Governor still plans special session on transportation money — possible state lottery

Published 11:57 am Friday, July 6, 2018

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Gov. Phil Bryant says he’s looking at calling Mississippi lawmakers back for a special session in August to earmark money for transportation.

Bryant says Friday he still wants to compile money from tax collection on internet sales, newly legalized sports betting and a state lottery to increase spending.

The Republican governor says he also wants an agreement on how the state should spend $700 million in economic damage payments from oil company BP PLC following the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. He says the money should be used on the Gulf Coast.

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Bryant says his goal is to increase transportation spending by $200 million a year.

He says House Speaker Philip Gunn of Clinton still opposes a lottery, but Bryant hopes to get a House vote on creating a lottery.