Legislature approves rainy day spending

State lawmakers give Governor Phil Bryant permission to withdraw another $50 million from the rainy day fund to cover deficits in the budget year that ends June 30th.
This after Bryant made another round of cuts on Friday, bringing the total cuts to $171 million this fiscal year. The legislature’s move to shore up this year’s budget comes as House and Senate leaders remain at a standoff over parts of next year’s budget.
A special session will likely be needed to approve spending plans for the Mississippi Department of Transportation, Attorney General Jim Hood’s office, and education before the 2018 budget year begins July 1st.