DAILY JOURNAL discourages legislative tax reduction talk to support #MAEP

DAILY JOURNAL: OUR OPINION: Meet commitments before discussing tax reductions

The start of the Legislative Budget Committee’s 2016 budget cycle highlights the continuing inadequacy of funding for the legislatively mandated Mississippi Adequate Education Program.

MAEP was enacted in 1997 over a veto, and fully funded only twice since passage, including the first fully phased-in year, 2003. It also was fully funded in 2007, like 2003 an election year, under Gov. Haley Barbour.

Full funding had been approved for 2008 when the national financial crisis broke, and Gov. Barbour reduced budgets as allowed under law, starting with public education.

Daily Journal
9/30/14