Haley Barbour on Budget & Economy Republican MS Governor

Pay off $700M deficit with no new taxes nor funny money

When tax revenues slowed, the state began raiding special accounts & using one-time money to plug the hemorrhaging of red ink. That worked for a couple of years; but now the bill has come due & Mississippi finds itself in a $700 million budget hole.

Mississippi did not get into this budget crisis overnight, and it will not be fixed overnight. After examining what I found upon arriving in office two months ago, I offered an honest, straightforward plan to eliminate our shortfall in two years. My plan, "Operation: Streamline," is based on simple principles:

• No New Taxes
• Control Spending
• No "Funny Money Accounting"
• Fund Teachers/Education