2015 MS Governor's race: on Education

Phil Bryant: Supports "effective" public schools but not Initiative 42

Speaking to about 150 Republicans at the ag museum on Monday, Bryant said Initiative 42 would be a gift to trial lawyers. `They won't have to chase ambulances anymore. They can chase school buses,` Bryant said to applause from the crowd.

The co-manager of the 42 for Better Schools campaign responded in an email: `Right now, it really doesn't matter how many cute one-liners Phil Bryant comes up with. The supporters of Initiative 42 have had enough of empty promises when it comes to public education.`

Robert Gray: Supports Initiative 42 & full public school funding

Gray views full education funding also as a form of economic development. `I think the people of Mississippi already know that it's a win-win situation in passing Initiative 42,` Gray said.

Vicki Slater: Constitutional provision to fully fund public schools

A: If the education system was fully funded, we could hire thousands of assistant teachers that could help students that have problems reading--or in whatever area--ahead of time of them being tested rather than to hire teaching assistants after the failure by the students. Thousands of textbooks could be bought with that money. There are schools systems in Mississippi where there aren't enough textbooks for the room. It's total failure in leadership.

Q: Democrats have been very critical of the governor and Republican leadership on the Mississippi Adequate Education Program, but shouldn't there be some flexibility for, say, times of economic downturn?

A: No; they have had that flexibility since 1997, and they've only fully funded twice. There wasn't an economic downturn in every one of those years. They're not going to do it unless there is a constitutional provision that requires them to do it. I don't think it should be left to them.