Mississippi governor says House budget-cutting outline allows too little flexibility

Miss. gov objects to House budget-cut regulations

JACKSON, Miss. — Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour doesn’t like a proposal by House leaders to change the way he can cut state spending.

Barbour spokesman Dan Turner says the plan is too inflexible.

It would allow the governor to cut up to 10 percent of state spending. But it says the cuts would have to be made evenly across most state programs, with few exceptions.

Turner says Barbour believes the proposal could disproportionately hurt state programs that have taken significant budget cuts over the past several years, including the prison system.

Current state law says when revenue runs short, the governor can make cuts. But, he cannot cut any agency more than 5 percent until every agency has been cut that amount. Barbour wants more leeway to reduce spending in tough times.