SUMMARY: Mississippi lawmakers did not agree on a Medicaid expansion plan during their session. Governor Tate Reeves, who opposes such expansions, celebrated the halt as a victory on social media, deeming it an “Obamacare Medicaid Expansion scheme.” The Senate's only vote on the issue showed more favor than opposition among Republicans but was not enough to override a veto. Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann pointed out that the House and Senate supported expansion but clashed over work requirements. Hosemann believes CMS may accept a work requirement in the future. Current costs would be largely federally covered, with Mississippi benefiting financially. Mississippi remains one of the few states without Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act, and rural hospitals are advocating for it to alleviate costs from uninsured patients.

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SUMMARY: Mississippi's unemployment rate has hit a historic low at 2.8%, announced by Governor Tate Reeves. This drop is attributed to advances in education, including a top-five ranking for pre-K quality and record-high high school graduation rates. Significant private investments, including a $10 billion project by Amazon Web Services and a $1.9 million EV battery plant, are also key contributors. These developments have resulted in thousands of new jobs, reinforcing Reeves' message that anyone seeking work in Mississippi can find a job. The downward unemployment trend began in March 2023 and has persisted into 2024.

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SUMMARY: Mississippi lawmakers have passed a bill authorizing up to $95 million in bonds to construct a new state-owned liquor warehouse. The facility will store alcoholic beverages before distribution to retailers in the state, which controls liquor sales at the wholesale level. The current warehouse in Gluckstadt is outdated, causing distribution delays and shortages for retailers, including restaurants and package stores. To fund the new warehouse, a $1.50 bailment fee will be charged on each case of liquor. Despite $119.7 million in revenue from 2023 liquor sales, there's debate about whether Mississippi should remain in the distribution business. The construction contract must be finalized by October 1.

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