Congressman Thompson Reiterates Need for Education and Health Care Funding
Press Release
CONGRESSMAN THOMPSON REITERATES NEED FOR EDUCATION AND HEALTH CARE FUNDING
TODAY CONGRESSMAN BENNIE G. THOMPSON released the following statement encouraging the state of Mississippi to use nearly $250 million in federal funding to improve its education and healthcare systems:
"When Congress reconvened more than four weeks ago to extend the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act's temporary Federal Medical Assistance Program (FMAP), the intent was to keep vital health care and education programs solvent and provide the neediest Americans, those without adequate healthcare and children a safety net during these difficult economic times.
"The Governor's recently announced plan to redirect money into a rainy day fund is not only prohibited by the legislation signed into law by President Obama, but guarantees that the state would stand to lose at least $151 million in Medicaid this fiscal year. In addition to this medicaid funding the bill also provides $98 million in education funding. Of that amount, $34 million would be spent on hundreds of education jobs for the Second Congressional District. In essence, the funds are designated specifically for these programs and by law cannot be used directly or indirectly, to establish, restore or supplement a rainy day fund.
"Mississippi's fiscal challenges are not altogether different than those faced by other states. The FMAP extension legislation included funding to save teacher jobs and provide health assistance by reducing shortfalls and stimulating the economy at no cost to the state. The funding was supported by forty-two governors, including many Republicans across this country who do not want to see local communities in their state forced to choose between important public services like keeping teachers in the classroom or police officers in the community.
"I look forward to hearing how the governor plans to move forward with the funding that was included in the FMAP bill."
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