Lt. Governor Phil Bryant was kind enough to make time to answer a few questions about the current state of affairs on the budget impasse between Governor Haley Barbour and the Mississippi Legislature.
WHY DIDN’T THE LEGISLATURE DO ITS JOB AND HAVE A BUDGET BY MARCH?
A budget could have been completed by the end of March, but the problem is, we would be right back where we are now facing larger deficits in Medicaid and pushing Governor Barbour to make cuts well into the 2010 Fiscal Year. With the recession, revenue losses and federal stimulus money to deal with, the Governor, Speaker and I all agreed to postpone the session in April because we had little information regarding the stimulus money and how exactly that would affect our budget. Clearly, that was the prudent and fiscally-responsible thing to do, even if it meant delaying final action on the budget.
As I have said since the beginning of this process, for too long Mississippi has used budgets that would knowingly force the Governor to make cuts later in the year. It’s irresponsible to be making promises for money that would never be there. I have never wavered from these simple common sense principles that we as lawmakers should budget ourselves using real numbers and real approaches to the process.
AS ACTING GOVERNOR, WHY DIDN’T YOU CALL A SPECIAL SESSION AND PASS A BUDGET?
Governor Barbour and I agree on the important principles of a balanced budget with no anticipated deficits and moving money forward for 2011. I respect the Governor and his office, and to be consistent with the principles we agree upon, he will call a special session when there is an agreement. I do not intend on betraying this alliance by some sort of power grab just to satisfy those who want the Governor and I at odds.
IT SEEMS YOU BACKED OFF YOUR EARLIER SUPPORT OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE BUDGET PLAN ANNOUNCED SUNDAY NIGHT.
In my release Sunday night, I clearly stated, “Mississippi Senate and House leadership tentatively agreed upon a nearly $6 billion state budget for 2010…the issue of funding Medicaid with recurring revenue sources remains unresolved.” My position has not changed and I have consistently said we need a balanced budget, with no anticipated cuts by the Governor and money moved forward to 2011. We continue to have a tentative budget agreement.
DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU ARE JUST A SPECTATOR IN THIS PROCESS BETWEEN THE HOUSE LEADERSHIP AND GOVERNOR?
That has been the most ridiculous statement I have heard during this entire process. The spectators are those safely seated in the stands. I think people realize that we are dealing with very complex and detailed issues and they do not need to be taken lightly. I am constantly involved with discussions, meetings and decisions on the budget. We must keep good lines of communication open between the Governor, House and Senate in order to reach an agreement. I think Mississippians know that I have always been a consensus-builder without abandoning my conservative principles, and I’ll continue to offer that kind of leadership.
WILL GOVERNMENT IN MISSISSIPPI SHUT DOWN?
The Legislature can go to work as soon as the Governor calls us back. That will take an agreement on Medicaid funding, plain and simple. If we pass the end of the fiscal year, the Governor will issue an Executive Order for essential services.
