Republican-led Mississippi Legislature begins 4-year term with new leadership in the House

1 of 15 |

Jolynn McLellan White, second from right, holds the Bible as her husband, Rep. Jason White, R-West, left, recites the oath of office as House Speaker for the Mississippi House of Representatives, delivered to him by Rep. Trey Lamar, R-Senatobia in the Mississippi State Capitol in Jackson, Miss., Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024. Both chambers of lawmakers were sworn into the new four-year term that began at noon Tuesday. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

2 of 15 |

Casper Rhodes, 6, struggles to hold up the family’s Bible as his father state Sen. Brian Rhodes, R-Pelahatchie, places his hand on the book and recites the oath of office during the swearing in ceremony in the Senate Chamber at the Mississippi State Capitol in Jackson, Miss., Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024. Both chambers of lawmakers were sworn into the new four-year term that began at noon Tuesday. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

3 of 15 |

Sen. Robert Jackson Jr., D-Marks, center, and Sen. Daniel Sparks, R-Belmont, left, recite the oath of office during the swearing-in ceremony in the Senate Chamber at the Mississippi State Capitol in Jackson, Miss., Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024. Both chambers of lawmakers were sworn into the new four-year term that began at noon Tuesday. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

4 of 15 |

A full House of Representatives Chamber listen as the nominations for Speaker of the House are underway at the Mississippi State Capitol in Jackson, Miss., Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024. Both chambers of lawmakers were sworn into the new four-year term that began at noon Tuesday. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

5 of 15 |

Leah Burch, left, reacts at taking a cell photograph of her brother-in-law, Rep. Elliot Burch, R-Lucedale, center of cell phone, as a newly sworn into office member of the Mississippi House of Representatives during the swearing in ceremony at the Mississippi State Capitol in Jackson, Miss., Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024. Both chambers of lawmakers were sworn into the new four-year term that began at noon Tuesday. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

6 of 15 |

State Rep. Kimberly Remak R-DeSoto County, places her left hand on her family Bible as she recites the oath of office during a swearing-in ceremony at the Mississippi State Capitol in Jackson, Miss., Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024. Both chambers of lawmakers were sworn into the new four-year term that began at noon Tuesday. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

7 of 15 |

Reps. William Tracy Arnold, R-Booneville, right, and Kimberly Remak, R-DeSoto County, recite the oath of office during the swearing-in ceremony at the Mississippi State Capitol in Jackson, Miss., Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024. Both chambers of lawmakers were sworn into the new four-year term that began at noon Tuesday. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

8 of 15 |

Rep. Lester Carpenter, R-Burnsville, rests his left hand on the family Bible while held by his wife, Niesha Butler Carpenter, as he recites the oath of office during the swearing in ceremony at the Mississippi State Capitol in Jackson, Miss., Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024. Both chambers of lawmakers were sworn into the new four-year term that began at noon Tuesday. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

9 of 15 |

Senate pages receive direction on the office and committee room layout in the Mississippi State Capitol in Jackson, Miss., Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024. Final preparations and staff placement is underway as the start of the new term begins at noon Tuesday. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

10 of 15 |

State Rep. Jason White, R-West, recites the oath of office for House Speaker for the Mississippi House of Representatives in the Mississippi State Capitol in Jackson, Miss., Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024. Both chambers of lawmakers were sworn into the new four-year term that began at noon Tuesday. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

11 of 15 |

Mississippi state Sen. John Polk, R-Hattiesburg, reads the chamber agenda prior to lawmakers being sworn-in to office at the Mississippi State Capitol in Jackson, Miss., Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024. Both chambers of the Mississippi Legislature were sworn into the new four-year term that began at noon Tuesday. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

12 of 15 |

Mississippi Speaker Pro Tempore of the House of Representatives Jason White, R-West, looks over the House chamber at the Mississippi Capitol in Jackson, Miss., Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023. White is expected to be elected the next Speaker of the Mississippi House when the new term starts Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

13 of 15 |

Mississippi Speaker of the House of Representatives Philip Gunn, R-Clinton, removes some legislative position posters he accumulated over his 12-year tenure at the helm of the House of Representatives at the Mississippi Capitol in Jackson, Miss., Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023. Gunn who did not run for reelection in November spent part of the afternoon clearing out his Capitol office. The new term starts Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

