Statement of House Speaker Billy McCoy, August 1, 2008
Mississippi House of Representatives
Jackson, Mississippi
STATEMENT OF HOUSE SPEAKER BILLY MCCOY, AUGUST 1, 2008
House Speaker Billy McCoy on Friday said his leadership team is fully aware of the public’s frustration over the cost of the current special session.
McCoy said that Gov. Barbour has limited the legislature’s options during the special session. “If we had all tools available to us, we could reach a consensus fairly quickly,” McCoy added.
He said allowing an increase in the tobacco tax as part of the mix would dramatically improve chances of a reconciliation.
“The public supports such an plan, the medical community advocates it, and, if allowed to vote, I predict a sufficient number of senators would support the measure,” McCoy said.
“Governor Barbour is putting on his ‘magician’s costume’ raising hopes that he can pull off a ‘trick’ to lessen the harm to our state’s 600,000 citizens who depend on Medicaid,” McCoy added. “If he comes up with some method to get more federal funds to reduce or eliminate his unreasonable tax on hospitals and sick folks, I assure him that the House will accept it.”
Rumors have spread around the Capitol that Barbour has been able to access additional federal funds to reduce or eliminate the Medicaid deficit.
House proposals have included a compromise that would combine a cigarette tax with a reduced tax on hospitals to prevent any cuts in services. In a floor vote, the Governor’s plan to tax hospitals was overwhelmingly rejected by the House.
Contact Speaker McCoy at 601-359-3300.