Lawmakers meet on budget

The Clarion-Ledger, 9/15/8

Mississippi lawmakers begin meeting today to decide how to divvy up about $5 billion in taxpayers’ money in another tight budget year.

Those who campaigned on promises to fully fund a formula for public education every year may have to find much more money to do so.

Other agencies requesting money for the 2010 fiscal year, which begins next July, provide services ranging from health care to transportation to public safety. Leaders of the state’s insurance department, corrections and emergency management are among those presenting budget requests on day one of two weeks of hearings.