NESHOBA COUNTY, MS (Mississippi News Now) -
He's given political speeches from the traditional stage more than a dozen times, but Thursday was the first time he did so as governor and the folks in Founder's Square at the Neshoba County Fair crowded the pavilion to hear what he had to say.
"I wouldn't miss this fair for anything in the world," said Governor Phil Bryant.
With only seven months in as governor, Phil Bryant says there's a long way to go in positioning Mississippi but the foundation to make it happen is already there.
"I think our environment, or climate for manufacturing is the best in the world so you're going to see great things happen," said Bryant.
Bryant used the fair to highlight his Mississippi Works agenda from energy policies and economic development to business regulations and healthcare. One of the most weighted topics was education, with Bryant calling for reform to the current system. Dual enrollment programs are already happening and Bryant says he will continue to push for a charter school bill next legislative session.
Bryant is also urging lawmakers to create legislation to establish teacher pay based on their performance in the classroom.
"I like to keep things simple and here's the way it works. You find the best teachers and you pay them more," said Bryant.
Speaker of the House Philip Gunn supports education reform and says while the budget will be a top priority, performance pay for teachers will be in the mix as well.
"That is something that a lot of people around the country are moving toward. I think there's certainly some merit to that," said Gunn.
Bryant is calling for a ten percent reduction in the state dropout rate by 2017. That rate is currently about 39 percent. With three and a half years to go in his first term, Bryant says he won't stop until his ambitions become reality.
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