ANALYSIS

Mississippi Development Authority, the agency that pushes for job creation. It’s unclear whether his idea will get support from House leaders or from Reeves.

The governor has said little about his own legislative agenda. When he released his state budget proposals in November, Reeves did not include a teacher pay raise, but he said he would ask legislators to put $3 million into a “patriotic education fund.”

“Across the country, young children have suffered from indoctrination in far-left socialist teachings that emphasize America’s shortcomings over the exceptional achievements of this country. Revisionist history has aimed to tear down American institutions, and it is poisoning a generation,” Reeves’ budget document said.

During a Senate Education Committee hearing last week, Democratic Sen. David Blount of Jackson quoted that document and asked state Superintendent of Education Carey Wright whether such indoctrination is happening in Mississippi schools.

“Let me put it this way: That’s not in our standards to be taught,” Wright said.

Wright said if she were to receive a complaint about such teaching, she would contact the local superintendent.

Although $3 million is a relatively small amount of money in a $6 billion state budget, Blount’s questions show that the governor’s request will not be fulfilled without scrutiny — and it might not be fulfilled at all.

The on-line briefing allowed Hosemann to answer questions from reporters across the state in a clean environment at the Capitol. (Photo by Rogelio V. Solis, AP)