Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Cecil Brown: Governor threatening future of our children.

Representative Cecil Brown (D-Geritol) submitted this column yesterday:


Governor Phil Bryant and the Republican controlled Legislative Budget Committee (LBC) have released their state budget recommendations for the upcoming fiscal year.  Despite a growing economy that will produce more than $400 million in new tax revenue over the next two years, the Republicans have once again failed to add any additional funds to the Mississippi Adequate Education Program (MAEP), the state’s formula for determining the level of appropriations for our public schools.  MAEP is currently some $265 million below the amount required by law.  If these budget recommendations are enacted during the upcoming legislative session, every school district will receive 12% less than the amount of money both the legislature and previous governors have determined is necessary to provide every child the opportunity to receive an adequate education.
 
Operating costs continue to escalate in school districts.  For example, we know that in districts served by Mississippi Power Company utility costs will increase by some 25% in the next few years.  Across the state other operating costs are increasing as well.  In some cases funding shortages will result in cuts to in personnel, books and school supplies.  In other cases, school boards will increase local property taxes to make up the shortfall. Either way, the recommended budgets are short sighted and indefensible.  Ninety per cent of all Mississippi kids attend public schools, and the Republican budget proposals are threatening their future. 
 
For the second year in a row, Mississippi’s Republican leadership is jeopardizing the health of hundreds of thousands of our state’s citizens by refusing to create a state-based health insurance exchange and expand the Medicaid program.  Two independent studies have projected that expansion of Medicaid would provide significant economic benefits and more than $9 billion of federal funding to Mississippi at very little or no cost to the state. In addition, these studies project that expansion would create between upwards of 12,000 private sector jobs in Mississippi.  Rejecting expansion will cause us to miss the opportunity for those jobs.
 
Those studies also point out how Medicaid expansion can provide a substantial amount of financial support to many of our hospitals. Under current law, our hospitals will lose millions of federal dollars over the next several years.  Those losses should be offset by money from the expansion of the Medicaid program.  By rejecting expansion, the Governor and the legislative leadership are endangering the survival of health care providers across the state, including our hospitals. There is no better example of the Governor’s willingness to put his partisan politics ahead of what is good for the state than his budget recommendation to cover losses at our hospitals with state tax revenue rather than take advantage of the federal funding that would go to these very same hospitals under expansion. 
 
There are many recommendations in both the Governor’s budget and the LBC budget with which Democrats agree.  But we cannot agree to continue underfunding public education and to denying basic health insurance to our hardworking fellow Mississippians.  
 
Cecil Brown
Mississippi House of Representatives

44 comments:

Anonymous said...

Go to the R&D Center and pull the economic and educational data for MS from the 1960 Census.
Then pull the data from 1970.
Then go home and get 2010 Census data from your computer.
Decide if there is an economic impact from MS receiving federal dollars in Medicare/Medicaid and for education.
Please note the percentage of jobs dependent on government.
Please note the change in those earnings over $100000 a year.
Please note the percentages of college graduates in each census.
Now, try to explain the changes in the economy and in education by looking at the types of jobs.
And, no, I won't do this for you. You won't believe something you don't want to believe unless you can't find a way to believe it for yourself.

Anonymous said...

Two areas of the economy that need re-tooling are healthcare and education. The state role is crucial regardless of your feelings about Obamacare. The state just yesterday outlined a new criminal justice initiative. We need the Governor's plan of education and healthcare, since those are big ticket budgetary items and clearly in need of a shakeup.

Anonymous said...

Is Cecil talking again? Cecil is that crazy Uncle that comes to family functions that nobody wants to leave him alone with the children.

Anonymous said...

Boring old troll.

Anonymous said...

His lips are moving...

Anonymous said...

Has anyone done the math. 9 billon divided by 12000 is $750,000.00 a job. Really? Than this is a no brainer.

I hope you know I am being sarcastic. No way on God's green earth are these so called 12000 jobs going to pay $750,000.00 a year.

I guess if you say something long and loud enough it becomes truth.

Anonymous said...

"...our hardworking fellow Mississippians..." are not the ones having a problem with education or health insurance. At least not until the socialist in chief instituted Obamacare...

He needs to address his concerns to the non-working, always got a hand out crowd.

