Miss. leaders consider saving some stimulus money

Miss. leaders consider saving some stimulus money

JACKSON, Miss. — Republican Gov. Haley Barbour and a bipartisan group of Mississippi lawmakers are considering saving, rather than spending, one of the two pots of federal stimulus money Congress recently approved.

Doing so could make it easier for officials to craft a state budget during the 2011 election-year session when most lawmakers are either seeking another term or running for higher office, and when Barbour – a potential 2012 presidential candidate – is wrapping up his final year as governor.

Lawmakers said Tuesday that the state still plans to spend $97.8 million of education stimulus money this fiscal year, which ends June 30.

AP
8/31/10