YP – Comprehensive tax reform on the horizon for 2021 Legislative Session
Statewide leaders have amped up the conversation surrounding the state individual income tax.
Governor Tate Reeves released his Executive Budget Recommendations for the FY 2022 budget and members of the Mississippi House of Representatives have said comprehensive reform is on the table…
…Speaker of the House Philip Gunn who has been one at the forefront of tax reform said the House hopes to see changes come in the 2021 Legislative session.
“Comprehensive tax reform is something I have been very vocal about for the last few years,” said Gunn. “We’ve been very out-front with the fact that we believe that is the way to go.”
Thompson says Gov. Reeves “feeding a false conservative narrative”
Instead of feeding into a false conservative narrative, he should take that $3 million and raise our teachers' pay.
Revisionist history is refusing to acknowledge the real cause of the Civil War and why Mississippi seceded from the union.https://t.co/pXTAxUZLKZ
— Bennie G. Thompson (@BennieGThompson) November 17, 2020
YP – Hospital Association pushes for changes to Medicaid in Mississippi House, Senate hearings
Legislators in the Mississippi House and Senate are continuing Medicaid hearings at the Capitol to prepare for the upcoming 2021 Legislative session. The Medicaid Technical Amendments bill is expected to be one of the largest items lawmakers tackle. The next round of hearings are to take place the week of Thanksgiving…
…It is no secret that Mississippi hospitals are in favor of expanding Medicaid. Just last year, hospitals had approximately $616 million in uncompensated care, a burden they estimate could be reduced by 40 to 50 percent if expansion were to occur. They expect hospitals will be funded around 2/3 of the state share that is needed for FY 2021.
MSDH COVID-19 report
Today MSDH is reporting 905 more cases of COVID-19 in Mississippi, 36 deaths, and 154 ongoing outbreaks in long-term care facilities. The total of #covid19 cases for the year is now 135,803, with 3,581 deaths. Case details and prevention guidance at https://t.co/QP8mlJ41AN pic.twitter.com/HvE1ylXbqM
— Mississippi State Department of Health (@msdh) November 17, 2020
WTOK – Dr. Dobbs ‘can’t imagine’ a scenario in which Mississippi would go under another lockdown
In a digital press conference Tuesday, Dr. Dobbs said that he ‘can’t imagine’ a scenario in which Mississippi would need to go under another coronavirus lockdown.
This after Gov. Reeves recently stated that the state would not participate in a nationwide lockdown if one is mandated by President-elect Joe Biden.
Dobbs was responding to a question citing France’s “amazing results” due to their recent nationwide lockdowns. He was then asked if there were any scenarios in which he could see America or Mississippi doing the same.
“I don’t think it’s necessary and I think… even though it worked it was counterproductive to the rest of our response…” Dobbs said.
YP – Senate confirms first female federal judge for MS Southern District
The Senate just confirmed Mississippi’s first Solicitor General Kristi Johnson to become a federal judge for Mississippi’s Southern District. The United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi is in the Fifth Circuit with offices in Gulfport, Hattiesburg, Natchez, and Jackson.
“This is a significant day for Mississippi as Kristi makes history for the second time this year,” said Attorney General Lynn Fitch. “I am so proud to have appointed Kristi Johnson to serve as Mississippi’s first Solicitor General. She has made tremendous contributions to this Office and brought our appellate advocacy to new heights. I am confident she will represent Mississippi well in her new role as Mississippi’s first female federal judge for the Southern District.”
U.S. Senators Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., today hailed Senate confirmation of Kristi H. Johnson of Brandon to serve as a U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of Mississippi. Johnson, who will be the first female jurist for the Southern District of Mississippi, is a native of Hurley and served most recently as the first Solicitor General of Mississippi.
Thrilled the Senate has confirmed Kristi Johnson to be a US District Judge. She's well-prepared & well-equipped to take her seat on the federal bench, & I’m proud she is making history to be the 1st woman judge to serve in the Southern District. She’ll serve MS & our nation well.
— U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (@SenHydeSmith) November 17, 2020
YP – Commissioner Andy Gipson Announces MASA Application Deadline Extension
Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson encouraged producers to continue to apply for Mississippi Agriculture Stabilization Act (“MASA”) Funds, which were first made available to producers on October 15, 2020, and he announced that the Department will continue to accept applications until December 1, 2020.
“We have received hundreds of applications from Mississippi producers, and we encourage those who haven’t yet applied to do so if they have been affected by COVID-19. We want to ensure that these funds get in the hands of farmers, as directed by the Legislature. Additionally, we hope that the first payments will be mailed out starting this week.”
Congressman Thompson supports eliminating student loan debt
Student loan debt is ridiculous and should be eliminated. No one should be punished for receiving an education. pic.twitter.com/UD7xfnQRa7
— Bennie G. Thompson (@BennieGThompson) November 17, 2020
YP – MDA: VIP Luxury Seating restarting operations in New Albany, creating 100 jobs
Theater seating manufacturer VIP Luxury Seating is restarting operations in New Albany, creating 100 new jobs. The project is a $180,000 corporate investment at the site of the former VIP Cinema seating.
“The commitment by the VIP Luxury Seating team to the people of Union County is evident as they revamp operations and bring back so many jobs for the area’s workforce,” Gov. Tate Reeves said. “As a strong manufacturing state, VIP could not have chosen a better location to manufacture its luxury seating. Their expertise in this sector will benefit the local community, economy and its workforce for years as it generates revenue and jobs – especially as local economies recover what has certainly been a challenging year for economic growth.”
Auditor arrests former community college employee for embezzlement
Auditor Arrests Former Community College Employee for Embezzlement — Mississippi Office of the State Auditor @ShadWhite News https://t.co/cnSkSUQSQQ
— OSA (@MSStateAuditor) November 17, 2020
