Byrd, the unassuming chair of County Affairs Committee, said that he had suffered a stroke and was surprised by the House speaker’s attendance. Gunn was still struggling to breathe after running up four flights Capitol stairs following another meeting. He removed his mask and delivered the charge to the various House committees that met throughout the building. This charge was to find efficient and rapid ways to distribute $1.25 Billion in federal funds to people and entities affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Governor had been fighting legislative leaders. Tate Reeves was fighting with Gov. Reeves stated that legislators stuck in a complicated process involving 174 members would not be able efficiently appropriate funds in a timely fashion to those who are in greatest need. Legislators worked last week to pass a $300 million grant program and funds for small businesses that were affected by the coronavirus. Although it took more than a week for the small business package to be passed, it was still quite impressive considering how fast the legislative process usually operates. Last week, it was not uncommon to see both the Lt. Governor and Delbert Hosemann as presiding officers. Delbert Hosemann, Gunn – at committee meetings. Hosemann was a regular attendee in committee meetings during his first year as lieutenant governor. However, the speaker rarely or never participates in committee meetings. This is because of the $1.25 million in federal funds that legislators had to distribute. It is reasonable to suppose that Hosemann and Reeves worked together to stop Reeves’s unilateral appropriation of the funds. This would suggest that they felt some pressure and motivation to demonstrate their ability to deliver the funds efficiently. Hosemann stated that he was motivated by Mississippi’s needs and nothing else when he was asked if he felt pressure. This is especially true considering the contentious fight for the funds. Hosemann stated that it was soon clear that the state would be receiving those funds, even though Reeves had not declared his sole authority to do so. He said that legislative leaders started discussing where the money could go the greatest good. Gunn said that “we recognized the urgency” and called small businesses the backbone of the state’s economy. Trey Lamar (R-Senatobia), House Ways and Means chair, provided perhaps more insight. He was one of the key negotiators for the small business program. On Mississippi Today’s “The Other Side”, he stated that he doesn’t know much about pressure. He was speaking only for himself and said, “I don’t know anything about pressure…about how to motivate me. I am just speaking for myself . It is to tell me that I can’t do it.” “When the governor said that the Legislature was incapable of spending, appropriating funds in an efficient way where we could do good and get them to people who need them fast, I made it a personal mission to make sure that that happens. This is not something I do alone. The leadership of the speaker and the lieutenant Governor… We sat down, man, and we went to work. I believe the result is something we all can be proud of.” It will be revealed in the coming days and week whether the Legislature was successful in creating the program. Reeves has been a fan of the legislation for small businesses, but he hadn’t yet signed it into law as of Monday afternoon. It is unclear when the funds will be available. However, it has been speculated that $2,000 checks could be sent by the Department of Revenue to small businesses who were forced to close due to the coronavirus. Legislators are only beginning to make efficient use of the funds. The fund has more than $900 millions left to cover coronavirus-related expenses. The funds received from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Security Act are available to states until December 31, or they will be returned to the federal government. The funds should be spent to assist counties and cities that are most in need. Legislators have spoken out about this. While they want to increase distance learning opportunities, legislators realize that $1 billion won’t solve all Mississippi’s rural broadband problems. Hospitals have had to cope with the rising costs of the pandemic, as well as the fact that other procedures for medical treatment have been delayed to address the coronavirus. They have been identified as potential beneficiaries. Reeves stated that he believes some funds should be used to provide training opportunities for the approximately 50,0000 Mississippians who lost their jobs due to the economic slowdown. Reeves also suggested that some funds be used to rebuild the state’s unemployment trust fund. Chair of Legislative Black Caucus Sen. Angela Turner Ford, D-West Point, stated that a significant portion of the funds, approximately $450 million, should be used to support the black community, as African Americans are disproportionately affected by the crisis. The Black Caucus proposed programs for the state’s predominantly African American colleges, universities and schools, programs to improve the health outcomes of the black community, and additional pay for workers who were put at risk by the pandemic. Turner-Ford stated that the corona pandemic highlighted the many public health, socioeconomic and education disparities which have long been affecting the African American community. He sent a comment to media outlets. “The Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus asks the Mississippi Legislature make conscious and deliberate attempts to address known obstacles to opportunities and progress for the African American community.” The debate on the expenditure of the funds will continue in the coming days. And maybe the pressure on the Legislature’s leadership will increase._x000D