Legislators: Stay or go?

JACKSON — Mississippi lawmakers were on track to miss their budget-writing deadline Wednesday night, but they weren’t fretting about it.

Leaders say they’ll renew efforts to either extend the three-month session or to let lawmakers leave for a few weeks and return in late April to finish the spending plan.

The new fiscal year begins July 1.

Some lawmakers say there’s no point in finishing a budget now because the state could receive $187 million from the federal government in the next few weeks.

Two-thirds of the House and Senate must agree on new budget deadlines.

If the regular session ends with no budget, Gov. Haley Barbour will have to a special session.