Anonymous said...

How many jobs did CHIPs create Brown? Keep talking out of your ass.

bill said...

7:42, your point is going to be lost by people who don't have the time to do their own research. That's why we read blogs like this - to stay current on the issues without having to spend hours running all over town gathering data that someone else already has.

The jobs that the Medicaid expansion were going to create used to number 9,000. Now it's 12,000. 9,000 was never documented so I guess they figure they can just say whatever number they want. I'd like to see how this will create 12,000 new jobs.

Anonymous said...

9:20, do you realized that the state of Mississippi receive the largest amount of handout in the United States. It was all over the news local and national early this year. Do you farther realized that Mississippi is one the top states that have their citizens without healthcare insurance. And last, but not least. You stated that Mississippi is not one having a problem with education. Are you serious? Mississippi is rank last in the national in education. Where have you been and who have be lying to you about these topics. Do you remember when Nissan said that they had to go outer state to get workers for the high quality position because there was none in Mississippi. We can't afford to let high paying jobs like those leave the state. So lets get our facts straight and then post.

Anonymous said...

3:01; This subject is about education. Are you sure you should be participating?

Lloyd said...

Well written 3:01 PM-- you have made your point about the substandard education students receive in Mississippi.

Anonymous said...

If you think that 3:01 truly made that point Lloyd then we know all we need to know about your own education.

Anonymous said...

mo muny I say! it won't be enuff until it's enuff! Blame it on boosh!!

Anonymous said...

3:01 have you been drankin the purple stuff again? Keeps you from proof reading I see.

Anonymous said...

8:53, how are you doing sir? I pray that all is well with you and your love ones. Yes, I didn't get to proof it before submitting it. I was at work and was press for time but I can admit my grammar is not the best. But that is not the topic of this discussion. It is about the state of education in Mississippi which I probably know more about than most people here on the stream. For the people here on this stream my name is Anthony Stevenson, the former 10 year Director of Application Development for the Office of Research and Statistics at the Mississippi Department of Education. I am the guy who generated 90-95% of the data that showed how far behind we have put the youth of Mississippi.

5:59, my comment was clearly a response to 9:20 and if you had read to understand what I was saying, you can see that the last 50% of that comment was all education. All I did was point out information that has been known to the state for quite awhile. We need to do something about giving the youth of Mississippi a fighting chance to compete with the youths from other states.

Everyone have a great night and God bless.

Anonymous said...

5:59 Zing!

8:15 "sarcasm" - look it up

Apply Hear said...

"...my name is Anthony Stevenson, the former 10 year Director of Application Development for the Office of Research and Statistics at the Mississippi Department of Education."

My God, man, you have got to be kidding us. Was there an education requirement for the job when you applied? Was there no review of your work, evidence of your ability to compose sentences and write effectively? And you were hired by our State Department of Education? Did you tell them in the interviews that 'My grammar isn't that good', as you admitted here?

This is a perfect example of how sloppily the department has been run over the years. Poor grammar is not an outcome of not proofreading.

Anonymous said...

"9:20, do you realized that the state of Mississippi receive the largest amount of handout in the United States. It was all over the news local and national early this year. Do you farther realized that Mississippi is one the top states that have their citizens without healthcare insurance. And last, but not least. You stated that Mississippi is not one having a problem with education. Are you serious? Mississippi is rank last in the national in education. Where have you been and who have be lying to you about these topics. Do you remember when Nissan said that they had to go outer state to get workers for the high quality position because there was none in Mississippi. We can't afford to let high paying jobs like those leave the state. So lets get our facts straight and then post. "

Oh my heavens, where did you go to high school or college to have developed such poor grammar?

Anonymous said...

If he ever fired off a memo or email for the State Dept of Education, we were poorly served and surely ridiculed.

Anonymous said...

Wow 4:49, you're right Mr/Ms "Anonymous" user. I have recieved two degrees, Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, and Master of Science in Software Engineering from the University of Maryland. Now, share who you are and your education. I do not believe that you will and that's okay. But your words speak quite well for you.

