Haley Barbour in 2008 Governor's State of the State speeches
On Education:
Continued large increases in funding higher education
Higher education also received record increases in state funding these last four years. Universities saw state funding go up by nearly one-third, and it was greatly needed after a seven percent cut in funding during the Musgrove administration.
Community colleges got cut even more when Musgrove was governor, and I’m proud that in my first administration state appropriations for community colleges went up
52%, including a more than doubling of state spending on workforce development and job training... a key to our job creation success.
I’m on record as favoring continued, large increases in funding higher education... increases similar to my first term; but I’ll tell you right now, we can’t afford that this year. The money won’t be there.
Source: 2008 State of the State address to state legislature
Jan 21, 2008
On Education:
Spending $8,500 per student is enough--no increase this year
This year our K-12 schools are receiving more than $4.2 billion from state, federal and local sources... more than $8,500 for every child attending our public schools compared to $6,800 per child just four years ago.
Education is our top priority, but we must recognize we won’t be able to increase K-12 spending nearly that much this session, unless you’re willing to gut other critical programs, which I’m not.
Source: 2008 State of the State address to state legislature
Jan 21, 2008
On Education:
Extra pay for experienced teachers and for mentoring
To keep our best teachers, we should increase the salaries of teachers with more than 25 years experience. My budget will.For our beginning teachers, we need to give them more support as they learn to manage a classroom full of kids.
We lose a third of our new teachers within three years. Every new teacher in our schools should have an experienced teacher serving as a mentor, and we should pay that mentor an extra $1000 for this valuable service. It is more than worth it.
Source: 2008 State of the State address to state legislature
Jan 21, 2008
On Families & Children:
Supports dyslexia screening and early childhood education
To help kids at risk of not succeeding, our schools should screen every first grader for dyslexia and other learning disabilities and get them treatment. Children must first learn to read before they can then read to learn, and that is so much harder if
they are saddled with obstacles like dyslexia.The Legislature has already passed, and I have signed into law, common sense reforms on dyslexia screening. It is past time to put politics aside and fund these programs for our teachers and our children.
Source: 2008 State of the State address to state legislature
Jan 21, 2008
On Homeland Security:
Defense industry is economic bright spot for MS
An economic bright spot is our defense industry. Navistar’s new IMG facility at West Point employs some 800. Northrup Grumman’s shipyards have just won new multi-billion dollar ship contracts. General Dynamics, Lockheed Martin, Rolls Royce: our
traditional defense contractors are strong. And we’ve added some new defense industries, such as EAD’s American Eurocopter & RTI International Metals. The defense industry, like energy, is not subject to the same economic variables as most other sectors.
Source: 2008 State of the State address to state legislature
Jan 21, 2008
On Tax Reform:
Commission to study state tax code & then cut taxes
I have appointed a blue ribbon commission to study Mississippi’s tax code on a comprehensive basis, including how the federal and local tax structures affect our citizens and businesses. The commission’s work will give a much more accurate and clearer
picture of the tax system under which our taxpayers labor than we’ve had in the past. We’ll get this report by the end of August. Nothing is off the table; though I hasten to add, my goal is to put a net tax cut in place during my term.
Source: 2008 State of the State address to state legislature
Jan 21, 2008
On Technology:
More funding for highway construction & improvement
A serious job creation issue is highway infrastructure. Toyota is a “just in time” manufacturer, so logistics are crucial to success. We have some gaps in our highway system that need to be addressed if we are to garner the number of supplier jobs that
are available to us. I will ask [the state legislature] to expand the Economic Development Highway Program not only to provide funding for key links but also to materially expedite the construction process. This Act requires special funding, over and
above MDOT’s $1 billion annual budget.
We must be able to respond quickly and effectively if we are to keep winning the race to help Mississippians have better, higher paying jobs. Further and in the future, we need more options for funding key
transportation infrastructure. I applaud the Legislature for passing a law last year allowing toll roads to be built when non-toll alternatives are available. We need creative thinking if we are to meet our transportation needs, especially for job creati
Source: 2008 State of the State address to state legislature
Jan 21, 2008
Page last updated: Dec 02, 2018