Mississippi receives millions of dollars for oil and gas leases on the Gulf of Mexico traditionally controlled by the governor. Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann says the Senate supports that approach but the House doesn’t.
“The House position is that the House should be involved in picking those particular projects. So that’s a summary of where we are I think,” said Hosemann.
Hosemann says there are emergency funds the governor is providing to the Department of Marine Resources (DMR). Lawmakers returned to the capitol on Monday to also take up the education budget bill. Governor Tate Reeves vetoed portions of the budget because a teacher pay bonus program wasn’t funded. Lawmakers said it was an oversight and the veto left certain education programs unfunded. Democratic Senator Derrick Simmons of Greenville.
“It was a bill that the legislature voted overwhelmingly to do considering the significance of the K-12 budget. It’s the largest budget of the more than $6 billion state budget. Schools districts were concerned about their funding,” said Simmons.
The House and Senate voted to override the governor’s veto and funded the teacher bonus program. Lawmakers also increased the minimum award for small business grants funded by federal pandemic relief money from $1,500 to $3,500. Lt. Governor Delbert Hosemann.
"We believe that will significantly help restaurants and small businesses in Mississippi stay a float,” said Hosemann.
Legislators are scheduled to return to the capitol October 5, if not sooner, to finalize a budget for DMR and manage any remaining coronavirus pandemic relief funds.
