Mississippi Legislature begins new term as GOP overhauls House leadership

• Mississippi's Republican-controlled Legislature began its annual session on Tuesday.
• All members were sworn in for four-year terms, and the 122-member House elected Rep. Jason White as its next speaker.
• White, a Republican who served as speaker pro tempore under his predecessor, former Rep. Philip Gunn, will be replaced by Rep. Manly Barton in an advisory role.

The Republican-controlled Mississippi Legislature begins its annual session on Tuesday, with all members sworn in for four-year terms and the House electing new leadership after the former speaker chose not to seek re-election.

Weeks ago, Rep. Jason White, D-West, secured pledges of support from his Republican colleagues to become the next speaker of the House. He will replace Republican Philip Gunn, a Clinton Republican who has held the leadership post for the past 12 years.

Mr. White had served as speaker pro tempore under Mr. Gunn, the second-highest leadership post in the 122-member House. Republican Rep. Manley Barton of Moss Point will be the new speaker candidate. In that role, he would be White's top advisor and preside over the House in White's absence.

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Republican Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann is returning for a second term as president of the 52-member Senate. He and six other state officials will be sworn in Thursday.

Republican Gov. Tate Reeves will begin his second term in office on Jan. 9 after serving as state treasurer and lieutenant governor.

Reeves is urging lawmakers to eliminate the state income tax, saying it would help Mississippi compete with states like Florida and Texas, which do not levy income taxes. In 2022, lawmakers and Reeves passed the largest tax cut in Mississippi history, reducing income taxes over four years beginning in 2023.

Horsman said that depending on economic conditions, lawmakers could consider further income tax cuts or a 7% grocery tax cut. He said the income tax cuts would not come suddenly but would continue in stages.

“If we do it in a compelling and fiscally responsible way, rather than some kind of political argument, we could probably get to an income tax repeal sooner than the last proposal,” Horsman said.

Conservative groups are pushing for a “school choice” plan that would allow parents to send their children to other public schools outside their zone if they accept them, or to use public money to pay for private school or homeschooling. there is a possibility.

Lawmakers may consider reinstating a way for people to petition to put issues on the statewide ballot. In 2021, the Mississippi Supreme Court ruled that the state's initiative process was invalid because it required signatures from the five traditional congressional districts, rather than the current four.

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For the first time, it could also seriously consider expanding Medicaid to people who work in low-wage jobs without health insurance.

Expanding Medicaid is an option under the health care reform signed by then-President Barack Obama in 2010. Mississippi is one of 10 states that have not adopted this option, and Reeves refers to Medicaid as “welfare.” Mr. Gunn also opposed expansion.

The incoming House speaker said he wants to make sure lawmakers understand how many people could potentially become eligible if Medicaid is expanded. White also said he would like to talk with business leaders about whether the state could cover some of the costs.

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“It has to be something we can afford and it makes sense,” White said. “We are one of the poorest states, if not the poorest. We would be foolish not to find a way to make this situation work.”