Pro42ers are at it again with their latest campaign ad, trying to paint the picture that the Legislature and those mean ole lawmakers in Jackson are taking money away from local school districts and students while conveniently and purposefully leaving out facts in an effort to deceive voters and continue their convoluted campaign to seize power and manipulate tax dollars for their own political gain.
The ad gives a visual of what is meant to be interpreted as a legislator snatching away a book, a computer and even a teacher from students while stating that Initiative 42 “forces the Legislature to fund local schools – every school,” citing as a source of this claim as their own petition. The imagery is meant to stir emotions and hide fact, which it does for low information voters or those who are passionately supporting this measure out of self preservation or want of power.
They may as well have shown a picture of a crying baby with a sucker having it snatched out of her mouth.
Trouble is, Initiative 42 doesn’t “force” the Legislature to fund local schools anymore than what the current Sec. 201 of the state constitution does now. Funding is never mentioned in the initiative nor is the referenced Mississippi Adequate Education Program.
What Initiative 42 actual does is remove the “Legislature” and replaces it with the “State” and takes out “general law,” which is where such appropriations and funding rightly originate, and adds a provision for Chancery Courts to provide injunctive relief. Don’t believe me? Read it for yourself.
Current Mississippi Law
Section 201. Free Public Schools.
“The Legislature shall, by general law, provide for the establishment, maintenance and support of free public schools upon such conditions and limitations as the Legislature may prescribe.”
Proposed Initiative Measure 42
Section 201. Educational opportunity for public school children
“To protect each child’s fundamental right to educational opportunity, the State shall provide for the establishment, maintenance and support of an adequate and efficient system of free public schools. The chancery courts of this State shall have the power to enforce this section with appropriate injunctive relief.”
Oh, and the petition the ad cites as backing up their claim… that wording isn’t legally binding nor does it appear anywhere on the ballot or in the constitutional amendment wording you and I will be voting on come November.
This ad is nothing more than another political shell game from Democrats and education lobbyists funded by liberal out-of-state groups who are seeking to remove your voice by replacing your elected representatives in our Legislature with a judge who will be forced to listen to trial lawyers and those who would forcibly redistribute your tax dollars.
Here’s the ad for your scrutiny. Switch your reason and commonsense on as you watch; don’t get suckered by the political imagery and emotional hype:
Magnolia Tribune
