JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) - The legislative session has come to an end. However, legislators will have to reconvene to finalize the state budget.
The Senate concluded its session indefinitely within fewer than 24 hours after the House had done so as well.
"Despite having allocated funds for this purpose, I've suggested to the Speaker that we initiate our budget discussions and proceed with them as we have before, commencing next week," stated Lieutenant Governor Delbert Hosemann.
Lt. Gov. Hosemann highlighted several new developments regarding potential federal reductions which might play a crucial role in finalizing the budget talks.
I believe ultimately, it might be wise to implement a cooling-off period," observed Hosemann. "We should take some time to assess what will transpire for us due to decisions made in Washington. As taxpayers, we fund one-third of the budget, whereas Washington provides two-thirds. Therefore, I am uncertain about whether this two-thirds contribution will continue.
The Senate minority leader, Senator Derrick Simmons, states that this is also a worry shared by Democrats within the legislative body.
"I believe we have an obligation to make every effort possible during the standard session. However, considering the circumstances in Washington D.C., it might be more advantageous for the state if we set the budget around early July," stated Simmons.
This puts the decision in Governor Tate Reeves' hands to convene a special session. He assures that there will be no disruptions to the regular flow of state operations.
"I want to reassure our taxpayers that there is currently no immediate danger of a government shutdown," stated Reeves.
However, it's worth remembering that he can include additional items beyond just the budget in his call for a special session.
I understand there were many conservative priorities that didn’t make it to my desk," Reeves said. "Therefore, we had ongoing detailed discussions internally about what additional requests might or might not be made to the legislature during a possible special session.
Speaker Jason White outlines the end of the session lacking a budget discussion.
The House remains committed to ensuring transparency and orderliness in the budgeting process, providing each legislator the chance to examine and evaluate government expenditures," stated White. "While there are significant discrepancies on just a handful of budgetary matters, those differences hold considerable importance—such as establishing a specific funding source for PERS to tackle the deficit. We will keep engaging with the Senate to develop a budget that upholds our dedication to reducing governmental size through targeted spending, all while fulfilling essential duties and obligations to the citizens of Mississippi.
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