Jackson Free Press

The House, formerly at war with the governor's office and the Senate over the state's Medicaid funding shortfall, is looking to build bridges before the special session continues this month. House Speaker Billy McCoy asked Gov. Haley Barbour and Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant today to agree to arrange a meeting to deal with the Medicaid deficit.

"When we recessed on June 4, it was the position of the House leadership to continue to explore a compromise that could pass both the House and the Senate," McCoy said. "To date, I have heard nothing from any of the other parties. Therefore, I am taking this initiative to request that designated representatives from the three branches meet at their earliest convenience. I certainly think this could be accomplished by a week from today, June 19. Further, I suggest we meet in the governor's office."

Barbour spokesman Pete Smith said the governor received McCoy's letter this morning and "within minutes was on the phone to the speaker's office, saying he will be happy to meet" with him regarding "resolving the Medicaid funding problem."

The House parted ways with the Senate and the governor regarding filling the state's Medicaid shortfall during the 2008 regular session. The House wants to plug the hole with a tobacco tax, but former tobacco lobbyist Barbour has threatened to cut state funding from hospitals if the House does not endorse a plan that will probably tax hospital patients.