Legislature ready for next dance

By Democrat Editorial Board | The Natchez Democrat

Published Saturday, June 21, 2008

Get ready, because another dance is about to begin in Jackson. The names on the dance cards are a bit strange — male names, mostly — and the whirling wizards hail from all corners of Mississippi.

They wear suits and ties and try to look smart as they argue, fuss and fight.

They’ll begrudgingly grab one another’s hand and stomp onto the dance floor, unless your card reads: Haley Barbour.

Next week, after a couple of weeks of stalling, the Mississippi Legislature will reconvene in special session. And the topic du jour is funding Medicaid, an annual favorite.

On one side of the dance floor sits Gov. Haley Barbour who seeks passage of a deal that would fill the $90 million funding gap by reworking hospital taxes. The Mississippi Hospital Association has endorsed the plan.

On the other side sits hardheaded, teenage-like lawmakers who won’t budge on the issue. You see, like teens they don’t like being told they can’t do something.

Lawmakers want a cigarette tax, something that’s not on the agenda of the special session — only the governor can set the agenda.

So next week, both sides will likely continue to dig in their heels and step on each others’ feet as they argue over who will lead the dance.

The problem is their feet aren’t the only ones being trampled.

The feet of the one in four poor Mississippians who are enrolled in Medicaid are get crushed, too.