Oct. 13, 2008

Mark Your Calendar's for MEC's Hobnob;
Busy fall could mean busy 2009 session

A few notes to keep you updated!

• The seventh annual MEC Hobnob Mississippi will be held Oct. 30, at the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum. Gov. Haley Barbour, Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant and House Speaker Billy McCoy will be speaking. The event will also feature candidates for Mississippi's two U.S. Senate seats, and will be highlighted by Dr. Frank Luntz, a nationally known pollster. Luntz, who is being presented courtesy of Cellular South, will have the latest on the national election only five days before we vote.
   For more
   
• Gov. Barbour's Blue Ribbon Tax Study Commission recently released its final report on the comprehensive tax study that began in January. The commission has made several recommendations, including changes in the state's corporate tax structure and the personal income tax structure. Legislation to address some of those issues is expected to be to be introduced during the 2009 session.
   For Copy of the Report
   
• Lt. Gov. Bryant will be holding an energy summit on Oct. 22 to look at ways to address Mississippi's energy challenges. The event, which will be held at the Eagle Ridge Conference Center at Hinds Community College in Raymond, is being hosted in conjunction with the Mississippi Economic Council and Mississippi Manufacturers Association. It is sponsored by Atmos Energy, Denbury Resources, Entergy Mississippi, Mississippi Power and the Tennessee Valley Authority - all MEC members.
   
• Speaker McCoy has been involved in Legislative Budget Committee meetings over the past few weeks. Expect a difficult year in budgeting for the state, as the current economic downturn is having a negative impact on state revenue collections.
   
• And finally, MEC's Marathon Tour is in full stride! The tour has already reached more than 1,000 people in just eight of the 26 scheduled meetings. The annual fall tour, which is held in communities throughout Mississippi, is a chance for MEC to get feedback from membership and other community leaders on issues that could come before the legislature during the upcoming session. This year's tour, sponsored by Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi, focuses on a number of topics, including education, business laws, taxes, economic development and healthy lifestyles.
   For More

2008 Special Session Wrap Up

No Legislative Action on Medicaid Funding

The Legislative special session extended until early August, before finally adjourning without a permanent solution to Medicaid funding. While the session was productive in addressing issues with the Mississippi Department of Employment Security, unemployment benefits and transportation issues, lawmakers were at odds on whether additional fees for hospitals or an increase in the tobacco tax would be the best way to cover a $90 million shortfall for Medicaid.

The Chambers adjourned after a the state received a refund for overpayment to the Federal government that recovered the majority of the cost. The issue is expected to remain continuous during the 2009 session.

The two sides are hoping the break will allow them to find a way to work out the differences on the issue.
 

Is Deal on MDES, unemployment benefits close?

Progress was made on two issues at the Capitol on Tuesday.

An agreement was reached concerning unemployment benefits, and conferees are one step closer to extending the Mississippi Department of Employment Security’s authority to operate.

After a meeting between Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant, House Speaker Billy McCoy and conferees on both bills, conference meetings were held on both issues.

The unemployment benefit agreement has the maximum payment increasing by $20 this year and $5 next year, but also includes a study on the formula used to determine the amount of unemployment benefits one receives. Currently, people who lose their job through no fault of their own receive about one half of their average weekly pay. Some members in the House would like to see the percentage increase and that is why the call for the study was included in the bill.

However, don’t expect to the bill to be brought out of committee if an agreement extending MDES isn’t reached. The Senate conferees are pushing for a three year agreement and the House has offered a one year, although House conferees hinted they would consider a two-year extension.

The department, which oversees unemployment benefits and workforce training, is set to expire on June 30.

Conferences held on MDES, unemployment benefits

Despite several brief meetings between conferees on the legislation to continue the Mississippi Department of Employment Security, little progress was made.

The conferees from the Senate are Dean Kirby, Buck Clark and Billy Hewes. House conferees are Representatives Percy Watson, Tyrone Ellis and Harvey Moss. The group has meet briefly on three occasions, but have yet to reach an agreement.

The department, which administers unemployment benefits and workforce training, is set to expire on June 30. If the department isn’t reauthorized, employers in Mississippi will see their federal unemployment taxes rise from .8 percent to 6.2 percent.

The bill that would raise unemployment benefits has also been sent to conference.

Conferees on both bills are expected to meet before the House and Senate return at 2 p.m. on Tuesday.

Thursday, May 29, 2008

$88 million in bonds for Bio-lab approved

The Legislature has approved more than $88 million in bonds in an effort to help Mississippi attract the National Bio and Agro Defense Facility.

Mississippi is one of five states that are in the running for the research laboratory. It will study biological threats and animal diseases. It has been commonly referred to as the CDC for animals.

If Mississippi lands the $451 million facility, it will be located on 150 acres near Flora, in Madison County, and employ 250 to 350 people. The other states in the running are Texas, Kansas, North Carolina and Georgia.

The bonds, which were approved with little debate, would be used to build infrastructure and roads for the facility.

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

The Legislature made little progress on reauthorizing the Mississippi Department of Employment Security on Wednesday.

The Senate is still pushing to remove the agency’s repealer, while the House is standing firm on a one-year extension.

The two Chambers also are at odds on the amount to raise unemployment benefits. The Senate last week passed a bill that would raise the minimum by $15 this year and $10 next year. The bill only impacts the maximum amount paid.

Currently, people receiving unemployment benefits receive about one half of the weekly amount they were receiving when they lost their job.

The House version of the bill calls for $20 to be added to the maximum each of the next two years and all benefit levels to see an increase of 30 percent, to be split over the next two years.

Also, the Senate passed a bill that will fund Medicaid by using what is being referred to as a hospital bed charge.

House comes back to work

The House and Senate will returned to work at 2 p.m. Tuesday. In addition to continuing to work out differences on the legislation that continues the Mississippi Department of Employment Security, the House also addressed unemployment benefits, which Gov. Haley Barbour added to the call on Thursday.

The Senate passed a bill to raise benefits by $15 in July and another $10 next year. The House had passed the same legislation during the regular session. The House Labor Committee continued discussion on the bill until Wednesday.

This was be the first day the House has been at the Capitol since the Special Session began on May 21. Last Wednesday, the House passed two bills and adjourned Sine Die. The Senate kept working, forcing the House to return.