Rep. Bryant W. Clark and Sen. John Horhn V. Governor Phil Bryant, Et. Al.

As part of budget cuts across state departments, Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant ordered nearly $20 million in funding cut from public schools in February and March of 2017.

The SPLC filed a suit, on behalf of two legislators, contending that the governor lacked authority for the action under the state’s constitution.

The lawsuit asks the Hinds County Chancery Court to strike down the statute under which Bryant enacted the cuts, to fund schools at the level budgeted by the Legislature and to restore the money that was unconstitutionally cut.

The SPLC also asked the court to issue a preliminary injunction that would prevent the budget cuts from taking further effect while the lawsuit proceeds.