Video: Bryant Talks Epps, Education

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LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) — The indictment of state Corrections Commissioner Chris Epps on a conspiracy to embezzle millions of dollars has raised questions about if someone was asleep at the wheel in state government.

But Governor Phil Bryant said today the nature of the crime helped it escape detection from him, his staff or anyone else in the administration or the Legislature. That’s especially true since Epps generally was highly regarded in the state Capitol and among his peers nationwide.

“It is difficult for us to determine when someone will take a wrong turn in life and because it’s often, it’s never done in the daytime, often done in areas that would not be suspected,” Bryant said Thursday following a speech to the annual Golden Triangle Link luncheon.

Epps resigned November 5 amongst claims he’d operated the scheme for years.

Meanwhile, Mississippi’s financial condition may be improving, but Bryant says the state can’t afford to fully fund local schools without seriously hurting community colleges and universities.

The state’s voters will decide next November whether to force the Legislature to fully fund K through 12 education. If it passes, it could force cuts of up to 19 percent in funding for higher education. Bryant says that’ll make tuitions out of reach for many.

The Legislature could craft its own referendum language next spring to give voters a choice. But in any case, it’ll boil down to money and priorities.

“I know it sounds good, I know everyone wants to say let’s fully fund that (MAEP) formula but if you do that, there are going to be be children who will never have the opportunity to go to a community college,” Bryant stated.

The Legislature convenes in January.