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Senator hopeful for accord on Medicaid deficit |
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Wednesday, 09 July 2008 |
By SHOSHANA BRACKETT
Starkville Daily News
Reporting on the Mississippi Legislature's activities and upcoming special session, a local state senator said Tuesday that he hopes a compromise can be reached on the Medicaid deficit.
District 15 State Sen. Gary Jackson, R-French Camp, said he enjoys representing his constituents but wishes the agendas could be completed during regular sessions.
A third special session is slated to begin Aug. 4 with a focus on the Medicaid deficit.
Right now, the Senate has passed a bill representing a compromise on the hospital bed tax that could help reduce the deficit, but the bill has not yet passed the House.
Jackson admitted that partisan politics play a large role in the state government's inability to complete its agenda on time without a special session, including the Medicaid issue.
"We've got some partisan politics that are absolutely embarrassing," he said.
However, Jackson said he feels that "mature people" should be able to come to a "reasonable conclusion" during the special session.
Jackson said there is some concern about how an increase in the cigarette or alcohol tax might be involved in the bill.
Jackson, who said he thinks the cigarette tax (now about 6 percent on a $3 pack of cigarettes) is unfairly low, especially if compared percentage-wise to the grocery tax (7 percent), he also said he has reservations about linking a cigarette tax to Medicaid.
There is some danger in assigning what might be a declining amount of money brought in from a cigarette tax (if people reduce their cigarette consumption) to Medicaid that will require continually more funding, he said.
Jackson also fielded questions, including one regarding the possible sale of Oktibbeha County Hospital to a private company. In response, Jackson said he supports the local public health care.
"I represent the people right here, and I will fight to keep our local hospitals ... I'll do everything I can to keep that from getting cut," he said.
"I would hate to lose our public hospital," he said. "You hear very little (negative) about Oktibbeha County Hospital because it's functioning very well."
Jackson said he also supports the Mississippi bid for the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility proposed for Flora based on advice from experts at Mississippi State University. If their advice changes, Jackson said he would change is opinion. Jackson's major reason for supporting the facility is to boost Mississippi's economic opportunities.
"Anything we can do to help create jobs," he said. "I've got seven grandchildren, I'd love for them to be able to stay here and work here."
Some have voiced concerns about locating a lab facility that would handle hoof and mouth disease in a cattle-dense area like Flora or Mississippi in general. Such concerns were raised during a meeting held at the West Point Stockyard on May 29 and attended by local cattlemen. Jackson said he would not vote for the lab if it endangered the livelihood of Mississippi's cattlemen.
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 10 July 2008 )
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