Jackson Free Press

Salter Takes on Taxation Myths; Barbour Responds

Update: Pasted below (in the comments) is a statement from Barbour, in minutes ago, about his take on the state's "budget myths." Enjoy.

[Just In] JPS Superintendent's Remarks on Full Funding

These are the remarks of Jackson Public Schools Superintendent Earl Watkins today at a press conference at the Department of Education calling for the governor and the hold-out members of …

‘We Can No Longer Hide'

On March 23, in the middle of a budget stand-off, House Speaker Billy McCoy, D-Rienzi, warned that the state budget will have some holes that will hurt Mississippians if the …

[Breaking] Education Funding Talks Break Down

[Just in from a "plumber" (our new word for unnamed source)]: "Budget negotiations, especially funding for education have completely broken down. The House has held firm for (close to) full …

URGENT: How to Help Get Education Funded NOW

Please call the House members and encourage them to hold their position in

The conference committee on HB 1646 (MAEP funding) is still negotiating. The House, under the leadership of Rep. Cecil Brown, is holding out for full funding. The Senate, under the …

Auditor's MBN Probe Supports Few Charges

The Clarion-Ledger reports:

MPB to Broadcast JFP Editorial Friday A.M.

[Editorial] Mr. Barbour: It's Time to Start Governing

Listen to Mississippi Public Broadcasting Friday morning at 5:35 and 7:35 to hear an excerpt from the JFP's most recent editorial read as part of "Opinion Round-up." Following is the …

Frank Melton to North Jackson: "It's Over!"

Mayoral hopeful Frank Melton has called his race against Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. before it ever began. "It's over!" he exclaimed to 35 wealthy women gathered at a breakfast meet-and-greet-and-fund-raise …

[Alert] Support Public Education Today

Here's what you can do right now to demand full funding of Adequate Education. An alert just in from Parents for Public Schools; the Jackson Free Press stands with PPS …

Operation Downgrade

Gov. Haley Barbour's "Mississippi Education Reform Act of 2005," SB 2504, finally passed in the House of Representatives in early March, after living in the shadow of a looming Medicaid …

Thou Shalt Honor The F-Word

Read my lips. The Ten Commandments are not a toy. And the U.S. Constitution isn't an instrument to be manipulated as the political winds shift.But here we go again. On …

[Kamikaze] Let's Get ‘Real'

Listen, this proposed "council" on racial reconciliation that I've read so much about in previous weeks appears to be a good idea ... in theory. But here's the thing, while …

Melton Responds to Convention Center Picks

[Barbour] The Governor's Primer on Mississippi Medicaid

March 21, 2005 If you or someone you love depends on Medicaid, you should read this. And if you are not on Medicaid, you are paying for its services with …

Birds, Hardball and Hail

Early Friday morning, Rep. Steve Holland, D-Plantersville, walked past some Senate leaders and Lt. Gov. Amy Tuck, gave them the middle finger and blew a raspberry at them. His bird …

Mr. Barbour: It's Time to Start Governing

It is telling that Haley Barbour was not in the state of Mississippi when he decided to call a special session this past weekend in a gambit to force the …

Crisis: Medicaid Games Come to a Head Today

Haley Barbour's phone numbers: 359-3150, 359-3150, 720-8733, 359-3150. Call now.

In an editorial today, The Clarion-Ledger writes: "The solution to the current Medicaid funding crisis is to take $200 million from the tobacco trust fund and approve a cigarette tax …

An Imperfect Storm

On Monday, March 7, Gov. Haley Barbour delivered a hardcore ultimatum at the Capitol. "We cannot tax or cut enough in three and a half months to cover a $268 …

Hush! Somebody's Calling Our Name

Never say things can't change. Sometimes remarkable change comes, and it seems so obvious that people barely notice. That was apparent recently when both the Mississippi House and the Senate …

Mondo County, Only One Rock Star, Highways of Heroes, and Crispy Critter

Mondo County