Franks: State Government Needs Balance

Daily Leader:

"My opponent seems to indicate that he wants to be Gov. Haley Barbour's greatest ally, but what we need is balance. We need a lieutenant governor who is independent of the governor," Franks said at The DAILY LEADER office before speaking at the rally. "We need someone who has the interests of the state at their heart and not the interests of a single person, single party or special interest group."

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The 12-year legislator representing Itawamba, Lee and Tishomingo counties said Barbour claims that Mississippi has spent more money on education than any administration of the past, but that does not include the complete picture.

What Barbour does not say, Franks said, is that classrooms actually received $300 million less than last year because of increases in salaries and insurance premiums.

The Mooreville native also said the state needs to spend more on community colleges and universities to keep tuition low and provide a ready workforce for prospective industries to prevent the loss of the state's youth.