THE DANGERS OF INITIATIVE 42

HOW WILL THE CONSTITUTION CHANGE IF INITIATIVE 42 PASSES? Current Language SECTION 201. The Legislature shall, by general law, provide for the establishment, maintenance and support of free public schools upon such conditions and limitations as the Legislature may prescribe.

HOW WILL THE CONSTITUTION CHANGE IF INITIATIVE 42 PASSES? Initiative 42 SECTION 201. The Legislature To protect each child’s fundamental right to educational opportunity, the State shall, by general law, provide for the establishment, maintenance and support of an adequate and efficient system of free public schools upon such conditions and limitations as the Legislature may prescribe. The chancery courts of this State shall have the power to enforce this section with appropriate injunctive relief.

HOW WILL THE CONSTITUTION CHANGE IF INITIATIVE 42 PASSES? Initiative 42A SECTION 201. The Legislature shall, be general law, provide for the establishment, maintenance and support of an effective system of free public schools upon such conditions and limitations as the Legislature may prescribe.

WHY DOES A HINDS COUNTY JUDGE DECIDE? Statute: Miss. Code Ann. § “ Any person having a claim against the State of Mississippi, after demand made of the auditor of public accounts thereof, and his refusal to issue a warrant on the treasurer in payment of such claim, may, where it is not otherwise provided bring suit therefor against the state, in the court having jurisdiction of the subject matter which holds its sessions at the seat of government; and, if there be no such court at the seat of government, such suit may be instituted in such court in the county in which the seat of government may be.”

WHY DOES A HINDS COUNTY JUDGE DECIDE? Constitutional definition of the “seat of government”: Miss. Const. Art. 4 §101 “The seat of government of the state shall be at the city of Jackson, and shall not be removed or relocated without the assent of a majority of the electors of the state.”

WHY DOES A HINDS COUNTY JUDGE DECIDE? Case law: -Moore v. Bell Chevrolet-Pontiac-Buick-GMC, LLC, 865 So.2d 939, (Miss. 2005) (“Clearly, the proper county in which to have sued the Attorney General’s Office, which is a state agency is the county in which the seat of government is located. Miss. Const. art. 4 §101 states that the seat of state government shall be the City of Jackson which is located in Hinds County. Accordingly, this Court finds that venue should have been Hinds County. We find that the trial court erred in its determination that ‘venue [was] proper in Rankin County, regardless of whether this is a suit against [the Attorney General] in his official capacity.’ Venue should have been moved to Hinds County.”) - Brown v. Ford, 73 So. 722, 723 (Miss. 1917) (holding that even if a lawsuit is filed against an individual in his or her role as a public official, the claim is against the state in its sovereign capacity)

WHO IS BACKING INITIATIVE 42? A group named Better Schools Better Jobs created Initiative 42. Better Schools Better Jobs is primarily financed by the New Venture Fund, a Washington D.C. based liberal interest group whose goal is to influence and change state laws around the country. To date, the New Venture Fund has donated over $1.6 million dollars to the Better Schools Better Jobs campaign to help amend Mississippi’s Constitution.

WHAT IS THE NEW VENTURE FUND? It fiscally sponsors groups like the Women’s Equality Center, a Pro-Choice group that works to secure abortion rights for women. Pro Planned Parenthood and Pro Union Contracted with former staffers of Obama and Clinton. Actively involved in promoting the Common Core Standards across the United States. Supports conservation and climate change projects around the world.

The New Venture Fund’s 990 Tax Form

NEW VENTURE FUND’S 2014 FUNDING OF BETTER SCHOOLS BETTER JOBS Last year, the New Venture Fund donated $864,500 to the Better Schools, Better Jobs campaign.

NEW VENTURE FUND’S 2015 FUNDING OF BETTER SCHOOLS BETTER JOBS This year alone, the New Venture Fund has donated $810,111 to the Better Schools, Better Jobs campaign.

AN OUTSIDE GROUP IS FUNDING THE EFFORT TO CHANGE OUR CONSTITUTION The New Venture Fund has donated a majority of the money Better Schools Better Jobs has raised. Citizens should ask why a liberal interest group based in Washington D.C. is funding a constitutional amendment campaign in Mississippi?

HOW DOES INITIATIVE 42 AFFECT THE STATE’S BUDGET?

The State will either have to raise taxes on individuals or businesses or both; Cut state agencies’ budgets; Or do a combination of raising taxes on Mississippians and cutting state agencies’ budgets

BUDGET CUTS IF INITIATIVE 42 PASSES State agencies were instructed to prepare for cuts to their budgets if Initiative 42 passes. It will require cuts of at least 7.8% to each agency’s budget to fully fund MAEP.

