Chambers must still agree on bill to fund education

Published 5:00 am Monday, April 5, 2004

Lincoln County lawmakers say work continues during the 2004legislative session, but questions about the budget and educationfunding remain.

“We’ve passed the bill out of the House to fully fundeducation,” said Dist. 92 Rep. Dr. Jim Barnett.

However, Senate leaders have questioned some funding mechanismsused by their House counterparts. Barnett said the educationfunding issue is headed to conference later this session.

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As the “tug of war” goes on, educators are keeping a close eyeon the Capitol.

“I think there’s a lot of games being played with the budgetright now,” said Dist. 39 Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith. “I’m ready to fundeducation and be done with it.”

If a lawmaker is not for the House plan, Hyde-Smith said he orshe is being labeled as against education. She said that was notthe case.

“Everybody up there is for fully funding education,” Hyde-Smithsaid. “It’s just different ideas on how to do it.”

Instead of tapping one-time money, Hyde-Smith said the Senate isinterested in finding recurring funds for educational purposes. Sheindicated that using one-time money or similar funding measureswould put lawmakers in the same position next year, and she did notwant that.

“I just want a good bill,” Hyde-Smith said. “I’m sick and tiredof every year having to beg for funds for education.”

Barnett said approximately five weeks remain in the 2004session. It is scheduled to conclude May 9.

“We’ve got to find some money,” Barnett said.

In addition to education, lawmakers must set budget spendinglevels for other areas of state government.

“Right now, we don’t have anything positive to tell,” Barnettsaid.

Barnett did mention other non-budget related lawmaker activity.He said over 100 bills were passed the House last week.

“Health care measures are the big thing,” Barnett said.

Barnett cited House Bill 1094, which he sponsored, to developand implement a statewide heart attack and stroke acute care systemin an effort to reduce disabilities from such events. He alsomentioned House Bill 850, which is designed to give senior citizensbetter access to manufacturers’ drug discounts and relatedinformation.

“We need to let more citizens know so they can take advantage ofthem,” Barnett said.

A bill that ultimately failed in the House would have allowedlaw enforcement officials to use voice stress analysis equipment.The machines are supposed to be more sensitive than lie detectortests, Barnett said.

“I voted to let them use them if they’re that good,” Barnettsaid.

Hyde-Smith also reported some legislative progress in theSenate.

“We’ve got a lot of bills out that we’re sending to conference,”Hyde-Smith said, although she did not cite any specifics.

Tuesday deadline for committees to act on general bills andconstitutional amendments that originated in the other legislativechamber. Wednesday, April 14, is the deadline for floor action onthose measures.

“Hopefully, we’ll get a lot accomplished this week,” Hyde-Smithsaid.