Jackson, MS - Today, Governor Reeves held a call to update the House of Representatives and allow time for questions as it relates to the state’s response to COVID-19. The Mississippi House Democratic Caucus compiled a list of questions and requested that Speaker Gunn ask Governor Reeves the following questions:
Testing
How is your administration working to prioritize testing in at-risk communities, in particular communities of color, skilled nursing facilities, rural communities, and correctional facilities?
What is the testing and mediation plan for Parchman and other state correctional facilities?
Health Care
Under the Families First Act, the Division of Medicaid is allowed to submit a state plan amendment to allow Medicaid (at 100% federal reimbursement) to cover all COVID 19 testing costs for uninsured Mississippians. This would particularly help community health centers that are struggling. Has your administration considered submitting an SPA to cover testing costs?
Economy
Many African-American Mississippians occupy public-facing, low-wage jobs that do not offer health benefits or paid sick leave. This results in the African American community being highly susceptible to the spread of COVID-19. Will you strongly consider these disparities and the need for far greater testing while planning to reopen the economy?
Governors, the CARES Act provides funds and allows for payment of unemployment benefits to self-employed persons. Are you planning to update our systems to make these benefits available to self-employed individuals?
CARES Act Relief Funds
Transparency: Governor, will you commit to an open, transparent process of disseminating the over $1 billion in CARES Act state relief funds? Either established through legislative action or a diverse economic recovery board?
Education: The CARES Act provides your office with over $30 million in grant funds for K-12 education. Under these grants, will you commit to prioritizing funding to low-income school districts that do not have the infrastructure (devices or broadband) needed for distance learning programs? Will you commit to only providing these funds to public schools?
Cities/Counties: Municipalities and Counties are on the front lines fighting this emergency. Will you commit to an open, just and equitable process to disseminate CARES Act state relief funds to cities and counties in order to reimburse local communities for their emergency expenses?
You can find the official letter here. In an official statement, Chairman Robert L. Johnson, III said, "We would like the public to know that we are pressing these issues. Speaker Gunn only referred to two of these questions, and there were no direct answers. We would like to see the press and the public continue to ask these questions. The Governor should have a copy of the questions, and we hope he will answer them."
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