JACKSON - Calling themselves "Senators for Education," a group of lawmakers say the Senate has failed to make education a priority.
Sen. Hob Bryan, D-Amory, said the group of 17 Democratic senators is endorsing a House spending plan that would fully fund education.
"I think it's fair to say that all of us agree that the House plan is not perfect," Bryan said Wednesday at the Capitol. "What the House has done is that they've gone to work. We think that the House plan is a good plan to start from and work from."
A recommendation by the Joint Legislative Budget Committee, picked up by Gov. Haley Barbour for his budget, would give public schools $161 million less than what state Department of Education officials say is needed for the budget year that starts July 1.
The Senate has not introduced a separate spending plan for education, but Sen. Alan Nunnelee, R-Tupelo, who did not participate in Wednesday's news conference, said the chamber has a strong commitment to K-12 schools.
"We've not reached the point in the legislative process where we take up appropriations bills," said Nunnelee, a member of the Senate Education Committee.
The House plan would fully fund education and the state employees' health insurance by raising some fees and curtailing state agency expenses for travel, equipment and cell phones.
Bryan said there's at least $300 million that lawmakers could tap into for education. He said by law the Legislative Budget Committee could not consider certain revenue when it was crafting a proposed budget for fiscal 2005.
"The talk that we hear in the Senate leads us to believe that none of that money is going to be available for education," Bryan said.
Senate Appropriations Chairman Jack Gordon, D-Okolona, said the $300 million includes the state's $72 million set-aside money. State law says legislators can spend only 98 percent of revenues and the rest is set aside for a cushion - though the 2 percent was spent last year.
Gordon said there's also the state's $92 million tobacco trust fund payment and up to $150 million that could be generated with a 50-cent tax on every pack of cigarettes sold.
But Gordon said the Senate is working off the governor's budget proposal.
"Within the framework of the parameters that Haley Barbour has prescribed at this time, there's not $300 million out there," Gordon said.
Bryan said he and the other senators want to raise public awareness about the funding crisis and work with Senate leadership to wipe out the shortfall.
"It's not our goal to make anybody mad," Bryan said.
Judy Rhodes, director of accountability for the state Department of Education, said Wednesday she has faith that the Legislature will fully fund K-12.
Gordon's committee this week passed a bill that would have an $88 million impact on education funding.
The bill allows lawmakers to redirect $55 million in school transportation and supply funds. The bill also deletes a minimum appropriation of $36.7 million for school transportation.
Gordon said the change, which would be effective only one year, gives school district superintendents more flexibility. The funding earmarked for transportation could be used to pay a teacher's salary, he said.
"It's just a one shot deal," he said. "They don't have to do it. It just gives them the opportunity to do it."
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