Video: Education Funding Lawsuit In Court

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JACKSON, Miss. (AP) – Former Gov. Ronnie Musgrove is asking a judge to order Mississippi to pay more than $200 million that 21 school districts say they’re owed from past school underfunding.

Musgrove, a Democrat who helped author the Mississippi Adequate Education Program, also wants Hinds County Chancery Judge William Singletary to order lawmakers to never underfund the program again.

The state disagrees, arguing what a past Legislature said about MAEP can’t bind today’s lawmakers. It says decisions by lawmakers today override past statements of funding intent. The state also says there are escape hatches in the formula allowing lawmakers to spend less than the formula demands. Finally, the state says a judge can’t issue an order instructing lawmakers or the governor to spend money.

Singletary said Wednesday that he’ll rule later.