MADISON COUNTY JOURNAL
NESHOBA DEMOCRAT
KEMPER COUNTY MESSENGER
Editorial
Thursday, November 1, 2007
MADISON COUNTY JOURNAL, NESHOBA DEMOCRAT,
KEMPER COUNTY MESSENGER :
BARBOUR FOR GOVERNOR
Gov. Haley R. Barbour believes that education is Mississippi's No. 1 economic development issue and our top quality of life concern.
A more educated workforce means better jobs and a higher standard of living. More Mississippians than ever before are working under the Barbour administration and they're earning more money.
We believe Gov. Barbour has demonstrated he is committed to forging bi-partisan relationships in the Legislature and elsewhere for the common good.
Democrat challenger John Arthur Eaves has spent his life as a trial lawyer "helping people who otherwise couldn't help themselves," Wayne Dowdy, chairman of the state Democrat Party, wrote recently.
That may be so, but what's Eaves going to do for Mississippi specifically policy-wise?
Even Barbour, a Presbyterian deacon grounded in his Faith, would be hard pressed to 'out-conservative' Eaves and his Bible-thumping rhetoric that is, inappropriately, pandering to evangelicals.
So as Election Day approaches, if you don't know what Eaves really believes policy-wise, don't feel silly, because neither does he.
Barbour's campaign is about his stellar record, and the Democrats realize they don't stand a chance so they're attacking him personally.
Debate policy and performance instead of attack. ...
Barbour's extraordinary leadership in the wake of Hurricane Katrina is unmatched in the history of our the state and perhaps even the nation.
Education, though, remains a cornerstone of the governor's re-election campaign.
In his "Agenda for Mississippi's Future," Barbour supports several initiatives to improve education. Among other things, his agenda will:
• Keep funding the MAEP formula at 100 percent every year to help local school districts while continuing to support stable funding increases for our universities and community colleges.
• Keep our best teachers, increase the salaries of teachers with more than 25 years of experience.
• Build on the more than 20-percent increase in teacher pay in Barbour's first term by approving more teacher pay raises that combine across-the-board increases with additional pay for performance raises.
• Screen every first grader for dyslexia and other learning disabilities; then fund the programs necessary to help dyslexic and other children learn to read.
• Help our new teachers manage classroom discipline, provide a seasoned mentor for new middle school teachers.
• Support the state superintendent's proposal to redesign high school to make it more relevant to kids who are not on a college path thereby reducing the dropout rate.
• Help get our children ready to learn, better utilize the existing early childhood education programs that already serve 80 percent of our four year olds by providing financial incentives for them to expand and improve their educational content.
Barbour's opponents unfairly demonize him for his business connections. But let's remember that he had a good job before he ran for governor. He chose to enter elected office to serve.
And the characteristics and skills he employed to get the job done in Washington have served him well in the governor's office.
Gov. Barbour is intelligent and knowledgeable. He engages in policy discussions and has a vision for our state. He isn't just a figurehead. He and first lady Marsha Barbour work hard for Mississippi.
Four years ago, Barbour said the test of his administration would be getting the job done. "Success is the best politics," he said.
Barbour has succeeded. The deficit he inherited has been erased, jobs have returned and Mississippi has been able to attract the likes of Toyota.
Barbour has put forth an agenda that provides a blueprint for meeting the state's challenges by, among other things, creating more and better jobs, improving education, rebuilding south Mississippi and making Mississippians healthier.
On Nov. 6, re-elect Haley R. Barbour Governor.
For the full story, visit:
The Madison County Journal
http://onlinemadison.com/main.asp?SectionID=3&SubSectionID=3&ArticleID=19433&TM=37191.89
The Neshoba Democrat
http://www.neshobademocrat.com/main.asp?SectionID=7&SubSectionID=302&ArticleID=15472&TM=38046.98
*Kemper County Messenger is only available in print.