Mississippi legislative leaders say they're pushing for more accountability in budget allocations. MPB's Desare Frazier reports.
House Speaker Pro Tempore, Republican Greg Snowden of Meridian, told business leaders it's time lawmakers obtain proof programs they fund really work. He says the House of Representative's has created a Performance-Based Budgeting Committee.
"We are trying to get Mississippi's budgeting process in the mode of where were not making guesses, even intelligent guesses or making presumptions about what works and what doesn't. The whole idea is to find an evidence-based process," said Snowden.
Snowden along with President Pro Tempore of the Senate Republican Terry Burton of Newton, addressed the Mississippi Economic Council's first breakfast meeting of the 2016 legislative session. Burton piggy-backed on Snowden's remarks about budgeting transparency. After the meeting he said there's no quick fix.
"The house and senate are working together toward common goals of more accountability in government and more efficiency in government and trying to address the issues for the next four years. It's a four year issue. It's a four year term," said Burton.
David Gates, President of Atmos Energy and MEC's board chair is glad to hear about budget accountability.
"Well it's really a business approach, I mean that's what we do every day. You've got to look at things not based only on what you did last year and how much you spent last year. But what is the results. What's the fruit of that," said Gates.
Senator Terry Burton also mentioned they've established a new Medicaid Committee in the senate.