It’s the law. It is the law. It’s the law,” House Speaker Philip Gunn stated. “We can engage with name calling and in slanderous remarks, but the main point is what the law says. We are trying to adhere to the constitution.” Reeves for his part put it down to politics and claimed some House members were “trying to take a pound from me” for political reasons. The governor claimed victory over lawmakers who approved the teacher bonus plan, whose absence had caused his veto. Reeves stated that “if individual House members want punch me in my face, or stab myself in the back, that is fine so long as teachers receive that money.” Gunn and House Pro Tem Jason White are still facing a lawsuit over Reeves’ partial-vetoes of Reeves’ education budget and items in a measure that funds federal coronavirus relief money to health care providers. The House veto override vote was 110-6. The Senate voted 41-1. To override a governor’s veto, a two-thirds majority must be present. Although there were six no votes in the House, none of them opposed the override. It was completed quickly after lawmakers reconvened. Negotiations took longer in the Senate. The vote was finally reached on Monday evening, after a lengthy delay. In his first year as governor Reeves stated that he had issued a partial veto to the education budget due to the fact that the bill didn’t fund the School Recognition Program which awards bonuses for teachers who teach in the best performing or improving schools. The bonuses are expected to be awarded to approximately 23,000 teachers. According to legislative leaders, the inability to fund the program was due to oversight. This could be rectified at a later time without the governor having vetoed the legislation. Reeves stated that he believes the veto was necessary in order to ensure teachers receive their funds. On Monday night, lawmakers also passed a separate bill to fund the School Recognition Program. $28 million will be taken from the capital projects fund to pay for the bill. Reeves’ partial veto over the education budget put into question the flow to all state funds, more than $2.2billion, to local school districts. Reeves relied on an opinion by former Attorney General Jim Hood that he was authorized to transfer state funds to local school districts without a legislative appropriation. According to the official opinion, the state Constitution requires that local school districts be funded regardless of whether a legislative appropriation is available. Gunn stated that the recent battles between the Legislature and Reeves have come down to one thing: “The Governor cannot spend dollars.” Gunn added, “That is the prerogative the Legislature.” “This has been the law for 200 year, it’s in every state and it is in Congress. The Legislature authorizes and the governor manages.” July 1 marked the beginning of the new fiscal year. Reeves wrote to the state fiscal office on July 13 authorizing the use of funds to fund the basic operation and maintenance of local school districts via the Mississippi Adequate Education program. This was based upon the amount appropriated by the 2019 Legislature. Richard Bennett, R-Long Beach House Education Chair, pointed out that Reeves executive action left many programs unfunded, such as teacher supply funds. Bennett stated that it was crucial for teachers to be able to access the $12 million supply funds, as many are struggling to start school during the COVID-19 epidemic. The override of Reeves partial veto was initiated by Republicans, but Senator Democratic Leader Derrick Simmons Greenville supported the effort. Reeves was the former presidency officer of the Senate in his time as lieutenant governor. He understood that lawmakers could handle the School Recognition Program through a deficit appropriation in 2021 session. The governor didn’t have to issue a veto. Simmons stated that “our school districts were really worried about how they would get funded.” Rep. Dana Criswell (R-Olive Branch), one of seven people who voted no on the veto override said that she agreed with the governor. Criswell stated that funds being given to local school districts were increasing while other agencies were being reduced during the economic slowdown caused by the pandemic. Criswell argued that the $28 million to School Recognition Program should be taken from existing funds and not additional money. Normal regular session legislators depend on the governor calling them back to address a veto. However, the governor refused to call them back. He claimed that multiple legislators had tested positive for coronavirus shortly after the session ended on July 1, and that he was concerned about another outbreak if they returned to Jackson. Thomas Dobbs, the state health officer, confirmed Monday that 49 out of 174 legislators tested positive for coronavirus during July and August. The two-thirds vote in June allowed legislators to return Monday to address COVID-19 issues. On Monday, lawmakers also extended a program that they had passed earlier to grant grants to small businesses affected by the coronavirus. The veto was also upheld by legislators while they were in session to address coronavirus issues. Monday’s session took place against the backdrop Gunn and White suing Reeves, claiming that the partial vetoes to the education bill as well as a bill providing grants to hospitals and health care providers in order to combat the coronavirus were illegal. The partial veto of a bill relating to health care providers was not taken up by legislators. Reeves’ partial vote against that bill will be a matter of legal action. Also, the Legislature did not veto bills that would have allowed the Parole Board more authority to release prisoners. Most legislators were dressed in masks Monday, which was a departure from the late June practice of physical distancing. The lawmakers adjourned Monday night to Tuesday morning. They are still negotiating over a bill that would fund the Department of Marine Resources. The fight over control of millions of Gulf restoration funds that the state receives annually by Reeves prompted lawmakers to leave July without funding the agency. To support this important work, you can make a regular donation to us today as part of the Spring Member Drive.