Gov says Miss. will seek federal stimulus funds
Republican Gov. Haley Barbour says Mississippi will apply for federal stimulus money for education and won’t have to rearrange the state budget to do so.
Barbour had said earlier that the state may have to shift funds around to meet the requirements in the bill. However, Barbour said Thursday in a letter to legislators, superintendents and school board members that he’s been assured by federal officials that Mississippi meets the requirements allowing states to access the funds.
“Although I would have voted against this legislation were I in Congress, I intend to apply for the approximately $98 million in funding for K-12 education,” Barbour wrote to legislators.
“Our taxpayers, and their children and grandchildren are on the hook for the debt resulting from this federal spending, and it does not require us to raise taxes or make other negative policy changes, so I believe Mississippians should receive the extra funds for education purposes.”
AP
8/20/10
