By Patsy Brumfield
Last week, a majority of the Mississippi Legislature – 94 representatives and senators – turned their backs on the needs of their local schools and the students who attend these schools and the communities who depend on these schools.

How did they do that?

Simple, they put politics before children and their future. 

At issue was Initiative 42, a proposed constitutional amendment that would require the Legislature to fully fund the state’s promised share of educating our K-12 children.  Initiative 42 is three sentences long:

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.

The legislative leaders in Jackson are threatened by this amendment because it would force them to make sure our schools have the resources they need.  These legislative leaders became incensed that voters would tell them what to do.  So, they rebelled.  The Republican Speaker of the House and the Republican Lt. Governor told the members of their party to vote for an alternative initiative, one that would be alongside Initiative 42 on the November ballot, for the purpose of defeating both of them. 

They don’t want the people to tell them what to do.  They don’t want to fully fund our schools.
And that is what every Republican member of the Senate did, except for Nickey Browning of Union County.  And that’s what every Republican member of the House did, except for Margaret Rogers of Union County.

These legislators put politics before their local schools.

So, now, in November, there will be two constitutional amendments on the ballot, side by side, in a confusing mess.  The Legislature’s proposal does nothing but confuse the issue.  And that was its purpose. 

For once, the people had a chance to protect the future of their children and their communities.  And their elected legislators turned their backs on that future and did what they were told to do.
Over the course of the next nine months, we’ll be telling voters about the legislative dirty trick.  Once voters understand, we believe they will vote for Initiative 42 and make a strong mark for the future of our state.

Without adequately educated children, there is no future.

Without adequately funded schools, we cannot educate those children.

We look forward to the fight because we know you care about our future.

Patsy R. Brumfield is a long-time Mississippi journalist and communications director for Better Schools, Better Jobs, which launched the Initiative 42 campaign. For information go to www.betterms.org or call (769) 524-6818.