Rep. George Flaggs says Medicaid reauthorization should take priority over expansion
While (Speaker Philip) Gunn and Gov. Phil Bryant say the governor has the authority to run Medicaid by executive order, Flaggs believes they are mistaken. He points to former Gov. Haley Barbour, who tried to run Medicaid by executive order and was blocked when Attorney General Jim Hood got an injunction to prevent him. Medicaid was run by the state courts until the Legislature passed a reauthorization bill.
Flaggs says he wants Gunn, (Democrat Bobby) Moak and Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves to meet this week and come to an agreement on Medicaid. Flaggs, who is retiring this year and is expected to run for mayor of Vicksburg, said he has nothing to gain or lose in the legislative fight and therefore hopes he can get everyone to get on the same page.
“We do not need to put the Medicaid recipients and the providers in jeopardy because of the politics of it,” Flaggs said.
Mississippi Pep
2/18/13
Magnolia Tribune
