WESSON – Taking money out of ineffective programs and putting itinto initiatives that work might be the answer to Mississippi’sfinancial woes, Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant told a group gathered atCopiah-Lincoln Community College at the school’s annual Businessand Industry Appreciation Luncheon.

“Just think, it could save us hundreds of millions of dollarssimply not spending on things that aren’t working,” he told thegroup.

Bryant said the problem with the Legislature is that practiceshaven’t changed in quite some time. Government entities keepputting money into worthless programs, and it’s hurting the state,he said.

“That’s the way we’ve always done it, and we’ll keep doing itforever even if it doesn’t work,” he said. “We’ll hold on to thatanvil until it drags us to the bottom.”

But there’s also an old, flawed failsafe in that plan, Bryantsaid.

“We spend more money than we bring in, and we make the governormake the budget cuts, then we blame him,” he said. “That’sridiculous. We’ve got to stop this.”

Bryant alluded to recent good economic news for the state.However, he said te fact that things seem to have stabilized in themonth of March is not necessarily cause for celebration this earlyeither.

“This is the first good month we’ve had in, oh, four years. I’mglad we finally got it right,” he said. “The first robin doesn’tnecessarily mean it’s spring time.”

And while there are plenty of people lobbying to pull money fromthe Rainy Day Fund because they see the state’s current economicsituation as a state of emergency, Bryant said this is exactly thewrong time to pull from the fund.

“Next year that federal aid money will go away, and when thatgoes away, unless there’s a dramatic increase in revenue, next yearwill be even worse than this year,” he said.

It’s about being conservative with funds and smart aboutspending, the lieutenant governor said.

“People say we should spend the Rainy Day money this year, andnext year we will just pray. I don’t think God wants us to dothat,” he said. “I’m a praying man, but I don’t think prayer shouldbe a primary budget plan.”

That conservative budget plan will eventually be the state’ssalvation, Bryant said.

“If we can follow that, we’ll surge ahead and lead the way,” hesaid. “And then, when all this is over, we can look back and saythis was when we were at our best.”

Bryant’s speech at the luncheon followed what officials said wasa very successful career fair, where Co-Lin students were able torub elbows with about 50 potential employers and universityrecruiters.

“Many of them, this was their first interaction with thebusiness community in a way that they have to consider what to dowhen they leave Co-Lin,” said College President Ronnie Nettles.

The college has continued to forge ahead in spite of some of thefrightening aspects of the job market, Nettles said.

“Our workforce division has never stopped because of plantclosures and layoffs, but instead we’ve worked to train those whohave been laid off,” Nettles said. “We have a 12 percent increasein credit enrollment, and the adult education division is one ofthe most successful in the state.”

Nettles said the college will also focus on being a port in thestorm during the economic downturn.

“The challenges we face are great, but we’re confident we willovercome them,” he said. “Providing opportunities is what we do atCo-Lin.”