Barbour for Governor
"From Day One"
JACKSON (September 5, 2007) - Barbour for Governor began running a television commercial today highlighting Governor Haley Barbour's record of strong leadership. Below is the script with additional information.
NARRATOR: "From day one, Haley Barbour has worked for all of us, bringing strong leadership."
GOVERNOR HALEY BARBOUR: "Today more people are working in Mississippi than in any other time in our state's history."
Graphic: 40,000 new jobs
FACT:
Reference: U. S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics
http://www.bls.gov/eag/eag.ms.htm
All figures are seasonally adjusted non-farm employment levels. These are the same sources used by the Barbour for Governor campaign in 2003. Employment reached a record in June of 2007, eclipsing the previous high mark set in May of 2000. Since January of 2004 there has been a net increase of 40,900 jobs.
May 2000 (Previous record for employment): 1,160,5000
January 2004 (When Governor Barbour took office): 1,120,300
June 2007 (Most recent complete data available from BLS): 1,161,200
Governor Haley Barbour: "People are earning more money than ever before."
Graphic: Personal Incomes up 15%
FACT:
Reference: Bureau of Economic Analysis, SA04 State income and employment summary 2003, 2006. http://www.bea.gov/regional/spi/action.cfm
2003 Per capita personal income: $23,069
2006 Per capita personal income: $26,535
Narrator: "Haley has doubled work force training."
FACT:
Senate Bill 2480 of the 2005 Regular Session of the Mississippi Legislature 2005 authorized an annual diversion of approximately $25 million of unemployment tax revenue into the Mississippi Workforce Training Enhancement Fund. In the current Fiscal Year (FY 08), approximately $36.1 million in state funds will be spent on workforce training through Senate Bills 3130 and 3131 of the 2007 Regular Session of the Legislature (Community College Appropriations bill) and the Unemployment Tax Diversion. In Fiscal Year 2004, approximately $18 million of state funds were available for workforce training through Senate Bill 2678 of the 2003 Regular Session of the Legislature (Community College Appropriations bill).
Narrator: "Attracting new businesses to Mississippi."
Governor Haley Barbour: "Tennessee and Alabama are going to be out hustling the business too. We just believe we have some advantages. I want people to look at my record, getting the state's financial house in order, my record with Katrina. Then I want them to think about the future."
FACT:
When Governor Barbour took office in January of 2004, the state had an estimated $720 million budget shortfall. By controlling state spending and not raising taxes, this fiscal year (FY08) we have $246.6 million in our rainy day fund. In fiscal year 2006 state revenues increased 10%, while state spending was held to an increase of 1%.
FACT:
According to the Mississippi Department of Education, public school enrollment figures in the six southern-most counties total 94% of the pre-Katrina total, while the U.S. Census Bureau reports population is at 98%.
The number of families once living in travel trailers is down two-thirds to less than 16,000 from a high at 48,000. The Homeowner Grant Assistance Program headlines Governor Barbour's comprehensive housing plan to assist coast residents of various economic backgrounds. To date more than $1 billion has been distributed through the grant program. The 13,700 plus families assisted through Phase I have an average income of $49,000 a year. Under Phase II the state has dispersed $77 million to more than 1,100 families with average incomes of $21,200. Additional programs are designed to rebuild public housing and other affordable rental housing. For more information on Katrina data please see the Two Year Report compiled by the Governor's Office of Recovery and Renewal.
Narrator: "Moving forward together."
(End graphic: Haley Barbour / Governor)
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