Haley Barbour: My way or the poor people get it

Refusing to budge an inch on his insistence of raising hospital taxes, and more noticeably in his resistance to increase tobacco taxes, Haley Barbour is threatening to cut Medicaid by $375 million if the House does not capitulate to his demands. Speaker Billy McCoy has already brought compromise to the table, but the governor stands firm in his defense of big tobacco. So much for the sick, poor, elderly, and disabled on Medicaid, if Haley does not get his way you are out of luck. He would rather cut your benefits than raise taxes on tobacco.

The Commercial Dispatch had this to say,

The state Legislature resumes its special session Thursday to try resolving a Medicaid-funding stalemate that Republican Gov. Haley Barbour says will force him to make painful health care budget cuts next week if the Democratic-dominated House doesn’t agree to his demand for a hospital tax.Barbour and Senate President Phil Bryant say the compromise-seeking House must pass the Republican-led Senate’s tax bill or else see hospitals lose $375 million in Medicaid payments.

Spineless Phil Bryant, who should show his independence from the governor's office and get a solution passed, has proven to be another Barbour clone.

“I will not compromise the bill the Senate has passed for political purposes,” said Bryant, who’s also lieutenant governor and Barbour’s chief ally.

If the governor and his lackey don't get their way, the poor people of Mississippi are going to suffer.