to fund the many needs of our State. As one news report described "Operation: Streamline," it "offer(s) the only plan to date that puts a stop to deficit spending."

Contrary to what some have said, the "Operation: Streamline" legislation does not affect funding for education at all. There are no bills dealing with schools, teachers or K-12 funding. My executive budget submitted last month simply accepts the Legislative Budget Committee's unanimous recommendation for K-12 funding * nothing less.

I hope to work with you during this session to try to find revenue to restore K-12 funding to last year's level. Rest assured, we will be more likely to have additional funds available for K-12 spending if the "Operation: Streamline" savings are adopted.

Further, I hope you are as opposed as I to the idea that cutting teachers is the way for school districts to meet the Legislative Budget Recommendation. That is the wrong approach, and I won't stand for it.

I hope you will join me in helping streamline our state government, eliminate Mississippi's budget deficit and fund our schools at an appropriate level. These are enormous tasks, but by working together I know we can get them done.

I hope to work with you during this session to try to find revenue to restore K-12 funding to last year's level. Rest assured, we will be more likely to have additional funds available for K-12 spending if the "Operation: Streamline" savings are adopted.

Further, I hope you are as opposed as I to the idea that cutting teachers is the way for school districts to meet the Legislative Budget Recommendation. That is the wrong approach, and I won't stand for it.

I hope you will join me in helping streamline our state government, eliminate Mississippi's budget deficit and fund our schools at an appropriate level. These are enormous tasks, but by working together I know we can get them done.

Previous Comments

ID

137563

Comment

It sounds like Barbour is trying to pulling a semantic sleight of hand in this statement. He says: There are no bills dealing with schools, teachers or K-12 funding. My executive budget submitted last month simply accepts the Legislative Budget Committee's unanimous recommendation for K-12 funding * nothing less. The problem, as outlined in our cover story this issue, is that the LBO has proposed not fully funding Adequate Education -- that means *cuts* from what is already budgeted, and those cuts will affect teachers, among other vital education services. Barbour is supporting that recommendation, and not asking the Legislature to fully fund Adequate Education as Musgrove did last year. Therefore, he is supporting violating MAEP and cutting the funds allocated for Adequate Education. This is very serious. And it doesn't sound like he's even willing to admit that he is supporting underfunding education in the state when that is exactly what he is doing. He should at least stand up and say that is what he is doing, and why. He has already said that college funding is a higher priority for him than K-12. It's also interesting that he is trying to make a K Street-like deal with Mississippians by saying, "Support the streamline plan, and there will be enough money for Adequate Education." That's tricky and manipulative, and not good enough. How 'bout: "Education comes first, no matter what."

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2004-02-18T18:18:22-06:00

ID

137564

Comment

Not only does the Barbour need to be a man and admit what he is really doing to education in Mississippi, he needs to get someone with an education to read his emails before he sends them out. Look at this one: the 4th and 5th paragraphs are repeated at the end. Oops, I forgot. Verbosity seems to be a character trait for many politicians, doesn't it?

Author

Lynette Hanson

Date

2004-02-25T12:38:14-06:00