BUDGET CUTS IF INITIATIVE 42 PASSES Department of Mental Health Institutions of Higher Learning Community and Junior Colleges Department of Corrections Department of Public Safety Department of Transportation Department of Tourism Municipalities And many others A few budgets affected if Initiative 42 passes:

SCHOOL DISTRICT SPENDING & PERFORMANCE OVER THE YEARS

TOP 10 SCHOOL DISTRICTS SCHOOL YEAR RankSchool DistrictOfficial Grade Expenditure Per Pupil Average Daily Attendance 1Clinton Pub SDA$9,5154,589 2Enterprise SDA$8, Union Public SDA$7, Union Co. SDB$8,0332,673 5Madison Co. SDA$9,11611,937 6Booneville SDA$8,9041,230 7Webster Co. SDA$8,6161,778 8Pass Christian SDA$10,5701,856 9Hancock Co. SDB$8,3764,233 10Long Beach SDA$7,9942,954

BOTTOM 10 SCHOOL DISTRICTS SCHOOL YEAR RankSchool DistrictOfficial Grade Expenditure Per Pupil Average Daily Attendance 151Clay Co. SDC$20, Hinds Co. AHSF$13, Yazoo City SDD$8,0792, Humphreys Co. SDD$8,6841, Tunica Co. SDD$11,5152, Coahoma Co. AHSD$10, Indianola SDD$9,3502, Sunflower Co. SDD$11,3011, Hazlehurst City SDD$8,8141, Leland SDC$10,312860

REPUBLICAN SUPPORT FOR EDUCATION

EDUCATION’S SLICE OF THE PIE (2016)

TOTAL K-12 FUNDING

K-12 FUNDING: FY 2007-FY 2016 Total State Support Education Funding General Fund Support FY 2007$2,260,224,732$4,888,727,914 FY 2008$2,471,813,630$5,666,730,545 FY 2009$2,443,481,610$5,830,543,382 FY 2010$2,276,505,004$5,924,226,630 FY 2011$2,250,499,499$5,493,679,539 FY 2012$2,236,931,758$5,511,392,938 FY 2013$2,271,667,019$5,647,037,660 FY 2014$2,324,701,352$5,877,717,219 FY 2015$2,420,372,114$6,209,551,272 FY 2016$2,525,564,415$6,368,135,636

PERCENTAGE OF STATE SUPPORT INCREASE GOING TOWARDS EDUCATION Percent of State Support Increase Allocated to K-12 FY % FY % FY % FY %

HISTORIC LEVELS OF EDUCATION FUNDING Over $9.5 Billion spent on Total K- 12 Education over the last four legislative budgets $2,525,564,415 spent on Total K-12 Education in the FY 2016 Budget, more than any other year in our state’s history

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FUNDED OUTSIDE THE MAEP FORMULA National Board Certification Literacy Program (Reading Coaches) Educable Child Program Schools for the Blind and Deaf Critical Teacher Shortage Program Autism and Dyslexia Programs Drop Out Prevention Teacher Supply Fund There are 30 more programs not listed here that are funded outside the MAEP formula

KEY EDUCATION VICTORIES FY 2013 – FY 2015 Charter School Act Third Grade Reading Act Gave Teachers Their First Pay Raise in 7 Years Prekindergarten Collaboratives School Consolidation Teacher Scholarships – increased requirement Student Religious Liberties Act New Start Law Enhancements Bills to Punish Districts for Cheating Standards Review Commission Doubled Teacher Supply Funds Started Using Debit Cards for Teachers Switched from using confusing ranking of School Districts – to A-F Special Needs Voucher Bill MCOPS Dyslexia Scholarships – Students and CALT’s

MADISON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT MAEP FUNDING [FY ]

A FEW GROUPS THAT HAVE COME OUT AGAINST INITIATIVE 42 MS Manufacturers Association MS Hospitality and Restaurant Association MS Tourism Association MS Independent Insurers MS Realtors MS Farm Bureau MS State Medical Association Empower Mississippi MS Malt Beverage Association MS Petroleum Marketers & Convenience Store Owners MS Asphalt Association MS Bankers Association MS Republican Party MS Poultry Association MS Homebuilders MS Associated Builders & Contractors MS Road Builders MS Assoc. of Self-Insurers Kids First

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO STOP INITIATIVE 42

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