The state’s total budget includes federal funds is $19.23 trillion. The Legislature appropriates federal funds, which have already been appropriated by Congress, because generally speaking, the executive agencies wouldn’t have the authority to use the funds without the Mississippi Legislature. Governor. The Legislature and Tate Reeves are at the heart of a heated debate between Gov. The Legislature, which was temporarily rescheduled March 18 due to safety concerns regarding the coronavirus outbreak, will return to Capitol Thursday to consider legislation that would use some of those funds to help small businesses. Also, it might deal with the gubernatorial objection to Reeves’s bill that prevents him from spending the funds. Understanding the state budgeting process can help you to grasp the complex issues surrounding federal funds. The power of the purse, which is the ability to appropriate funds, has been granted by the Legislature in Mississippi Supreme Court cases dating back at least 1905. Colbert vs. State (1905) identifies the Legislature’s “supreme power” as the power to take. The Legislature annually passes over 100 budget bills to finance the state agencies. Each bill outlines how much money each agency has to operate in the next fiscal year. The bills also provide information about the money’s sources. Federal funds and state tax collections are the main sources of revenue for state agencies. The majority of appropriations bills, at least for larger agencies, give an agency the power to spend any unanticipated federal money it receives if the Legislature is not in session. This is known as “escalating authority”, which allows the agency to spend federal funds not authorized by the Legislature. This escalating authority allows agencies the ability to spend federal funds that were sent to them to assist with emergency situations such as hurricanes, tornadoes, or pandemics. An agency can also use the escalating authority to receive federal funds that Congress may not have anticipated. The current dispute between the governor and Legislature boils to the fact the Legislature thinks $1.25 billion is too much authority for the governor. They want to have a say over how the money is spent. The Legislature recently passed a bill that leaves $100 million to the governor for the current fiscal year which ends June 30. This money can be used to address COVID-19 concerns. The Legislature would likely also place $1.25 billion at Governor’s discretion for the next fiscal year that begins July 1. Other federal funds related the Coronavirus, which totals close to $1 billion, have been distributed to several agencies such as the Emergency Management and the Department of Health. The governor has also received funding for education entities that deal with the pandemic. The funds are being used through the agencies’ escalating authority, granted by the Legislature. There is no interference from the Legislature. Former Gov. Haley Barbour was able to use federal Hurricane Katrina money without legislative interference. The law 27-104-21 authorizes the escalating power. It also states that the funds can be used “unless otherwise specified by the appropriation bill. The executive director of Department of Finance and Administration shall have authority to approve escalations within a budget using one hundred per cent (100%) federal funds.” Reeves believes that he can spend the funds more efficiently to meet needs as they arise. Reeves claims that the Legislature, which is often burdensome, can’t respond as fast as he can. Reeves has sometimes criticized the Legislature, stating that in the worst case, their actions could lead to people’s deaths. He said, “This is power politics at it’s worst.” Legislators think they are only fulfilling their constitutional obligation to allocate state funds. Legislators will still be present in session on Thursday and Friday, and they will likely take up any Reeves veto if one occurs. A senator could also try to move to reconsider, which is another option in the complex legislative rules. Lt. Governor If Delbert Hosemann is able to recognize that motion, the bill would need to be filed and the Senate would have to vote again on the bill. It would then be approved by the Senate and sent back to Reeves, who has an additional five days to veto it. The Republican-contolled Legislature passed the bill to stop Republican Reeves spending the money last week. There were no dissenting votes from the 122-member House, and two no votes from the 52-member Senate. To override a vote by either chamber, it takes a majority of two-thirds. A bipartisan group north Mississippi senators released a statement Wednesday saying that they wanted to work with the governor over the next four-years. “We simply don’t believe it’s right that any individual should have total control over $1.25 Billion.”_x000D