MHA's Executive Briefing

Governor-Elect Phil Bryant Annouces Policy Committees

Governor-elect Phil Bryant announced recently the creation of 11 policy committees to provide input on the key issues facing Mississippi, and to assist in building core policy agenda items for the upcoming legislative session in January. Dr. Randy Easterling will chair the health care committee.

Read more from the Mississippi Economic Council here.

Barbour files campaign finance report early

On Jan. 17, Gov. Haley Barbour released his campaign finance report for 2006 early showing that he had raised $3.7 million for the year and had cash on hand of $3.5 million.

Barbour has yet to officially kick off his re-election bid, but has said he expects to spend in his re-election effort this year about the same amount he spent in 2003. (In 2003, Barbour spent about $13 million in defeating Democratic incumbent Ronnie Musgrove.)

[ via Bobby Harrison, The Daily Journal ]

Barbour's state of the state tonight

Gov. Haley Barbour will deliver his state of the state address at 6 p.m. tonight in Jackson at 6 p.m.

The address will be aired on Mississippi Public Broadcasting television and radio stations.

The governor will speak from the state capitol in Jackson.

Barbour unveils budget plans

Gov. Barbour recently announced his fiscal year budget plans for 2008. State law requires governors to submit an Executive Budget Recommendation to the Legislature by November 15 of each year. His office has posted online:

• a summary of the budget
• his letter to the legislature
• executive budget fiscal recommendations for 2008

Barbour: No run for president

Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour said Feb. 7 he will not run for president in 2008, ending months of political gossip that had the one-term Republican governor and former lobbyist as a potential candidate for the White House.

For the full story from The Clarion-Ledger, click here.

State of the State

Gov. Haley Barbour will deliver his third State of the State address at 6 p.m. Jan. 10 in the state House chambers at the Capitol.

Barbour will report on the state's progress the last two years, his assessment of current issues and the continuing recovery and rebuilding efforts from Hurricane Katrina.

He also will discuss his legislative agenda for 2006. The speech will be broadcast live on public radio and at 10 p.m. on television by Mississippi Public Broadcasting.

Barbour: Katrina clouds budget

Gov. Haley Barbour says his proposed budget for the coming year is full of uncertainties because of Hurricane Katrina.

The $4.7 billion spending plan is for the year that starts next July 1. Barbour submitted it to lawmakers on Nov. 15.

By law, the governor has to submit a budget to lawmakers. The 14-member Joint Legislative Budget Committee will release a separate budget blueprint in early December.

For the full story from The Hattiesburg American, click here.

Barbour appointed to chair NGA's Health & Human Services Committee

Gov. Haley Barbour will play a key role in Medicaid reform nationwide. He was named the 2005-2006 chairman of the National Governors Association's Health and Human Services Committee.

Medicaid and CHIP are among the top issues for his committee in the coming year. Barbour, who previously served as vice chairman, was selected at the NGA annual meeting in Des Moines, Iowa.

“Unfortunately, there are over 45 million people lacking effective health insurance in the United States today and for many who do have insurance, the quality of their health care needs to be improved,” Governor Barbour said. “Our meeting in Des Moines allowed governors to discuss this important issue and map out potential solutions.”

Governor Barbour and Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm also serve as members of Medicaid Reform Working Group. These two governors along with the nine-member NGA Executive Committee comprise this group.