Following Gov. Haley Barbour's cost-cutting lead, the Joint Legislative Budget Committee released their proposed budget for the next fiscal year, which begins July 2010. Among its recommendations is eliminating 3,600 state jobs, and cutting another 10 percent from agency funds, resulting in a budget that is $300 million smaller than that of the current year.

"In these tough economic times, we must approach the budget process realistically, using real numbers and being conservative with our appropriations," Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant told WLOX. "I am pleased with the progress in crafting a balanced budget for fiscal 2011."