Gov Barbour talks about the Special Session

Gov Haley Barbour

 Governor Haley Barbour has called for a Special
Session to begin at 2 p.m. Sunday, June 28, 2009. The call for the
special session is attached. A statement from Governor Barbour follows:

Yesterday the House and Senate budget negotiators and my office
agreed on a General Fund (and equivalents) budget for Fiscal Year 2010
and on closing out FY 2009 for all areas except Medicaid.

“I had hoped we could come to an agreement on Medicaid, but we
continue to be at an impasse.

“I don’t want Medicaid to keep other departments and agencies
unfunded because of the Medicaid issues, so I have advised the House and
Senate that I will call a Special Session for everything except
Medicaid.

“Today, I am issuing the Call for a Special Session of the
Legislature to begin at 2 p.m., Sunday, June 28, 2009, at the New
Capitol.  While I regret the need to call the Legislature in on Sunday,
everyone should agree we have an ox in the ditch.

“The initial Call will include those bills necessary to fund the
closing of the FY 2009 budget and aggregation of funds necessary to fund
all appropriations in FY 2010, except Medicaid.  Medicaid will be
excluded from the Call, as there is no agreement among the House,
Senate, and Governor on funding or preventing deficits in Medicaid at
this time.  If and when such an agreement is reached, Medicaid issues
will be added; or, if this Session has ended, a new Special Session will
be called.

“A small number of minor but important issues will also be included
in the initial Call.  An example is a swap of certain land to benefit
Jackson State University and Blackburn Middle School in Jackson.

“Further, appropriations for departments and agencies that receive
only special funds will be included in the initial Call.  The
Mississippi Department of Transportation is an example.

“After all the bills necessary to fund FY 2009 deficits and FY 2010
appropriations are passed, I will expand the Call or issue a second Call
to include all General Fund and General Fund Equivalent appropriations,
except Medicaid.  Medicaid will be excluded from any Call until an
agreement is reached on its funding, expenditures, and methods of
preventing Medicaid deficits, as is required by law.”