Hood, Reeves have differing views of 2018 session

March 31--JACKSON -- Attorney General Jim Hood, the only statewide elected Democrat, said too much emphasis was placed on helping large corporations instead of average Mississippians during the 2018 session, which ended Wednesday.

And Hood, viewed as a possible gubernatorial candidate in 2019, placed the blame for focusing on large corporations instead of average people on Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves, viewed as the leading Republican candidate for governor.

In an emailed response to a question on his thoughts about the 2018 session, Hood, who is in his fourth term as attorney general, said, "Unfortunately for the taxpayers of Mississippi, the Senate leadership was bought and paid for this legislative session by giant corporations with little interest in the well-being of our citizens."

Hood said Reeves, who presides over the Senate, had received campaign donations totaling $193,750 from companies receiving contracts totaling nearly $3 billion to operate managed care companies overseeing the health care of Medicaid recipients. The companies are paid a set amount of money for each Medicaid recipient they cover.

Efforts were made during the 2018 session to designate some of the Medicaid managed care business for a company formed by Mississippi hospitals. But that proposal was killed in the Senate where leaders said they opposed such "sole source contracts."

Hood also criticized the Legislature for not reaching agreement on a plan to provide additional funds for transportation and for not considering an expansion of Medicaid to provide health insurance for the working poor as is allowed under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

"In three short paragraphs, Jim Hood managed to offer his support for raising gas taxes, raising internet taxes, raising sales taxes, and raising income taxes for every Mississippian," said Laura Hipp, spokeswoman for Reeves. "Hood also evidently supports sole-source, no-bid contracts."

Hipp added, "Hood's support of Obamacare (Medicaid) expansion is the one policy that could hamper Republicans successful fiscal policy of balanced budgets, larger rainy day fund, and less debt for our taxpayers."

Hood, a Chickasaw County resident, said, "Instead of passing legislation to help our in-state businesses and our people, our Senate leadership is moving forward with massive tax cuts for predominantly out-of-state corporations. All of this continues to lead our state down a path of financial ruin."

Reeves accused Hood of accepting "millions from his trial lawyer friends" and of spending it "for personal expenses."

Hood also criticized the Legislature for passing legislation that would require for the Public Service Commission to sign off on lawsuits filed by the attorney general against public utilities.

Hood said the bill was designed to impact his long-running lawsuit against Entergy, which provides electricity to much of Mississippi. The lawsuit alleges that Entergy overcharged its customers for electricity by using power from its generators instead of acquiring electricity from the cheapest source as is mandated by laws and regulations.

Hood has said the bill, which was signed into law by Gov. Phil Bryant, is unconstitutional. The Entergy trial is slated to begin Nov. 8 after nine years of litigation.

bobby.harrison@journalinc.com Twitter: @bobbyharrison9

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