Mississippi leaders clash over spending virus relief money

By EMILY WAGSTER PETTUS

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) – Mississippi’s top elected officials are arguing over who has the power to spend coronavirus response money. The federal government is sending Mississippi more than a billion dollars as part of a massive relief package.

Republican leaders of the state House and Senate say the Mississippi Constitution gives spending decisions to the Legislature. But, Republican Gov. Tate Reeves says a state law that’s been in place for decades gives the governor some spending authority during emergencies.

The state Health Department says Mississippi has more than 6,800 confirmed cases of the coronavirus and at least 261 deaths from it.