House Speaker proposes referendum to determine Medicaid expansion

The back and forth between the Houses of the Mississippi state legislature regarding Medicaid expansion continues with proposal and response from the leadership of the House and the Senate.

Wednesday, House Speaker Jason White announced the latest proposal would be put the issue to a referendum vote of Mississippians on the issue.

White issued this statement saying he was giving state Senators a new proposal.

If approved, a referendum on Medicaid expansion in Mississippi would the first in the state in four years, when the new state flag was being determined.

The voters would determine in the referendum if Medicaid in the state should be expanded, and if a work requirement should be included. That has been one contention Senate leadership has maintained in non-negotiable for them.

White’s proposal is not getting a good reception from Senate leadership, as indicated by a response issued by Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann later Wednesday evening.

Gov. Tate Reeves has been adamant in his opposition to the expansion of Medicaid in Mississippi.