It appears that the U.S. Senate could be voting very soon on the federal legislation that would generate an additional $82-million in state funding for Mississippi's K-12 education system. We need your help to get those dollars to our schools.
You probably remember that, when our State Legislature passed the funding bill for the coming school year, it included a provision that would direct additional funds to our public schools if Congress passed legislation to free up some state funding. Here's how it works...
The Mississippi State Legislature passed HB1059, a bill that makes additional funding available to K-12 education and some other state agencies IF the U.S. Congress extends the enhanced federal match for Medicaid (enhanced FMAP) that is in place through December of this year. Legislation has been proposed to extend the enhanced match through June 30, 2011. That move would save Mississippi approximately $153-million in Medicaid costs for the coming fiscal year, and those funds would then be appropriated to other state agencies, including K-12. Mississippi House Bill 1059 calls for $82-million of the freed-up funds to be added to the K-12 appropriation.
The enhanced federal match is in an amendment to a broader jobs bill that Congress is considering. My understanding is that everything in the $100-billion jobs bill, including the enhanced Medicaid match amendment, has been paid for except a $34-billion unemployment insurance provision. This means that extending the enhanced Medicaid match would NOT add to the federal deficit.
Please contact Senators Cochran and Wicker and ask that they support the amendment to the jobs bill that would extend the enhanced federal Medicaid match through June 30, 2011, freeing up state funding to be appropriated to our public schools. You can contact our Senators at the numbers or email addresses listed below.
Senator Thad Cochran
202-224-5054
Senator Roger Wicker
202-224-6253
As you know, our schools are suffering mightily under the recent budget cuts. The funding bill that the Mississippi Legislature adopted in April funds our schools at a level that is approximately $80-million below the final level of funding K-12 education had for the 2009-2010 school year after budget cuts. It provides $232-million less than what would be required to fully fund the MAEP for FY11. Schools have seen dramatic losses of teachers and programs as a result of this underfunding, and class sizes are scheduled to increase in the fall. The funds freed up by the enhanced Medicaid match extension could help to alleviate some of the increase in class size.
Please call Senators Cochran and Wicker today and ask that they support the enhanced Medicaid match amendment that would free up additional funding for our schools, and continue to watch our website for updates. Working together we can ensure that, even in difficult economic times, our children will receive a high quality education that will allow them to achieve their dreams.
Gratefully,
Nancy
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