House committee makes education formula contract secret
Speaker Pro Tempore Greg Snowden, R-Meridian, who chairs the House Management Committee, told The Clarion-Ledger the action was prompted by lawmakers’ requests for access to the agreement entered into with EdBuild, the private education firm tasked with formulating proposals for a student-based funding system in Mississippi.
According to Snowen, no members of the House Management Committee asked for a copy of the contract with EdBuild prior to granting approval on Oct. 12. However, once representatives requested to review the agreement, Snowden said he was advised by House counsel to establish a policy concerning members’ access to contracts….
…Since 1983, the Legislature has long exempted itself from much of the Mississippi Public Records Act. Snowden posited that this policy was no different.
“It’s been a long-standing policy that contracts are not public records,” he said.
At question, he said, was whether lawmakers had the right to receive a copy of the contract.
Clarion Ledger
11/15/16
