The House voted almost unanimously during the 10th week of the session to suspend the legislative deadlines to allow for the introduction of a new bill that would keep the Medicaid program from shutting down effective the end of the week.
HCR 85's goal is twofold: tap the Tobacco Trust Fund to fund Medicaid for the remainder of FY 2005 and increase the tax on a pack of cigarettes to re-pay the loan from the Trust Fund. The move was a last-gasp effort to save the health insurance program for the needy, disabled and aged.
House leaders of the move to suspend the deadlines noted that Medicaid would cease to exist as of Friday, March 11 without an infusion of cash, and that Medicaid recipients would be forced out of nursing homes the following day. An amendment to the resolution failed that would have deleted the cigarette tax and state that Medicaid would be funded solely from the Tobacco Trust Fund.
It was also noted that long-term reductions in the Medicaid program totaling about $200 million have already been agreed upon by negotiators from the House and Senate. An amendment was added to HCR 85 to require that any funds taken from the Trust Fund must go for health-care.
Passage of the suspension resolution required a positive vote by the Senate in order for a new bill, which would be more specific as to amount of funds, to be introduced.
House leaders held a news conference early in the week to say that the chamber would go along with borrowing some $200 million from
the Tobacco Trust Fund, but that it wanted to repay the loan with proceeds from an increase in the cigarette tax.
Medicaid commanded most of the attention during the week, but the House did meet a March 9 deadline to handle floor action on general bills that originated in the Senate. Legislative deadlines will be arriving in a flurry with the session scheduled to adjourn sine die on Sunday, April 3.
Among the bills approved by the full House this week:
SB 2480 to make changes in the unemployment insurance program was returned by the House to its original Senate language supported by Gov. Barbour. As passed, it would reduce unemployment taxes over several years and direct $20 million from the unemployment trust fund to workforce training. It also creates a safety net floor that will keep the trust fund balance from not going below $500 million. The fund is currently worth more than $680 million. It was noted that the trust fund now has about three times more in it than has ever been needed for pay-outs to unemployed workers. One critic of the bill said the reason that the trust fund is so hefty is the state pays such a low weekly rate ($210) to jobless workers.
SB 2486 was amended to allow the posting of the Ten Commandments, the Beatitudes and the words "In God We Trust" in any public building. It was noted that the U.S. Supreme Court has before it the issue of posting the Ten Commandments on public property.
SB 2894 would make changes in the juvenile justice detention system, but due to budget constraints most will be delayed at least one year. A key feature is the creation of community-based centers as alternatives to incarceration of wayward youths. The Department of Public Safety will assume inspection duties of the detention facilities that survive the overhaul. Special consideration will be given to non-violent first time offenders. Only a court would be able to send a youth to a detention facility.
SB 2742 puts the public on a "level playing field" with the State Tax Commission in disputes by mandating a 30-day notice of hearings where disagreements would be negotiated.
SB 2514 to create the Select Committee on Wireless Communication with the goal of promoting the efficient use of public resources to ensure that officials have effective communications services available in emergency situations and the quick restoration of services if disrupted.
SB 2532 governing small loan companies would cap the fee for loan closings and would allow the companies to offer clients membership in auto clubs, but not require it to secure a loan.
HB 1734 to allow the governor to reduce the number of prisoners, with the approval of the Parole Board, when state facilities reach an overcrowded situation.
SB 2080 to prevent companies administering the Children's Health Insurance Program from denying health-care providers participation in the CHIP program.
HB 143 was amended to allow municipalities to govern the use of hotel and motel rooms on an hourly basis.
HB 1668 to provide incentives, loans and grants for a company planning to open a mini steel mill in Lowndes County was sent to Gov. Barbour for his approval. The firm could soon break ground. Included in the final version is a provision supporting socially and economically disadvantaged companies to be involved in construction and contracting phases of the operation.
The House also approved the second round of state agency appropriations bills, sending them into conference committee negotiation with the Senate. The final versions of these spending bills - basically the last step in completing work on the FY 2006 budget - will come forth near the end of the session. It was said during debate that almost all state agencies will suffer personnel losses due to budget woes. Included in the bills is $200,000 to fight the possible closure of military bases in the state.
We also honored Mississippi actor Morgan Freeman for his winning of an Academy Award in the recent Oscars competition.
The House of Representatives, under the guidance of the House Clerk's Office, put on a fund-raiser for the American Cancer Society this week, netting more than $1,300 for the organization.
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