“I think with all the goings-on we have seen so far in Mississippi, it seems litigation is coming”, Rebell said. It was expected the courts would use the MAEP to determine the meaning of adequacy in “adequate and efficient” public education system, though opponents said that was not a guarantee.
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Rep. Greg Snowden, the Meridian Republican who is primary author of an alternative initiative created as a roadblock to 42, said that he fully expects a flurry of lawsuits – both if Initiative 42 passes and if it doesn’t.
“When I was in high school, I didn’t have everything that was needed”, Davis said. “… Mississippians have made the right decision for our kids and for our schools”.
The ballot will also feature Initiative Measure No. 42 and Alternative Measure No. 42a, concerning the state mechanisms for support and maintenance of free public schools.
“I think the way they worded it. They could have worded it a lot easier”. The first one basically asks if you are in favor of changing the state’s constitution.
And the state’s legislators has come out against the initiative.
Mississippi’s constitution now requires the Legislature to provide a free system of public schools “upon such conditions and limitations as the Legislature may prescribe”, giving lawmakers significant wiggle room. This initiative would also authorize the chancery courts of this State to enforce this section with appropriate injunctive relief.
Initiative 42 defeated 42A by nearly 100,000 votes, but that became a moot point when 51% of those voting decided the constitution should not be changed.
Over 298,000 voters voted against amending the constitution, but over 400,000 voted for either option. Other state constitutions require their public schools to meet a certain level of quality or include strong mandates for how schools should be funded.
The alternative measure is the first provided by the legislature since the adoption of the initiative system in Mississippi, according to the Clarion-Ledger.
Despite the defeat, many public school advocates say they are going to keep up their efforts to improve funding for Mississippi’s schools.
Early returns show more voters rejecting an amendment.
Voters are being asked to vote on a hotly contested education funding ballot measure at the polls on Tuesday: Initiative 42.
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“Today’s education is better than it’s ever been, but still not good enough”, he said.
