Mississippi Lawmakers Already Taking Different Paths On Budget

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) – Mississippi lawmakers are on separate tracks as they discuss state taxes and spending.

MONEY

During different meetings Wednesday, a group consisting mostly of Republicans looked for ways to trim the budget, while Democrats heard from a researcher who recommended Medicaid expansion and more education spending to close the gap between rich and poor.

Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves and House Speaker Philip Gunn are chairmen of the group examining state agencies’ spending. This week, they’re discussing how much is being spent on contracts.

The House and Senate Democratic caucuses heard from Loyola University’s Jeanie Donovan, an author of “State of Working Mississippi 2016.” The report released last month shows that the wealthiest 10 percent of Mississippi earners saw wages increase from 2007 to 2015. Wages for most other groups decreased.