Ends are not meeting - Sarah Welker, Clarion Ledger

Mississippi's new and returning political leaders face an economic climate substantially different than four years ago. Relative to 2007, Mississippi has fewer jobs, higher unemployment and more children living in extreme economic vulnerability. Stagnant wages and job loss continue to impact working families. Moving into the next term, steps to enhance child care and health care, to build support of non-traditional students and to promote the development of career pathways across the educational spectrum remain essential for the state to compete.