Mississippi lawmakers have struggled with budgetary matters as turf wars intensified between political parties. The somber mood of legislators permeated the state. Hostile environments in both chambers had driven legislators to uncompromising positions, which created deadlock in the state capital. School consolidation, which not long ago was considered a politically risky subject by most politicians in the state, was now being viewed as a very real possibility if not probability. Whereas superintendents question whether consolidation is best from a pure teaching perspective, legislators are compelled by the potential monetary savings. Superintendents felt the motives of those advocating school consolidations should be closely examined. Superintendents differentiated between the "real issues" and superficial ones that in their estimation were driven more by politics than principle.