Lawmakers in Mississippi are facing a dilemma after missing weekend deadlines to iron out a plan for funding the state government after July 1, 2025.
While the Senate gaveled in at the state capitol on Saturday morning for what is commonly referred to as “conference weekend” – a time that has become status quo for leaders of both chambers to negotiate the state’s multi-million-dollar budget for the incoming fiscal year – the House had decided to go home. Before gaveling out on Friday, Republican Speaker Jason White told representatives they could travel back to their respective districts before returning Monday afternoon.
The decision by White had some puzzled, considering conference weekend and its deadlines for budget-related bills was due to begin. But if you ask White, the move shouldn’t be surprising; Instead, he and the House wanted to start negotiations on the estimated $7 billion budget weeks in advance to ensure taxpayer dollars are not misspent as a consequence of a rushed, blurry-eyed weekend. When the Senate chose to maintain tradition and stay in Jackson for the weekend, White didn’t budge on his belief that budget talks need to begin earlier each session.
“When I was elected Speaker on January 2, 2024, I pledged to my House colleagues and all Mississippians to strive for a more transparent and open budget process. Members would not be expected to meet behind closed doors late on weekend nights to rush out a budget without full vetting and an opportunity to question and scrutinize every tax dollar spent,” White said in a Saturday afternoon statement.
Senate leaders scoffed in disbelief at the seemingly principle-driven decision by White, asserting the speaker’s unwillingness to participate in conference weekend puts state agencies in peril.
“We all took the same oath. We adopted the rules,” Republican Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann told reporters after all budget-related bills died Saturday. “We all agreed to be here. If we can’t set a budget, that means, for Child Protective Services, we have little girls tonight having to stay in hotel rooms. Teachers can’t sign their contracts for their jobs. Highway patrolmen are out
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