Editorial by Jack Ryan
The Daily Journal in Tupelo presented a fascinating idea in a recent editorial: What if Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann, who supports expanding Medicaid to cover the working poor, and House Speaker Philip Gunn, who champions the elimination of the state income tax, struck a deal to approve both proposals at once?
What a bold move that would be — though it would face very long odds of passage.
It’s difficult to think of any legislator who supports both ideas right now. Frankly, most Mississippians probably support one of the proposals — but not both.
Generally speaking, Republicans want to phase out the income tax but want nothing to do with expanding Medicaid. Democrats prefer the exact opposite action in both cases.
Then there is Gov. Tate Reeves, who can veto any bill he dislikes. He too wants to get rid of the income tax but, fearing a primary challenge from the speaker in 2023, may be wary of actually signing something for which Gunn could take credit. And Reeves is emphatic about his opposition to expanding Medicaid.
To cut the governor out of the equation by overriding his veto, Hosemann and Gunn would need supermajority support of two thirds of members in both the House and the Senate. That is an immensely tall order for legislation that would cut across party lines in a manner rarely seen in modern Mississippi politics.
Here’s what the Daily Journal said:
“Gunn’s opposition to Medicaid expansion amounts to the same outdated political talking points used by Reeves. He says the state can’t afford it, though every bit of data from states where it was expanded puts a lie to that claim. So does a report from the state economist, the same state economist Gunn touts as supporting the viability of his income tax cut.
“When challenged on these points in a recent meeting with the Daily Journal editorial board, Gunn literally folded his arms, sat back in his chair and said he just doesn’t support it. He is, with all due respect, just being stubborn.
“Hosemann’s opposition to the income tax plan is not nearly as outspoken as the opposition of Gunn and Reeves against Medicaid expansion, but it too appears to be at least somewhat stubbornly rooted. There were legitimate concerns about the first bill, but most of those have been addressed in the latest version. Other sticking points are likely fixable, too.
“But nobody likes to be politically blindsided, which is what happened during the last legislative session when Gunn introduced his proposal without even a cursory heads up to Hosemann.”
Being completely honest, it is difficult — even bordering on impossible — to see how something like this passes. Many Republican legislators would balk at expanding Medicaid, and many Democrats would object to any plan that eliminates income taxes, especially if other things like the sales tax rise to make up for lost revenue.
But it’s also true that either proposal, standing by itself, may not pass. So maybe Hosemann and Gunn ought to at least discuss the idea.
