Last Wednesday, the Mississippi Legislature passed a bill that will provide $300 million to the state�s small businesses.
A week later, one would think some of that money would have been disbursed by now, but it hasn�t. The problem? Governor Tate Reeves has not yet signed off on the bill.
�I guess the most socially acceptable word to use today is disappointing,� Lieutenant Governor Delbert Hosemann said. �We should not be fooling with this right now.�
Reeves has until 11:59 tonight to either sign or veto the bill, and Hosemann has �no idea� what the governor is going to do. Earlier this week, Reeves said that the overall theme of the bill is equitable, but his team is still analyzing the bill as �the devil is in the details.�
Say Reeves does decide to veto the bill, the legislature will reconvene tomorrow, rather than Tuesday.
�If he either signs the bill or he doesn�t sign the bill, we won�t come back, but if he vetoes the bill, you should anticipate we will all be back in the capitol tomorrow,� Hosemann said.
Hosemann finds it baffling that Reeves is waiting so long.
�I don�t know what the reasons are,� Hosemann said. �The National Association of Legislators has asked for our legislation to be used for other states� It�s very good legislation. I don�t know why we are sitting here today without mailing checks.�
The bill passed through both the House of Representatives, 116-1, and the Senate, 42-2, with flying colors.
�The will of the people was clear about this bill.� Hosemann said. �A week later, we don�t have any money for small businesses. I am very frustrated with that. I�ll be honest about it.�
Listen to Hosemann�s full interview using the video below.
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