14 of 15 |

A letter from the outgoing Mississippi Speaker of the House of Representatives Philip Gunn, R-Clinton, to current Speaker Pro Tempore Jason White, R-West, is taped to the wall in the speaker’s office at the Mississippi State Capitol in Jackson, Miss., Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023. White is expected to be elected the new speaker. Gunn, who did not run for reelection, spent part of the day removing personal items that he accumulated during his 12-year tenure at the helm of the House of Representatives. The new term starts Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

15 of 15 |

By EMILY WAGSTER PETTUS

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — The Republican-controlled Mississippi Legislature began its annual session Tuesday, as all members were sworn in for a four-year term and the House chose new leaders after the previous speaker chose not to seek reelection.

Rep. Jason White of West secured promises of support from his Republican colleagues weeks ago to become the next House speaker, and he was elected Tuesday with bipartisan support. He succeeds Republican Philip Gunn of Clinton, who held the leadership post for the past 12 years.

Addressing the House moments after taking his oath as speaker, White urged Republicans and Democrats to treat each other with dignity and respect.

“Let’s not focus on small things simply for the sake of scoring political points,” White said. “Let’s drill down to the big things. Let’s make this time count.”

White was speaker pro tempore under Gunn, the second-highest leadership post in the 122-member House. Republican Rep. Manly Barton of Moss Point will be the new speaker pro tem. In that role, he will be a close adviser to White and will preside over the House when White is away.

Republican Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann returns for his second term presiding over the 52-member Senate. He and six other statewide officials will be inaugurated Thursday.

Not PARSE.LY: Mississippi

Mississippi Senate advances its tax overhaul. Debate centers on who the proposal would help

Mississippi Legislature not a ‘public body’ and not subject to Open Meetings Act, judge rules

Hinds County Chancery Judge Crystal Wise Martin listens to lawyer Rob McDuff, an attorney for Parents For Public Schools, during a hearing in Jackson, Miss., Aug. 23, 2022. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)

A Mississippi judge ordered a newspaper to remove an editorial. Press advocates are outraged

Republican Gov. Tate Reeves will be inaugurated Jan. 9, beginning his second term in that job after previously serving as state treasurer and lieutenant governor.

Reeves is pushing legislators to eliminate the state income tax, saying that will help Mississippi compete with Florida and Texas, which don’t tax personal income. In 2022, legislators and Reeves enacted Mississippi’s largest-ever tax cut, which reduces the income tax over four years beginning in 2023.

Hosemann said legislators could consider another income tax cut or a reduction in the 7% grocery tax, depending on how the economy is faring. Any income tax reduction would continue to be phased in rather than happening suddenly, he said.

“We may well get to the elimination of the income tax, probably at the rate we’re going faster than they proposed last time, by doing it in a cogent, fiscally responsible way versus some political statement,” Hosemann said last month.

Conservative groups are pushing “school choice” plans, which could allow parents to send their children to other public schools outside their attendance zone if those schools accept the students, or could allow public money to go toward private schools or homeschooling.

Legislators could consider reviving a way for people to petition to put issues on the statewide ballot. In 2021, the Mississippi Supreme Court ruled that the state’s initiative process was invalid because it required people to gather signatures from five outdated congressional districts rather than the four current districts.

For the first time, they could also give serious consideration to expanding Medicaid to people who work in jobs that provide modest wages and no health insurance.

Medicaid expansion is an option under the health care overhaul signed into law in 2010 by then-President Barack Obama. Mississippi is one of 10 states that have not taken the option, with Reeves calling Medicaid “welfare.” Gunn also opposed expansion.

The new House speaker said he wants legislators to get a firm idea of how many people could become eligible for Medicaid coverage if it’s expanded. White also said he wants to talk to business leaders about whether they could cover part of the state’s cost.

“It’s got to be something we can afford and that makes sense,” White told The Associated Press last week. “We are one of the poor states, if not the poorest. It’s foolish for us to not figure out a way to make this work.”

EMILY WAGSTER PETTUS

this is the bio of the Author of this article Short