RELEASE
Speaker Philip Gunn: Bond Bill Fails During Negotiations
Included in the bill was a conservative funding plan for IHL, community colleges, roads and bridges and various other projects
Jackson, MS—Today, negotiations between House and Senate conferees took place to help craft the budget for fiscal year 2018.
In yet another attempt to provide a starting point to address Mississippi’s roads and bridges need, the House offered the Senate a proposal to begin repairing the state’s roads and bridges in the annual bond bill. Included in the bond bill, among other projects, was $47 million for IHL and $25 million for community colleges to spend as they see fit on needed projects, two issues the Speaker and the House support.
“IHL, community colleges and roads and bridges are all priorities to the House,” said Speaker of the House Philip Gunn. “The House has repeatedly demonstrated its devotion to universities and community colleges. Our history shows our support.
“Furthermore, we have been working tirelessly to find a solution to help start addressing the needs of our roads and bridges,” he continued. “The bottom line is that the House has prioritized this issue time and time again. We have not been provided with any solid policy reasons for not moving forward on our bill for funding IHL, community colleges and a roads and bridges solution.
The House has changed and recrafted its legislation numerous times to avoid previous concerns expressed by the Senate.
“The House has offered several potential solutions,” said Speaker Gunn.
3/25/17
Magnolia Tribune
