Reeves vetoes portions of $253 million ‘Christmas tree’ spending, including Tupelo hotel and Jackson golf course

Gov. Tate Reeves on Monday line-item vetoed funding for seven projects included in a recently approved $253 million spending package, the governor’s office said. The blocked items include money for a Tupelo hotel redevelopment, upgrades at the Jackson Municipal Airport and improvements to a Jackson golf facility.

“I am for infrastructure investments – as that is a core function of government,” Reeves wrote on social media. “I am NOT for spending YOUR money on golf courses,” he added. Reeves signed most of the spending into law but said he used his line-item veto power on several items.

The state constitution gives Reeves the authority to veto specific parts of appropriations bills while the rest becomes law. Reeves line-item vetoed: $2 million to the city of Tupelo for the Blue Suede hotel development project; $250,000 to the city of Jackson for upgrades to the Pete Brown Golf Facility; $650,000 to the CREATE Foundation to help purchase the Park Hotel building in Amory; $400,000 to the Greene County Board of Supervisors for the Deep South Machine Works expansion; $100,000 to the Hinds County Board of Supervisors for surveillance cameras and neighborhood security for several homeowners associations; $250,000 to Stone County for improvements to the Magnolia Community Center Complex; and $500,000 to the Jackson Municipal Airport Authority for infrastructure repairs and upgrades.

Legislators could override the vetoes with a two-thirds majority vote in both chambers, but it was unclear whether they would attempt to do so. Lawmakers passed a resolution earlier this year that gives them the option to return to the Capitol on Wednesday; they would not be required to return if House Speaker Jason White and Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann agree no special session is needed.

Reeves also vetoed a measure that would have restored voting rights to an individual convicted of shoplifting and a drug charge, spending for two Gulf Coast Restoration Fund projects, a bill creating a loan program for Gulf Coast Restoration Fund projects and a measure that would have funded projects he had previously vetoed, according to the governor’s actions.

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