Rep. George Flaggs has put forth House Concurrent Resolution 68, which calls for the both the Senate and House to suspend deadline rules to consider HB 1013. The Medicaid Technical Amendment bill, which contained a $1 cigarette tax increase, died in the senate when it was not brought up for consideration by Senator Hob Bryant, chair the Senate Public Health & Welfare and Senator Dean Kirby, Chair Senate Finance Committee before the March 18 deadline.
HC 68 urges the House and Senate to take up HB 1013 now and address the funding problem of a program that provides health coverage to a fifth of Mississippi's residents. Passage of the resolution to suspend the rules requires a 2/3rds vote.
HC 68 may be brought up by the full House of Representatives next week. Urge your representative and your senator to vote for the rules suspension so that the members of legislative both bodies are allowed to vote on this important issue.
You may remember that in last year's legislative session, an attempt in the state senate to suspend the rules to bring up legislation that would increase the cigarette tax by $1 fell a few votes short. A rule's suspension was needed after former Senator Finance Committee Chairman Tommy Robertson-at the urging of the governor- refused to allow the bill to be considered in committee. Robertson and several other senators who voted against the rules suspension are no longer in the senate. Robertson failed to be re-elected-due in large part to cigarette tax issue.
A $1 cigarette tax increase is a win, win for Mississippi. It would save lives and save money by leading to a reduction in youth smoking while supplying the state with a dedicated source to fund Medicaid.
Contact your Representative or Senator @ (601) 359-3770
Friday, March 28, 2008
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
HC 68
Rep. George Flaggs has put forth House Concurrent Resolution 68. The resolution calls for the both the Senate and House to suspend the rules to consider HB 1013.
HB 1013 died in the senate when it was not brought up for consideration by the chairman of the Senate Public Health & Welfare and Finance Committees.
HB 1013 died in the senate when it was not brought up for consideration by the chairman of the Senate Public Health & Welfare and Finance Committees.
Friday, March 14, 2008
CALL THE CHAIRMEN
TAKE ACTION THIS WEEKEND!!!
Tell Chairmen Hob Bryan and Dean Kirby to let your senator vote on
Tell Chairmen Hob Bryan and Dean Kirby to let your senator vote on
HB 1013
CALL PUBLIC HEALTH & WELFARE CHAIR
HOB BRYAN @ (662) 256-9989
CALL FINANCE CHAIR
DEAN KIRBY @ (601) 932-1966
Thank you for your calls to the Lt. Governor and your support of a $1 cigarette tax increase. Your calls to Phil Bryant are having an impact on the status of HB 1013. It is vital that these two chairmen here from you on the importance of your senator being allowed to vote on HB 1013.
HB 1013 is the Medicaid technical amendment bill. The $1 cigarette tax increase in the bill would provide a dedicated source of funding for Mississippi's Division of Medicaid. The secure funding source- the cigarette tax increase-is much needed as the program is faced with a grave deficit. Without review of the legislation, thousands of children and elderly could loose their health insurance.
Over 630,000 of Mississippi's most vulnerable, the elderly and children, are at risk of loosing their health coverage if an agreement is not reached on Medicaid. The only viable option for a dedicated source of revenue to support Medicaid is the $1 cigarette tax increase. Medicaid and the cigarette tax must be addressed this session before legislators go home. Health care is too important to be loss in the game of politics!
CALL PUBLIC HEALTH & WELFARE CHAIR
HOB BRYAN @ (662) 256-9989
CALL FINANCE CHAIR
DEAN KIRBY @ (601) 932-1966
Thank you for your calls to the Lt. Governor and your support of a $1 cigarette tax increase. Your calls to Phil Bryant are having an impact on the status of HB 1013. It is vital that these two chairmen here from you on the importance of your senator being allowed to vote on HB 1013.
HB 1013 is the Medicaid technical amendment bill. The $1 cigarette tax increase in the bill would provide a dedicated source of funding for Mississippi's Division of Medicaid. The secure funding source- the cigarette tax increase-is much needed as the program is faced with a grave deficit. Without review of the legislation, thousands of children and elderly could loose their health insurance.
Over 630,000 of Mississippi's most vulnerable, the elderly and children, are at risk of loosing their health coverage if an agreement is not reached on Medicaid. The only viable option for a dedicated source of revenue to support Medicaid is the $1 cigarette tax increase. Medicaid and the cigarette tax must be addressed this session before legislators go home. Health care is too important to be loss in the game of politics!
H.B. 1013 is currently before the Senate Public Health & Welfare and Finance Committees.
Call Bryan and Kirby and tell them to LET YOUR SENATOR VOTE!!!
Senate chairmen should allow all senators to vote on a $1 cigarette tax increase and show their constituents how they stand on this important issue. The $1 cigarette tax increase would generate $174 million in new revenue while preventing thousands of kids from ever becoming smokers.
All senators should be given an opportunity to let their constituents know how they stand on this important issue. Committee chairmen should not make this decision in isolation. Chairmen should not pocket veto this bill by prohibiting their committee from voting. A vote by Senate committees is necessary and important to ensure that the democratic process works.
Tell Bryan and Kirby to LET YOUR SENATOR VOTE!
CALL THIS WEEKEND
HOB BRYAN @ (662) 256-9989
DEAN KIRBY @ (601) 932-1966
Call Bryan and Kirby and tell them to LET YOUR SENATOR VOTE!!!
Senate chairmen should allow all senators to vote on a $1 cigarette tax increase and show their constituents how they stand on this important issue. The $1 cigarette tax increase would generate $174 million in new revenue while preventing thousands of kids from ever becoming smokers.
All senators should be given an opportunity to let their constituents know how they stand on this important issue. Committee chairmen should not make this decision in isolation. Chairmen should not pocket veto this bill by prohibiting their committee from voting. A vote by Senate committees is necessary and important to ensure that the democratic process works.
Tell Bryan and Kirby to LET YOUR SENATOR VOTE!
CALL THIS WEEKEND
HOB BRYAN @ (662) 256-9989
DEAN KIRBY @ (601) 932-1966
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