House Speaker Continues Teacher Pay Raise Push

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) – Mississippi House Speaker Philip Gunn is repeating his support for an across-the-board teacher pay raise this year.

But, the Republican says it will be weeks before lawmakers will know how much money is available to put into raises.

Gunn says he likes the idea of merit pay but there is no effective way right now to evaluate which teachers are good or bad.

Gunn says he believes most teachers are doing a good job and because it has been seven years since they’ve gotten a pay raise it is time to give them more money.

Gunn’s comments came Monday during a forum sponsored by the Stennis Institute of Government and the Capitol press corps.