This letter is to commend Sens. Kelvin Butler and Bob Dearing for their courageous vote on March 16, when they voted in favor of the Hob Bryan amendment to House Bill 1622 to restore full funding to the public schools against the strong objections of Sen. Alan Nunnelee, chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant.

By casting this vote, they assured the taxpayers of Adams County that a total of $584,472 would stay in the public school coffers. By not allowing the lieutenant governor and Sen. Nunnelee to institute more than $77 million in cuts to public school funding, Sens. Butler sand Dearing saved many jobs of those associated with the schools.

Additionally, they helped local officials avoid raising local taxes to make up the difference in funding. Sen. Bryan’s forward-thinking amendment even provides for full-funding for board certified teachers.

Please take the time to thank your senators for this very important and brave vote. It is hard to buck leadership in the legislative area, yet Sens. Butler and Dearing cast their vote in favor of the taxpayers, the teachers and our children’s future.

Too often our elected leaders hear only criticism, and now is our chance to give Sens. Butler and Dearing a well-deserved pat on the back.

Terry R. Cassreino

Mississippi Democratic Party communications