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Legislative leaders opt not to release typical pre-session budget plan after disagreement with governor

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Legislative leaders have opted not to produce a budget recommendation to serve as a guideline for the upcoming 2024 session.

Normally, the 14-member Budget Committee, which includes outgoing House Speaker Philip Gunn and Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann, develops a budget recommendation before each session begins in January. But during Wednesday’s meeting, Budget Committee members adjourned without adopting a budget recommendation.

House Pro Tem Jason White, R-West, who is expected to be elected by the membership as speaker in January, said the committee opted not to develop a budget recommendation because there was not an official revenue estimate agreed to by the Budget Committee and Gov. Tate Reeves.

“We didn’t have an agreement on a number,” said White.

READ MORE: Governor, legislative leaders deadlock on how much money the state has to spend next year

An initial step in developing a budget is for the governor and Budget Committee to agree in November on the amount of revenue expected to be collected during the upcoming fiscal year to fund the budget. Reeves wanted a revenue estimate of about $118 million more than supported by the Budget Committee.

Both White and Hosemann said Wednesday they anticipate legislative appropriators will begin work in January on separate budget proposals from the House and Senate using the revenue estimate supported by the Budget Committee. Hosemann said he hopes to meet with Reeves before he releases his budget proposal — due Jan. 31 — to discuss with him using the lower number.

At the very least, Hosemann said, “I would hope that (agreeing on a revenue estimate) would be worked out before March with the governor.” March is essentially when work will begin in earnest on developing a budget to fund state services, such as education, health care and law enforcement.

Reeves has said he supports the higher budget recommendation — $7.64 billion — because it would make it easier to pass in the 2024 session his plan to phase out the state income tax, which accounts for a little less than one-third of total state general fund revenue.

Hosemann again reiterated Wednesday current collections do not support the higher estimate supported by Reeves. The lieutenant governor pointed out that for three of the first five months of the current fiscal year, revenue has met the current estimate only because of interest earnings. Without those earnings, Hosemann said, revenue collections would be below the amount projected by the 2023 Legislature to fund the budget for the current fiscal year.

Hosemann added that he, like the governor, wants to consider tax cuts during the upcoming session. He said he would like to consider reductions in the income tax and the 7% tax on groceries. But he discounted efforts to pass legislation to totally eliminate the income tax sometimes in the future, saying it made sense to work each session to try to make incremental tax cuts.

Hosemann said through such incremental cuts, “it could be eliminated in 10 years, faster than what is being proposed” by the governor and others in past legislation.

This is the first time in recent history that the Budget Committee will not develop a budget recommendation. Before the 2003 session, then-Gov. Ronnie Musgrove and the Budget Committee did not agree on an estimate, but the committee still offered a budget recommendation.

Still, the recent posturing between the governor and legislative leaders most likely not derail work to pass a state budget. At some point in March or near the end of the session, the legislative leaders most likely will meet and hash out a revenue estimate and work to pass a budget. The governor in March will have no official role in developing that estimate. At that point, the governor will have the option to veto or sign those budget bills into law.

This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

Mississippi Today

Photos: Lawmakers gavel in for 2025 Mississippi legislative session

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mississippitoday.org – Vickie King – 2025-01-07 15:23:00

The Mississippi Legislature returned to the State Capitol on Tuesday for the start of the legislative session in Jackson.

House Speaker Jason White brings the House of Representatives to order at the beginning of the new legislative session at the State Capitol, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025 in Jackson. Credit: Vickie D. King/Mississippi Today
A children’s choir entertains at the the State Capitol before the start of the new legislative session, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025 in Jackson. Credit: Vickie D. King/Mississippi Today
Members of the House of Representatives at the start of the new legislative session at the State Capitol, Tuesday Jan. 7, 2025, in Jackson. Credit: Vickie D. King/Mississippi Today
Rep. C. Scott Bounds, R-Philadelphia, during the start of the new legislative session at the State Capitol, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025 in Jackson. Credit: Vickie D. King/Mississippi Today
House of Representatives look over bills during the first day of the new legislative session, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025 in Jackson. Credit: Vickie D. King/Mississippi Today
House Reps chat during the first day of the new legislative session, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025 in Jackson. Credit: Vickie D. King/Mississippi Today
Visitors to the House of Representatives pledge allegiance to the flag during the first day of the legislative session at the State Capitol in Jackson, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. Credit: Vickie D. King/Mississippi Today
House of Representative members during the first day of the new legislative session at the State Capitol, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025 in Jackson. Credit: Vickie D. King/Mississippi Today
House members pledge allegiance to the flag during the first day of the legislative session at the State Capitol, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. Credit: Vickie D. King/Mississippi Today
The legislative session began Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025 at the State Capitol in Jackson. Credit: Vickie D. King/Mississippi Today

This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

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Billionaire Tommy Duff forms Republican PAC as he weighs gubernatorial run

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mississippitoday.org – Taylor Vance – 2025-01-07 11:40:00

Billionaire Tommy Duff, as he considers a run for Mississippi governor in 2027, has formed a political action committee to help elect Republicans to city and legislative offices this year, likely to increase his influence as a political powerbroker.

Jordan Russell, a longtime Republican operative who has led several federal and state campaigns, is director of the PAC, which was formed in December. 

