Local News
Barbour: Medicaid growth would hurt Miss. budget
Staff and wire
Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour says health care legislation pending in Congress could make Medicaid too expensive, flood the program with new people and could, eventually, force tax increases in the state.
The Republican governor sent a letter to U.S. senators Friday to repeat what he has been saying for months — that a dramatic increase in Medicaid enrollment would strain Mississippi’s budget and could force state officials to increase the sales tax, the income tax or both.
“There is no way for Mississippi to pay the proposed extra costs of Medicaid except by raising our sales or income tax or both,” Barbour said.
Medicaid is a government health insurance program for the needy, aged, blind and disabled and for low-income families with children. It is paid by federal and state dollars.
About one-fifth of all Mississippi residents are already on Medicaid. Barbour says a federal proposal could increase that to one-third.
Jamie Franks of the Mississippi Democratic Party said Barbour is trying to scare Mississippians.
“What the governor doesn't tell you is that it's his failed fiscal policies that have the state facing the highest unemployment and the most devastating budget cuts in decades.”
Ensuring that our most vulnerable citizens have access to affordable health care should be a top priority of any state leader. If that means making tough decisions, then so be it. But we would not be facing the budget cuts that have ravaged our state or talking about any tax increases if Gov. Barbour had not failed to create jobs and improve our economy.
U.S. Rep. Gregg Harper said by expanding the Medicaid program to all individuals earning up to 150 percent of the federal poverty level, the bill will push an unfunded mandate averaging $200 million in additional costs for the next 10 years to fund Mississippi’s annual state share. States will pay a total of $34 billion in matching funds over the next decade. The House passed version expands the entitlement program to 150 percent of the federal poverty level while the Senate is pushing for 133 percent.
“I believe health care reform should help states, families and small businesses address the problem of skyrocketing costs, not raise premiums for private policy holders and burden states with unfunded mandates,” said Congressman Gregg Harper.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
- Local News
-
-
Flying Milestone
T-45 Goshawks from Naval Air Station Meridian were recently part of a flyover of the USS George H.W. Bush in celebration of the jet trainers 1 million flight hours mark.
-
County faces fines from MDEQ
At the same time as they are investigated by the state auditor's office, Lauderdale County is facing fines from another state agency — the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality.
MDEQ is fining the county $12,000 for failure to use sediment control at a county road project, but Road Manager Neal Carson said the sediment controls were there.
According to MDEQ spokesman Robbie Wilbur, MDEQ found that a road project in Toomsuba did not have the proper sediment controls to prevent run-off into Roasted Hog Creek. -
Convicted sex offender arrested
Nothing freezes the blood of a mother more than hearing the cries for help from one of her children.
Monday night, a mother and her 14-year old son allegedly found themselves in a battle against a man who earlier this year pleaded guilty to a sexual crime. Fortunately, the two were able to fight off the man, identified now by authorities of the Lauderdale County Sheriff's Department as Christopher Todd Shelton. Shelton, 41, of Toomsuba, is now being held in the Lauderdale County Adult Detention Facility on charges of attempted kidnapping, failure to register as a sex offender non-compliance, and probation violation. -
No time like now
If State Treasurer Tate Reeves was concerned whether or not the fifth grade students at Poplar Springs Elementary School were listening to him, then he was convinced they were judging by the questions the youngsters were peppering him with after he spoke Wednesday morning.
"Boy these are very good questions," said Reeves as he took a minute to collect himself from the barrage. "You people are really testing me but I like that. It shows you are interested in this issue." -
Downtown organizations adopt a common name
Something as simple as a name can cause a lot of confusion. Three different downtown organizations in Meridian have learned that the hard way, and they've decided to do something about it.
What used to be three sister downtown advocacy groups — related, but separate — are now one. What were Meridian Main Street, the Alliance for Downtown Meridian, and the Meridian Downtown Association will now all operate under the Meridian Main Street name. -
MPD and LCSD get grants
Each year the Meridian Police Department and the Lauderdale County Sheriff's Department receive a joint grant from the Department of Justice (DOJ) to help pay for upgrading equipment used to fight crime.
Twenty grants worth more than $630,000 have been approved to help city and county law enforcement agencies in Mississippi upgrade law enforcement equipment, according to U.S. Senator Thad Cochran (R-Miss.). The grants to Mississippi police and sheriffs’ departments represent formula grant funding provided through the DOJ Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program. -
Rollover sends one to hospital
Meridian Police Department units responded Tuesday afternoon to a two-vehicle collision in downtown Meridian that sent one person to a local hospital with injuries.
According to officials, the accident occurred at about 3:30 p.m. at the intersection of 12th Street and 18th Avenue next to Rush Foundation Hospital. A black two-door sedan was flipped onto its roof as a result of the impact. -
Aniel back at work 12 days after surgery
At first glance, Pete Aniel doesn't look like someone who recently underwent heart surgery.
"I guess you were expecting me to look all weak, and walking around toting an oxygen tank," said Aniel, smiling broadly and – just 12 days after surgery – is neatly dressed in his work uniform.
"Can you believe this?" he says, still amazed himself at the possibility. "I was riding a bicycle in my neighborhood with my wife and grandson just this past Sunday. I tell everyone if you've got to have heart surgery and you're a candidate for this type of procedure, go for it!" -
Stateley Visit
State Auditor Stacey Pickering spoke to the Kiwanis Club of Meridian on Wednesday, Aug. 25.
-
State superintendent tours local schools
State Superintendent of Education Dr. Tom Burnham took a day away from his office in Jackson Tuesday to visit several local school districts.
"We don't want to get bogged down in the office in Jackson; when you do, you sometimes will see a lot of frustration," said Burnham, who visited Meridian High School, Clarkdale Attendance Center and Enterprise High School. - More Local News Headlines
-
Flying Milestone
