Charter School Legislation on way to House for vote
JACKSON – The Mississippi State Senate today approved much-needed education reform by passing legislation to allow public charter schools to operate in the state, Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves announced.
JACKSON -- Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves on Tuesday became an honorary “fish eater,” saving a bill to push back the start of school – legislation long pushed by Coast lawmakers in part to help tourism.
A move by opponents in the Senate to recommit the bill to committee, and thus kill it with today’s deadline for action, came down to a 25-25 vote. Reeves broke the tie, voting against recommitting it. House Bill 707 then passed the Senate 29-21. It heads back to the House now after the Senate made minor changes.
Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves extolled the virtues of working together and not worrying about who gets the credit during a speech at a Madison County Foundation crawfish boil at the Jackson Yacht Club Tuesday night.
But even his young daughters aren't immune to a little credit-seeking.
Former Gov. Haley Barbour once called education Mississippi's No. 1 economic development issue. Former Gov. Winter often said that "The road out of poverty runs by the schoolhouse."
Two recent developments are reasons to be hopeful about education in Mississippi. For one, a number of extraordinary graduating college students in Mississippi have made it into Teach For America and the Mississippi Teacher Corps, both very selective programs.
The second story is that Gov. Phil Bryant and Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves call for budget increases for TFA and MTC, requesting increases of $12 million and $1 million, respectively. The programs address the need for more teachers in the state, thus increased support would make a difference.
JACKSON -- With a Republican governor and a solid GOP majority in the Legislature, conservative lawmakers pushed ahead Wednesday toward their goal of ending legal abortion in Mississippi.
“Meaningful education reform is hard, we knew that before today’s negative vote in the House Education Committee. It’s hard because kids trapped in failing public schools don’t make campaign contributions, they can’t hire lobbyists, and they don’t deliver votes back home. All those kids have is a dream for an opportunity for success and a hope that someone in Jackson will stand up for them. I will not give up on my goal of providing every kid in Mississippi an opportunity for a better life, and Chairman Tollison and I are working together to find solutions to change the status quo.”
JACKSON – The Mississippi State Senate today approved a measure that would eliminate taxes on inventory at businesses, Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves announced.
As the numbers Mississippi can operate on begin to become more of the conversation, Lieutenant Governor Tate Reeves along with Senate appropriations chairman, Senator Buck Clarke, are laying out a budget plan for the Senate.
