MEPC highlights Day 2 of the FY 2013 budget hearings

Want some good news? Well, you may not want to read the Mississippi Economic Policy Center's review of Day 2 of the Fiscal Year 2013 budget hearings. But here are the highlights anyway:

State’s Fragile Economic Recovery is Slowing

• In Mississippi, jobs are still down by 69,000 from the peak in February 2008
• By all accounts, FY 2013 is expected to be another lean budget year for the state as the fledgling recovery is slowing and federal stimulus funds have ended. (Editors Note: Or were rejected by Haley Barbour as he planned an aborted presidential run. "Thanks Haley" indeed.)

Medicaid: Changes on the Horizon

• Needs are rising in an environment of declining resources;
• Health Care reform offers an incredible opportunity to improve the economic and
  physical health of Mississippians.  (Editor's Note: But what we really ought to do is waste our state's few remaining resources on joining a lawsuit to stop it which is already being successfully prosecuted by others.)

Here's a link to the MEPC website.  As I've said before, it's a good place to follow along and learn about budget issues in Mississippi.