Employment
-----------
34 Years in the IT field
In charge of Computer Operation at NATO in SHAPE, Belgium
Department Head of Development for US Intelligence
Lead Developer for the Advance Control Center for the International Space Station at Johnson Space Center
Lead Software Engineer for BMS
10 years at MDE
Java Technical Lead for the US Goverment
Java Solutions Architect for a Global Telecommunication company.
Holder of a TS/SCI clearance
Have briefed two sitting Presidents of the United States.
President George H. W. Bush
President Clinton

Anonymous said...

MAARS and the Mississippi Highly Qualified Teacher programs are a couple of the web applications that I build for the MDE. Those two web applications saved the state millions of dollars. They were both highly acclaimed and recognized by the USDE, bad grammar and all. Every parent in the state used MAARS to check the school rating and test scores. Not too bad. Got a meeting will check back in later during the day.

Everyone have a great day and be bless in all that you do.

Anthony Stevenson.

Anonymous said...

something tells me that Anthony worked on healthcare.gov as well - seeing a pattern here.

Anonymous said...

Sure hope Cecil Brown signs up for Obamacare because he clearly has a need for the mental health coverage.

Anonymous said...

10:11 & 10:12 are the reason that the state of Mississippi is looked upon poorly. Since neither one has facts to add to the conversation. They, probably the same person, results to try to be funny, or try to attack someone. If it makes you feel good about who you are, I am glad to help. As I mention in a earlier comment, your words speak quite well for you. I wished that I was the lead on the ACA website,it would have been up and running on the 1st of November. It is always the "Anonymous" user who give a bloggers a bad name. My work speaks for itself. Not only did several billion people used MAARS, every newspaper in the state of Mississippi and several other states used it. I wont ask you what have you done to help the state. I can't get you to identify yourself so I don't hold any faith that you will do anything but what you have done. But, be care my friend, because people are listening. Just a word to the wise. God bless.

Kim Wolford said...

Well, I did some research and we are no longer the most poorly educated state in the US: West Virginia is. That being said, Cecil if you really want to make a change in education in this state, how about actual standards for teachers allowed to teach our children? In order to be allowed to become a teacher in MS, you can receive a 50% "assing" grade on the national test all future teachers in America have to take, an F by anyone's standards, and still receive a teaching certificate. So we have flunkies teaching our children to be flunkies. Change that Cecil and maybe we can effectuate decent education in public schools.

Anonymous said...

rexsmom, you have made an excellent point and brought a interesting fact. During my time at MDE I was the guy to determine if a teacher was highly qualified to a course base on the data associated with them. The way some teachers were able to get a endorsement to teacher where they may have not been able to pass the teacher requirements test is take the test for a easier course. Once they passed that course then one would be able to add other endorsement by having enough college courses in that field. In this way you can take a test in health education and add on the endorsement for Biology, which is a much harder test to pass. Great point rexsmom.

Anonymous said...

But, be care my friend, because people are listening.

LMAO. Oh no Mr. Bill. People are listening. We're sorry. Please don't send the black Obama drones to our location and take us out. We didn't mean it. Truly.

Anonymous said...

1:17, when I said that people are listening to you. I am talking about the people on this blog and not the people I work for. I said it before and I guess I have to say it again. Your words speaks volumes for the person you are. All I can do is put you in God's hands and let him change your ways and heart. God bless you my friend.

Anonymous said...

You must be new to these parts 2:10 PM. JJ already has a resident troll.

Anonymous said...

It is sad if people rely on blogs for information rather than trying to get objective and accurate information.

Anonymous said...

bill, if people who are uninsured or underinsured , whether it's 9000 or 12000 families ( not necessarily individuals), then the demand for preventive health care and routine care will increase. Increased demand for a service results in new jobs.
Whether or not Rep. Brown's numbers are accurate or not, I don't know. I do know he's an accountant by profession and should know how to do the math. There are formulas.

Kingfish said...

What is the net profit on a Medicaid patient? Increase in patients x net loss = bigger net loss.

Anonymous said...

KF @ 8:35 - you don't understand Democrats' math: if you're losing money on each Medicaid patient you need to make it up on volume :-)

frieren lksmig said...

The fact that politician Brown is also an accountant and as an accountant surely understands how bogus the numbers are which he is spouting makes his bullshit all the more galling.

