Freshman lawmaker Jay Hughes and Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann will square off Nov. 5 in the general election for lieutenant governor.

Both have kept their campaigns focused on issues, not partisanship. They agree on several positions, but Democrat Hughes and Republicans disagree on others. Both came to the Clarion Ledger for a sit-down interview ahead of the election

Here's where they stand on key issues.

Medicaid expansion

Both Hughes and Hosemann said they want some form of expanded Medicaid coverage under the Affordable Care Act.

Hughes said he supports a plan pitched by hospitals called "Mississippi Cares."

The plan could extend coverage to roughly 300,000 low-income Mississippians, including those who can't qualify for Medicaid and currently fall into a gap of insurance options. Participants would pay a fee under the plan, and hospitals would pay the rest of the state's tab.

“I would absolutely support Mississippi Cares because it does have the votes to pass," Hughes said. "...The votes are there if leadership will stand up to the hundreds of millions of dollars the managed care networks make and want to keep making.”

Mississippi Cares:Hospitals have a Medicaid expansion plan they believe Republicans can get behind

Without saying "ObamaCare," the colloquial term for the Affordable Care Act, Hosemann said it's important to look past labels.

"i am not hung up on any moniker about it's 'such-and-such care' and it's 'this care' or whatever," Hosemann said. "...I want expanded coverage."

Hosemann said Mississippi may need to develop a unique plan for Medicaid expansion, and he doesn't want it to cost the state. Finding the right program for Mississippi will take time, he said.

"This will not happen in the first session of the Legislature," Hosemann said. "...We can do this. It's not a Democrat or Republican thing. We just need to get away from sayin, 'Well, I'm just absolutely not going to do anything that has to do with anything.' I mean, that sounds like Washington. We're not going to be Washington."

Education

Both Hughes and Hosemann want more raises for Mississippi teachers — immediately.

Neither offered a specific number.

Hughes has made public education the cornerstone of his campaign. He said he wants to fully fund the Mississippi Adequate Education Program, a formula developed in the 1990s that has only been fully funded twice.

Fully funding the program next year would cost a few hundred million dollars more, according to the Associated Press, though Hughes said he is open to modifying it.

Hosemann wants to fully fund special education and also emphasize career and technical training so that students can successfully enter the workforce after graduating high school.

Hughes: Read more about his education plan by clicking here

Hosemann: Read more about his education plan by clicking here

Infrastructure

Hughes supports a statewide gas tax, while Hosemann wants to give counties the option to levy their own gas taxes between 2 and 6 cents.

Mississippi's gas tax stands at 18.4 cents a gallon, same as the federal rate. Neither has been raised for decades.

Hughes said he wants a 12-cent raise phased in over time, with "offsetting income taxes," similar to other plans articulated by lawmakers.

Hosemann said many crumbling roads and bridges are not state roads. He said his plan makes sure that all the revenue collected from an additional gas tax goes to counties.

Hughes: Read more about his infrastructure plan by clicking here

Hosemann: Read more about his infrastructure plan by clicking here

Transparency

Hughes and Hosemann are both calling for more transparency at the capitol, but they do disagree on one major issue.

They want committee meetings to be broadcast and their agendas posted online ahead of the meetings. They said they would consider banning all gifts from lobbyists.

Hughes said he wants to end the Legislature's exemption from the public records act and make documents such lawmakers' emails subject to open records requests — as is the case with all other public officials in Mississippi. Hosemann wants the Legislature to remain exempt.

Hosemann said he will host press conferences every Thursday during the legislative session and make top lawmakers answer questions from the press and public.

Hughes: Read more about his transparency plan by clicking here

Hosemann: Read more about his transparency plan by clicking here

Contact Giacomo "Jack" Bologna at 601-961-7282 or gbologna@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @gbolognaCL.