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Statement of Governor Haley Barbour on Medicaid Funding Issue
From: Office of the Governor Filed 5/30/08 GCN
“For the past two days, the
House leadership has wasted taxpayer money by holding unconstitutional
votes on raising cigarette taxes to fund Medicaid. Each time, the measure
has failed. Now, instead of taking up the fair and reasonable solution to
fully fund Medicaid passed by the Senate by a vote of 41 to 7 with the
supporting majority of both Democrats and Republicans, the House has voted
to use $90 million in one-time money to pay for the recurring expenses of
Medicaid.
The purpose of this Special
Session is to enact a permanent, sustainable solution for Medicaid
funding. The nearly 600,000 Mississippians who depend on Medicaid don’t
need a one year band-aid, but that’s what the House leadership has given
them. Our hospitals, other healthcare providers, and most vulnerable
citizens deserve better.”
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