Newly elected Mississippi Speaker of the House of Representatives Jason White gave a 20-minute talk and answered questions from the press at the Stennis Press Forum this week at Hall & Mal's in downtown Jackson.
White reviewed the most recent legislative session and talked at length about education reform, school choice, tax reform, Medicaid expansion, the initiative bill, repeal of the Certificate of Need regulations for health care providers and many other topics.
White said he is sensitive to those who want school choice but he said his members are not solidly behind all-in school choice. White did say some limited school choice seems achievable, especially choice within public school districts.
White said he is closely monitoring state tax receipts but that so far receipts are holding up and the state is taking in more than it is spending.
He advocated reform of the way the Mississippi Department of Transportation is funded, saying that a more stable source of state funding is necessary to get maximum federal transportation grants.
Click on the video to hear White in his own words.
