JEFF AMY: Analysis: Lack of info not helping school funding
Last week’s derailment of what had once looked like a legislative freight train might provide the opportunity. Unable to decide on what proposals to bring forward, leaders in the House and Senate both abandoned placeholder bills to die at Thursday’s deadline. The issue could still come back this year, but lawmakers will probably need Gov. Phil Bryant to call a special session.
The process crashed in part because far too many people don’t understand what consulting group EdBuild proposed, or how the scenario put forward by the nonprofit group could be modified.
Republican leaders should blame themselves for the widespread ignorance, never unveiling an official set of numbers and discussing options only in closed-door talks between Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves and House Speaker Philip Gunn. When supporters of changes have been willing to talk, backers of the current Mississippi Adequate Education Program have plugged up their ears — even the ones whose home districts could end up with more state money than the current formula would provide at full funding.
Clarion Ledger
2/12/17