Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour has set a special legislative session for May 21, for lawmakers to consider re-authorizing the Mississippi Department of Employment Security and to deal with other subjects.

"Failure to reauthorize (MDES) would mean unemployed Mississippians cannot receive their benefits; businesses will see their unemployment insurance tax rates multiply dramatically; the state will lose millions of dollars in federal grants; and our community colleges will see the loss of
workforce investment dollars that are helping train Mississippians for
new and higher-paying jobs," said Barbour.

The governor's office said job-creating programs that resulted in a net gain of 60,000 jobs in four years is attributable, at least in part, to MDES.

Fully funding Mississippi Medicaid is not currently on the agenda for this special session because work on a solution is continuing. Medicaid could be added next week.

Other than MDES and Medicaid, Barbour said he would also ask
the legislature to improve a metal recycling bill (HB 1136) that was vetoed on May 12; prohibit the expansion of gaming beyond counties that either now have it or have approved it in the past; make technical adjustments to current law allowing toll roads, including enforceability of collecting tolls.