Friday afternoon at the East Mississippi Community College Communiversity, incumbent Republican Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann reviewed his legislative plans for the coming years during a multi-city tour to announce his candidacy for lieutenant governor.
The general election for county and state positions will be held in November.
The lieutenant governor presides over the state Senate and makes appointments to Senate committees. The 2023 legislative session began Tuesday and will last until March.
Education
Touting the passage of 2022’s teacher pay raise bill, Hosemann said one of his goals for the next four years is making community college tuition free because it helps build the state’s workforce.
This year will see the Senate providing incentives for school districts to move to adopt a modified calendar, commonly referred to as year-round school, Hosemann told The Dispatch.
“(During a modified calendar year), they have to use school buses a little more, so it costs some more,” Hosemann said. “We’re looking to allocate about $200,000 more per year to a school that decides to go to a modified calendar. They take the same standardized tests that everyone does. They just have more opportunities to learn.”
Assistance for mothers and newborns
Hosemann said the Senate intends to address concerns regarding female and child healthcare, particularly since the overturn of Roe v. Wade.
“… How can you not be pro-life and not pro-child at the same time?” Hosemann said. “… We believe healthy women have healthy choices to make about fertilization and also about taking their babies to doctors. We want to be sure women have the option to do that under Medicaid if they’re making under $35,000 and uninsured. … The foster care system needs a lot of work, and you’ll also see some streamlining of adoption. Right now that takes too long, so you’ll see us do some things with the judiciary and adoption issues.”
Plans for surpluses
The state is currently sitting on an approximately $1 billion surplus, and state leaders differ on what to do with that surplus. Last year lawmakers passed a bill that will reduce the state income tax over four years, beginning this year. In October, the Associated Press reported Gov. Tate Reeves intends to push for a complete elimination of the state income tax during this year’s session.
Mississippi House Speaker Phillip Gunn has repeatedly voiced support for the elimination of the state income tax, but the AP reported last week that Gunn is now open to other ideas of what to do with the surplus.
Hosemann would like to prioritize giving the money to taxpayers in the form of a tax rebate, likely over multiple years.
“We want to do the $270 million rebate this year,” Hosemann said. “That’s the first thing to do, give the money back to the people. Our half a billion dollar tax cut comes into effect in 2026, so we need to be looking at the further reduction of the income tax for 2027 and out depending on what our balance sheet is at. … I expect us to look at further elimination probably on a gradual basis.”
Local issues
Columbus leaders have identified two issues they hope are taken up during the 2023 session — funding for the amphitheater and a 10-year renewal of the 2-percent tourism tax.
Mayor Keith Gaskin previously met with local state lawmakers and expressed a desire to seek about $4 million to complete the amphitheater, which would include bathrooms, concession stands, 1,700 hardback seats, turnstiles and safety features such as gating and more fencing.
Hosemann said the legislature will be looking at funding for the amphitheater in Columbus, Brandon, another unnamed city and one in the Delta.
“I got the brochure for that here (Friday),” Hosemann said. “… Those are real cultural ways to keep our young people in Mississippi. It’s part of an education, but it’s really that cultural thing that gives you something to do on Friday nights. They’ve been real pluses, and I’m a big supporter.”
The 2-percent tourism tax is set to expire this year, and the city of Columbus, the county, the Golden Triangle Development LINK and Columbus-Lowndes Convention and Visitors Bureau have all asked the legislature to renew the tax on food and beverage for 10 years instead of four, which was its current term.
District 41 Rep. Kabir Karriem pointed out to Hosemann that the tax contains a request for funding for two separate recreation programs, and it is unusual to ask for funding for two separate recreation programs.
Though Hosemann told The Dispatch he has not yet been versed in the 10-year renewal of the tax for Columbus, he said most of the time the extensions get renewed.
“I haven’t seen it yet,” Hosemann said. “Historically when those start, they never end quite frankly. So if you ask me, historically, they always get extended, but I haven’t looked at that one.”
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