It is like if Cecil tried to convince all of us that these two Donkey numbskulls were svelte and in tip top shape.

Anonymous said...

The braintrust at the JFP is running a story on this latest Medicaid study claiming that it will create 20,000 jobs! They must have taken math instruction from President Liar-of-the-Year.

Anonymous said...

KF, what makes you think doctors and hospitals are losing money on Medicaid patients? They are if you compare insured patients to Medicaid but not if you look at actual costs.
If , for example, the MRI is paid for, every time it's used there's a profit.
A doctor getting $50 for a visit is better than getting 0. And, when he get $108 from the insurance for insured patients, you average his actual pay per patient , doctors are still being well paid.
There wouldn't be any
doctors treating Medicare/Medicaid patients if it were a net loss. And, some doctors manage quite well just treating almost exclusively Medicare and Medicaid patients. Not as well of course, as the few who refuse to do so and still maintain a full schedule practice.

Kingfish said...

I said hospitals? Whole different cost structure.

Got to love how Obamacare sticks it to the doctors and favors the hospitals.

Anonymous said...

December 21, 2013 at 8:31 AM = loves, LOVES, Venezuelan wage and price controls.

Anonymous said...

8:31 is either abysmally ignorant or intentionally lying.

Example - a few years back Medicaid was reimbursing a childhood vaccine at $19 per dose. The doctor's wholesale prices was $21 per dose. If you don't immediately see the problem you are probably too dumb to be educated but I'll try.

It COST the doctor $2 out of his own pocket to give each child this vaccine if the child was on Medicaid. Private insurance was reimbursing around $25 per dose (it varied slightly among different private insurance companies, but was generally $3 - $4 above the cost). Out of that $3-$4 the doctor had to pay a nurse, receptionist, light bill, rent, lease on equipment, water bill, heating bill, malpractice insurance, premise insurance, student loans, etc, with maybe something left to take home as "profit" to pay the bills at home.

Obviously, if you start $2 in the hole for each patient you will go bankrupt and the community will lose a physician.

Nurse Goodbody said...

"During my time at MDE I was the guy to determine if a teacher was highly qualified to a course base on the data associated with them."

What the hell does that even mean? What 'data' is associated with teachers? And THIS guy is determining teacher qualifications?

Meanwhile; 10:32's careful but silly analysis doesn't factor in the daily trays of sausage-biscuits, fruit, sandwiches, drinks, salads and donuts brought in by the vendor reps. If medicare and medicaid patients were showing up only for a $2 losing shot, that would be one thing; however, the clinic is also charging it as a visit with a diagnosis.

So, forty five minutes in the waiting room, six minutes in the little room and she's on her way. The register dings. The doctor is happy. The nurse is happy. The vendors are happy. Happy Happy Happy.

Anonymous said...

Nurse Goodbody, the data come from several different things. College degree(s), certificates, college credits from additions class taken after graduation from college, work shops to name a few. When using computers to determine definitions on any calculation one has to use the data associated to that topic. This is what separate a user who uses Microsoft Word and Excel from an individual who uses computers to calculate decisions.

Ms. Nurse Goodbody why did you feel the need to attack someone when you HAD NO CLUE WHAT WAS BEING DISCUSS. I like to educate myself on subjects/topics what I don't know instead of speaking and showing the lack of education I have in it. YOU CHOICE TO TRY AND ATTACK ME WHEN IT IS VERY CLEARLY SHOWN THAT YOU LACK IN INTELLIGENCE IN THAT I WAS PAID TO DO. A apology would be nice. That is what a mature individual do once they realize that they have made a mistake. I will look back later to see what kind of person you really are. God bless you, your love ones and enjoy your Sunday.

Anthony Stevenson.

Anonymous said...

You are not helping your cause, Anthony. You should quit while you're behind.

Anonymous said...

In this case it looks like Mr. Stevenson is 100% correct. He said that he use the teacher's data in the first comment. The second comment explain what data mean. Nurse Goodbody is the one behind in this scenario. Sorry, but someone has to be truthful sometime.



Recent Comments

Search Jackson Jambalaya

Subscribe to JJ's Youtube channel

Archives

Trollfest '09

Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


Note: Security provided by INS.

Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

Note: Security provided by INS
.