Video: State Representative Gary Chism Addresses Likely Legislative Issues

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COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) — 2015 is a statewide election year. That means jobs are on the line for Mississippi lawmakers. But, before campaign season begins, they have to make it through the 2015 Legislative Session. Two issues have hit the headlines, before lawmakers have even returned to Jackson: Funding for public schools and Common Core Standards.

With a ballot initiative and a lawsuit on deck over K-12 education funding, the Legislature will have to address what will likely be the biggest fight going into the 2015 elections in November.

Advocates of increased education spending want the Mississippi Adequate Education Program formula fully funded. What are the Legislature’s options? The first is to fully fund the MAEP amount, which comes to more than $260 million more than what Gov. Phil Bryant has asked ($2.187 billion) in his budget request for K-12. It’s happened twice in 2003 and 2007, both election years. That would come at a cost. With Medicaid costs skyrocketing, the only way the Legislature could fully fund the MAEP request is to cut other agencies, such as higher education, or raise taxes.

Then there’s the common core debate spurred by Lt. Governor, Tate Reeves, leading a crusade against it, and hopes to see legislation passed.

After five years of work by educators and millions of dollars spent, Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves on Monday said Mississippi should scrap Common Core education standards and come up with its own.

At least one lawmaker says the move could cost the state $100 million or more and take years of work. Education leaders warned against “changing the playbook in the middle of the game” based on “misinformation.”