Jackson Free Press

Mississippi is eligible for additional education and Medicaid funds after the U.S. House passed a $26 billion state aid bill yesterday.

The Education Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act provides $10 billion for school districts to keep teachers employed and gives states $16 billion for Medicaid. Mississippi could receive as much as $97 million for education, saving 2,000 teaching jobs, according to the U.S. Committee on Education and Labor.

To pay for the measure, the bill closes a tax loophole for corporations and cuts $11.9 billion from the national food stamp program. Last year, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act temporarily increased funding for food stamps.

States must keep education funding at the same levels in 2009 to be eligible for the education funds. Yesterday, Gov. Haley Barbour released a statement criticizing the bill, claiming it would "force states to change already adopted budgets to meet the desires of the far left."

"To get the additional education money from the federal government, we'll have to spend $50 million to $75 million more in state money on education that the Legislature budgeted," he said, referring to cuts he made to education programs in Mississippi's fiscal year 2010 budget.

Previous Comments

ID

159241

Comment

Barbour says the aid package would... "force states to change already adopted budgets to meet the desires of the far left." So he admits that saving jobs of teachers and suring up medicaid are desires of the "far left" and are not in the desires of he and his constiuency. In a state like Mississippi, that didn't even make the Race to the Top educational grant final cut and repeatedly sees it self at the bottom of most health and educational social indicators, why would the governor think that aid in these two areas would not be worth changing the state budget (really, it just calls for the state to maintain 2009 funding levels)? Just shows where his priorities are, big business and the 'good ol' boys'.

Author

Renaldo Bryant

Date

2010-08-11T11:21:11-06:00

ID

159242

Comment

Sacrificing the masses to only save the few in the "know". Cut off your own nose in spite of your own face! Yes indeed! I concur Blackwatch - Mississippi hardline politics

Author

Duan C.

Date

2010-08-11T11:59:59-06:00

ID

159243

Comment

He just wants to get in his "sound bite" regarding the federal government and the "far right". Most Republicans were actually FOR this bill as almost ALL states were in the final throes of having to use IOUs to pay their deficits and, I believe, California was near to damn bankruptcy (AHHHH-Nold came out and said if this didn't pass all "welfare" programs in CA would be forced to end and their Medi-Cal system would have to go to a co-pay system. Things are THAT BAD). EVERY SINGLE STATE was clamouring for this money. In MS it means that there won't be forced closures of about 4 major mental health hospitals and several mental health centers (This may still happen. But I hope not). It also means that non-profit programs who receive money from the Department of Mental Health and other state agencies-like Dept of Ed- for contractual services they provide FOR the state will be allowed to KEEP OPEN THEIR DOORS. (thus saving several hundred-if not thousands-of jobs and maybe LOWERING the amount of people that have to apply for Medicaid. Ironic, huh?) I do not think that people realized the "state" this state would be in without this extension of the FMAP program. Barbour is toeing his party line. Repubs in legislature did not HATE this bill. In fact, most of their constituents were clamouring for it (I, myself, sent about four thousand emails to every person I knew asking them to call their state senators regarding it). Once the Repubs knew the Dems had a majority vote after a procedural vote done last week (and the Dems folded and made sure it had a zero budget effect on the federal deficit to make them happy)...they all felt warm in fuzzy in being able to vote "no" to the measure so they can seem fiscally conservative DESPITE the fact that voting against it wasn't in the best interest of their constituents. Its freaking ridiculous for him to make this sound like it will cost the state MORE money. This will AID with budget cuts. Most other states are welcoming this with open arms. I know that when I heard it was passed, I did a freakin' happy dance. But, true to Barbour form, he really WON'T be done with this state until people are waiting in line for bread. Because that's basically what would have happened had it not passed. There would have been deep unrecoverable cuts to certain state services and job losses that would have put MS economy in an even worse tailspin than it is currently. God Forbid we actually have to give MORE money to education in this state. That certainly would SUCK, wouldn't it?

Author

Lori G

Date

2010-08-11T12:00:53-06:00

ID

159247

Comment

I would also like to add that if Ole Haley can refer to himself as a "Fat Redneck" on NATIONAL TELEVISION, then I believe that its perfectly fine for me to refer to him as one on here. :)

Author

Lori G

Date

2010-08-11T12:38:12-06:00

ID

159248

Comment

Good point. ;-) I forgot he did that. Well, I tried.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2010-08-11T12:44:37-06:00

ID

159250

Comment

Kind of like a bad case of food poisoning, eh? I won't ever forget it. But, I will refrain from calling him a fat redneck that wears make-up. Because, although he WAS wearing make-up, he had the sensibility to not mention that part while on CNN.

Author

Lori G

Date

2010-08-11T12:51:05-06:00

ID

159251

Comment

I've missed you, Lori. ;-)

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2010-08-11T12:53:33-06:00

ID

159252

Comment

I've been busy savin' the world and changin' diapers! I miss not being on here as much. But, as the Holy Terror (my beloved daughter that acts JUST LIKE ME) gets older, I'm realizing I have lots more free time. As long as I don't mind never having clean underwear...which I don't. Let's just say I finally have the time to read the news. :)

Author

Lori G

Date

2010-08-11T12:59:44-06:00