Budget Battles Beginning Early

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) – Mississippi lawmakers used budget hearings this week to deliver one central message: Pumping more money into schools could hurt other state services.

Critics say that’s a scare tactic to try to kill Initiative 42, an education funding proposal on the November ballot.

But, Republican Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves says he and other legislators are being prudent.

Reeves says if 42 passes, a judge could order more spending on schools – and if that happens during the current budget year, other agencies would lose money.

Democratic Sen. Bill Stone of Holly Springs says he skipped budget hearings because he expected they would be used to spread false information about 42. Stone says Republicans weren’t concerned about spending reductions when they tried to push for tax cuts a few months ago.