Thread by @ashtonpittman

Democratic nominee for Mississippi Governor Jim Hood claims that his rival, Tate Reeves, underfunded public education in service to wealthy campaign donors.

He says Reeves "doesn't care anything about public schools, much less about...those poor kids." ⅟
jacksonfreepress.com/news/2019/oct/…

Dem nominee for #MSGov Jim Hood pointed to GOP nom Tate Reeves' ad in which Reeves talks about his plans for public education & a teacher pay raise.

The ad was filmed at a private school, whose owners gave Reeves $5000 & includes private teachers. 2/
jacksonfreepress.com/news/2019/oct/…

During Reeves' time as president of the Senate over the past 8 years, that private school got over $1 million in public funds & benefitted from Reeves' private school voucher program—even as public ed was underfunded by $1.9billion & teacher pay lagged. 3/
jacksonfreepress.com/news/2019/oct/…

Reeves now campaigns on a $4.3k teacher pay raise, but killed a $4k raise that the House passed in March, saying we only had enough money for a $1,500 pay raise—up from initially only $500. Mississippi has a teacher shortage crisis due to low pay. 4/
jacksonfreepress.com/news/2019/oct/…

The private school in question, New Summit, gave Hood $2,000 in the past 3 years. Hood responds:

"I appreciate that from the school. The problem is, he gave them a million dollars. They gave him $5,000 back. & that's what he's done in every area..." 5/
jacksonfreepress.com/news/2019/oct/…

"That's what's happening with our money. That's why we don't have money for roads, bridges and education is because he's giving it away in contracts to his buddies or in tax cuts," @HoodForGovernor said.
#MSelex #MSGov 6/x
jacksonfreepress.com/news/2019/oct/…