Budgets for many Miss. programs still unresolved

Published 12:22 am Tuesday, June 16, 2009

House and Senate negotiators met briefly Monday without resolving any fiscal issues still in dispute, including Medicaid.

The negotiations were to resume later Monday at the state Capitol.

Lawmakers have agreed on education spending for the fiscal year that begins July 1, but little else.

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House Appropriations Chairman Johnny Stringer says lawmaker still have to make decisions on programs ranging from health care to the Highway Patrol.

Medicaid remains a sticking point. Gov. Haley Barbour has said he would veto anything less than a $90 million hospital tax to help pay for the health care program. House Speaker Billy McCoy has said he doesn’t want to go above $57 million.