Mississippi tax cut bills stall despite GOP leaders’ push

By MICHAEL GOLDBERG and EMILY WAGSTER PETTUS
Associated Press

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) – Tax relief proposals favored by Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves and Republican legislative leaders have stalled.

This is despite Republicans holding a supermajority in the state House and Senate. Wednesday was the deadline for the first action on bills dealing with budgets and taxes.

Mississippi enacted a large income tax cut last year. House Speaker Phillip Gunn has pushed to finish eliminating that tax.

House Ways and Means Chairman Trey Lamar says some lawmakers are concerned about another income tax cut this election year.

The House Democratic leader, Rep. Robert Johnson, says Mississippi can’t afford to cut taxes when it has big needs in health and education.