Russell told Mississippi Today in a statement that Duff founded the PAC to support conservative candidates and advance policies that promote “opportunities, freedom, faith-based values and prosperity across Mississippi.” 

“We are planning a significant investment in multiple races in our state to ensure strong, conservative leadership at every level of government,” Russell said. 

Duff, a Hattiesburg resident and the co-wealthiest Mississippian along with his brother Jim, has been involved in state politics for decades, but mostly behind the scenes as a megadonor and philanthropist. He recently finished an eight-year stint on the state Institutions of Higher Learning Board, first appointed by former Gov. Phil Bryant. 

READ MORE: Will a Mississippi billionaire run for governor in the poorest state?

He’s travelled around the state in recent months meeting with political and business leaders, potentially laying the groundwork for a gubernatorial run. Duff also appeared at last year’s Neshoba County Fair and made the rounds at the state’s premiere political gathering. 

Duff and his brother turned a small, struggling company into Southern Tire Mart, the nation’s largest truck tire dealer and retread manufacturer. They created Duff Capitol Investors, the largest privately held business in Mississippi, with ownership in more than 20 companies, including KLLM Transport, TL Wallace Construction and Southern Insurance Group.

Duff has recently said he’s still weighing a run for governor, but his creation of a PAC that could garner support from many down-ticket Republicans would appear to be a concrete step in that direction. Duff’s entrance into a gubernatorial race would likely cause numerous potential candidates — particularly those who have looked to him for large campaign donations — to wave off.

While statewide elections are still two years away, municipal elections will take place this year and several special legislative races will happen as well. 

Rep. Charles Young, Jr., a Democrat from Meridian, died on December 19, and Rep. Andy Stepp, a Republican from Bruce, died on December 5. Sen. Jenifer Branning, a Republican from Philadelphia, was sworn into office yesterday for a seat on the Mississippi Supreme Court. Special elections will take place later this year to fill these vacancies. 

A federal three-judge panel also ruled last year that the Legislature  must create new state Senate and House maps with Black-majority districts and conduct special elections in 2025 under those newly created districts. 

The court ordered legislators to create a majority-Black Senate district in the DeSoto County area in north Mississippi and one in the Hattiesburg area in south Mississippi. The panel also ruled the state must create a majority-Black House district in the Chickasaw County area in northeast Mississippi. 

However, the Legislature will also have to tweak many districts in the state to accommodate for the new Black-majority maps. State officials in court filings have argued that the redrawing would affect a quarter of the state’s 174 legislative districts.

This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

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Mississippi Today expands politics team for 2025 legislative session

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mississippitoday.org – Adam Ganucheau – 2025-01-07 10:19:00

Mississippi Today is proud to announce the expansion of its politics team, dedicated to providing readers with in-depth reporting on the 2025 legislative session and key political issues shaping our state.

This team will rove the halls of the Mississippi Capitol in 2025, providing insightful daily updates, robust analysis, and in-depth coverage of state politics. The team will also produce investigations that aim to provide accountability to our state’s most powerful leaders.

Geoff Pender, a seasoned journalist with decades of experience covering Mississippi politics, continues his role as the politics team editor. Pender will guide the team as they tackle critical stories and offer insightful commentary on the decisions affecting Mississippians.

“We have a great team in place, a mix of old hands and fresh eyes, and one I believe will enhance Mississippi Today’s already unrivaled coverage of Mississippi government, politics and policies that impact us all,” Pender said.

Newcomers to the politics team — Simeon Gates and Michael Goldberg — join team veteran Taylor Vance to bring unique expertise to readers.

Simeon Gates, who has been with Mississippi Today since 2024, moves to the politics team to focus on education policy issues, highlighting how debates and decisions at the Capitol affect Mississippi’s schools, teachers and students. Gates is a Pearl native and alumna of University of Southern Mississippi.

Michael Goldberg joined Mississippi Today on Dec. 30, 2024, after more than two years with The Associated Press. Goldberg, who covered two Mississippi legislative sessions with the AP, will be posted at the Capitol daily. Goldberg is a California native and is an alumnus of Western Washington University and University of Southern California.

Taylor Vance, who has served on the Mississippi Today politics team since 2023, will continue to cover the Legislature and focus on elections and the political dynamics shaping the state’s future. Vance, a Grenada native, is an alumnus of the University of Mississippi.

PODCAST: Expanded Mississippi Today politics team talks 2025 legislative session

Mississippi Today Senior Political Reporter Bobby Harrison, who has been on the politics team since 2018, is transitioning to a new role in the newsroom that will be announced in coming days. Harrison will continue publishing his weekly political analysis in conjunction with newspaper partners across the state.

The politics team will continue producing its weekly podcast, “The Other Side,” and beginning this week, videos of episodes will be available to watch on our YouTube channel.

To follow Mississippi Today’s politics team and its coverage of the 2025 legislative session, you can do two things:

  1. Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter. There, the team will recap the previous week, forecast the upcoming week, and produce short videos and other written nuggets that you can’t find anywhere else.
  2. Bookmark our 2025 Legislative Guide, which includes resources you need to engage with lawmakers and follow their action this year. This page will also update whenever a new legislative story from Mississippi Today publishes.

Thank you for reading, and don’t hesitate to email us if you have any questions or tips.

This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

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