Mississippi Legislature ends 2025 session without setting a budget over GOP infighting

Apnews - Apr 3rd, 2025

The Mississippi House ended its legislative session without passing a state budget, a situation not seen in 16 years, while the Senate is expected to follow suit. This failure to fund state government has set the stage for a potential shutdown unless Governor Tate Reeves calls a special session before the June 30 deadline. The budget impasse stems from discord between House Speaker Jason White and Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann, both Republicans, who blame each other for the deadlock over a proposed $7 billion budget. The stalemate reflects broader issues within the GOP as both chambers have blocked each other's legislative priorities, including public education reforms and the legalization of mobile sports betting. House Minority Leader Robert Johnson criticized the infighting, urging leaders to prioritize the state's needs over personal disputes.

The failure to pass a budget is compounded by federal uncertainties, with President Trump's administration cutting substantial funding to states like Mississippi, which heavily relies on federal support. As federal grants are being cancelled or frozen, the state faces additional financial strain. The GOP's internal conflict has also impacted other legislative areas, such as the controversial income tax elimination, where the House passed a flawed bill without correcting Senate-introduced errors. The decision to adjourn without a budget reflects deeper issues in legislative processes, with calls to end rushed budgeting practices. The situation marks a significant political challenge for Mississippi, highlighting the potential consequences of governmental discord and fiscal mismanagement.

Government Shutdown Federal Funding Mississippi State Budget Tate Reeves Jason White Delbert Hosemann Gop Infighting Income Tax

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RATING

7.6

Fair Story

Consider it well-founded

The article provides a comprehensive overview of the Mississippi legislative session's failure to pass a budget, highlighting the political dynamics and potential consequences. It scores well in accuracy, timeliness, and public interest due to its detailed reporting and relevance to current events. The article effectively balances different perspectives but could benefit from more diverse viewpoints and independent sources to enhance credibility. While the narrative is clear and engaging, additional context and explanatory content could further improve readability. Overall, the article is a well-rounded piece that informs readers about a significant state issue while maintaining journalistic integrity.

Accuracy

The story accurately reports on the Mississippi House's decision to end the legislative session without passing a budget, a situation that has not occurred in 16 years. It correctly identifies the need for Governor Tate Reeves to call a special session to avoid a government shutdown, and it provides specific figures like the $7 billion state budget and the historical context of the last budget failure in 2009. However, the article could benefit from more precise verification of the federal funding cuts, specifically the $230 million in health grants and $190 million in education funding, and the cost of special sessions. The claim about the income tax legislation errors is also significant and requires verification for accuracy.

Balance

The article presents a balanced view of the situation by including perspectives from multiple stakeholders, such as House Speaker Jason White, Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann, and House Minority Leader Robert Johnson. It highlights the conflict between GOP leaders and provides quotes from both sides, which helps in understanding the political dynamics. However, the article could improve by including more perspectives from non-Republican lawmakers and possibly insights from political analysts to provide a broader context.

Clarity

The article is well-structured and presents information in a logical sequence, making it easy to follow the narrative of the legislative session's failure. The language is clear and concise, with quotes effectively used to illustrate the positions of different stakeholders. While the article is detailed, it could benefit from a clearer distinction between reported facts and opinions, particularly in sections discussing the motivations and actions of political leaders.

Source quality

The article primarily relies on statements from key political figures involved in the legislative process, such as Jason White and Delbert Hosemann, which are credible sources for the information presented. Additionally, the article is attributed to Mississippi Today and distributed through the Associated Press, both reputable organizations. However, the inclusion of more independent sources or expert opinions could enhance the credibility and depth of the reporting.

Transparency

The article provides a clear narrative of the events leading to the legislative impasse and the potential consequences of not passing a budget. It discloses the political affiliations of the key figures involved and offers some context about the ongoing federal funding issues. However, the article could be more transparent about the methodology for gathering information and any potential conflicts of interest, particularly in how it presents the perspectives of different political leaders.