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The Magnolia Flag 1861-94
"Go, Mississippi"
Official State Song
Words and Music by Houston Davis
Verse:States
may sing their songs of praise
With waving flags and hip-hoo-rays,
Let cymbals crash and let bells ring
Cause here's one song I'm proud to sing.
Choruses:
Go, Mississippi, keep rolling along,
Go, Mississippi, you cannot go wrong,
Go, Mississippi, we're singing your song,
M-I-S-S-I-S-S-I-P-P-I
Go, Mississippi, you're on the right track,
Go, Mississippi, and this is a fact,
Go, Mississippi, you'll never look back,
M-I-S-S-I-S-S-I-P-P-I
Go, Mississippi, straight down the line,
Go, Mississippi, ev'rything's fine,
Go, Mississippi, it's your state and mine,
M-I-S-S-I-S-S-I-P-P-I
Go, Mississippi, continue to roll,
Go, Mississippi, the top is the goal,
Go, Mississippi, you'll have and you'll hold,
M-I-S-S-I-S-S-I-P-P-I
Go, Mississippi, get up and go,
Go, Mississippi, let the world know,
That our Mississippi is leading the show,
M-I-S-S-I-S-S-I-P-P-I
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MISSISSIPPI HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Jackson, Mississippi
July 6, 2001
JACKSON - Lt. Gov. Amy Tuck, backed by House Speaker Tim Ford,
legislative education chairmen and state education leaders, said Friday
she will ask that an anticipated special legislative session on
congressional redistricting include a change in the teacher pay-raise
plan passed in 2000.
"Education of our children and support for our classroom teachers
will always remain a top priority for us," Tuck said, flanked by
Ford, key education legislators and a group of teachers.
She and Ford then announced support for changing the controversial House
Bill 1134 provision that makes automatic annual increases in teacher pay
only if the state's annual economic growth exceeds 5 percent.
Despite a much lower rate expected in Fiscal Year 2002, the Legislature
approved $23 million for the raise's first year that began July 1.
"The only idea that counts is our commitment to our teachers and to
this state's public education system," Tuck said at a Capitol news
conference.
Tuck said the 5-percent feature within the pay-raise plan arose late in
the 2000 session when it appeared certain the only viable proposal was
on the verge of dying.
In order to garner the necessary votes to pass a new plan, Tuck said the
5-percent feature was necessary at the time to assure some senators of a
"legal safety net" to protect state finances.
Tuck and Ford, who lead the Legislature's budget-planning panel,
reaffirmed their commitment to public education statewide.
Speaker Ford said: "It is a pleasure to be here in support of this
announcement. I think members of the House will be very supportive of
removing the 5-percent. I can remember those meetings last year...when
we literally were not getting anywhere....I can tell you that if the
lieutenant governor had not come forth with her proposal (to institute
the 5-percent clause), then we would not have the pay raise that exists
today.
"At the time that feature was the only thing that could pass the
Legislature. I'm proud of her courage to come before you today and tell
you this. I think it is a very positive step and I believe we can get it
done. This is a positive statement to our teachers, to whom we entrust
our children. I'm very glad to be a part of this announcement."
Among the many issues facing planners for the Fiscal Year 2003 budget,
Tuck said, "continuation of the teacher pay raise is at the
top."
Tuck and Ford agreed they would rather address removal of the 5 percent
feature in a special session, than have it distract legislators from
other important issues.
But Tuck said she wanted the pay plan to retain another feature she had
included in the original legislation -- an "incentive" clause
that provides for additional funds to achieve the Southeastern average
faster, if the state's annual growth rate exceeds 5 percent.
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