Mississippi Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney, speaking to the McComb Rotary Club on Wednesday, touched on several subjects ranging from health care to the current state corrections scandal.
Commenting on what he called a “hot potato” in Mississippi, Chaney said he was “flabbergasted” and “appalled” by the indictment of former Department of Corrections Commissioner Chris Epps in what prosecutors call a multi-million kickback scheme.
He said it’s a shame the good publicity Mississippi has been getting lately — including having two university football teams with remarkable records — is being offset by reports of the prison scandal. And he predicted the investigation may run “deep” and “long.”
Talking about the Affordable Care Act, known as Obamacare, Chaney, a Republican, said he looks for repeal of some of Obamacare’s mandates or provisions under the new Republican controlled Congress but not repeal of the overall act. He noted the new Congress probably won’t be veto proof.
He said he doesn’t like Obamacare but as insurance commissioner he is obligated to abide by its provisions as long as they are law.
He discussed Medicaid and Medicare, but declined to state his own position on whether Medicaid should be expanded, which is up to the Legislature.
Speaking of the Legislature, Chaney, a former lawmaker himself, said he expects no significant legislation to come out of next year’s session with the exception of “maybe a tax break.”
If there is a tax break, Chaney says he hopes it goes to consumers and not a few corporations. If he had his way, he said, he would eliminate the personal state income tax.
He commended State Rep. Sam Mims V of McComb who was at the meeting and said re-electing U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran was a “good thing” for Mississippi.
Also serving as the state fire marshal, Chaney encouraged everyone to have smoke alarms in their homes because they “can save your life.”
He said he likes his job and left little doubt he’s planning to run re-election next year.
