Legislative Number 11

March 30, 2008

Dear Friends,

I hope you are all doing well and I trust you will indulge two brief public service announcements.

In May, the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) will be sending out stimulus payments and you could receive $600 (or more if you have children) if you file a 2007 tax return. Taxpayers with a qualifying income of $3,000 in 2007 are eligible for this program. This includes low-income workers and recipients of Social Security and veterans’ benefits, even if you do not normally file a tax return. I am adding this information to my weekly update after learning that millions of eligible individuals do not usually file tax returns. For more information, visit www.irs.gov or call 800-829-1040. 

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (“FEMA”), in a collaborative effort with the states of Louisiana and Mississippi, is planning a new two-phase disaster case management program to assist individuals and families affected by hurricanes Katrina and Rita that will continue until March 1, 2009. The program will replace the agency’s current grant agreement with the United Methodist Committee on Relief (“UMCOR”), which ends March 31, 2008.

I have copies of the following documents: 1) FEMA’s Mississippi Case Management Agreement, 2) Gulf-wide Owner/Renter Breakout, 3) News Release announcing the new Disaster Case Management Program and 4) Background Information on the Cora Brown Fund. If you are interested in receiving any or all of the above documents, please let me know.  

REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING MARCH 28, 2008

House Meets Mid-week Deadline, Concurs with Anti-abortion Bill

The House worked on a wide range of bills this week as we began the final push to put the 2008 session to rest. We met a mid-week deadline on passage or rejection of general bills that originated in the Senate. As the House and Senate have swapped bills, the language contained in many measures has been changed. Changed bills are sent to “conference committee,” or negotiation between three House members and three Senate members. On other bills, we concurred with changes made in the Senate to House bills, and sent those measures to the governor.

An example of a bill with which the House concurred to Senate changes is HB 520. The Senate added an amendment that strengthens the state’s abortion laws, which already are among the most stringent in the nation. The new language creates civil penalties for anyone causing or assisting a minor in having an abortion. The bill also requires parents or guardians, health-care providers, clergy, teachers, law officers, film processors and abortion providers to report all incidents of alleged or suspected sexual abuse against children to law enforcement agencies or the state Department of Human Services. Also, anyone who performs an abortion for a girl younger than 14 would be required to preserve fetal tissue for DNA tests to determine the father.

Those bills which are sent to conference will be worked out in upcoming weeks as we move toward final adjournment on April 19.

House Passes Bill Limiting Casino Gambling

This week, the House passed SB 2199 which would limit casino gaming to the seven counties where it already exists (Tunica, Coahoma, Washington, Warren, Adams, Hancock and Harrison). Two other counties, Issaquena and Claiborne, have already passed referendums and will be similarly exempted if a casino is constructed in those counties. This is welcome news to those of us who have opposed the expansion of casino gambling in Jackson County. Bear in mind, this prohibition, if signed by the Governor, will not apply to autonomous Native American nations.

House Passes Resolutions Regarding Multi-peril Insurance Bill, The Richton Salt Dome and Governor Winter

The House passed a resolution urging Congress to enact a multi-peril insurance coverage program. This effort has been led by our congressman, Representative Gene Taylor.

We also urged Congress to withdraw water from the Gulf instead of the Pascagoula River in connection with the Strategic Petroleum Reserve project planned at the Richton Salt Dome in Greene County.

Also approved was a resolution honoring former Gov. William Winter for his 50 years of exemplary service as a member and chairman of the board of the Department of Archives and History.

Other Floor Action

Among the other bills we passed this week in the House are:

  • SB 2929 would provide more regulation and record-keeping of transactions involving metals such as copper. Theft of copper has become a “plague on the whole country,” said one bill backer. Under the plan, whenever a law enforcement officer has reasonable cause to believe that any item of metal property in the possession of a secondary metals recycler or other purchaser has been stolen, a hold may be put on the metals recycler or purchaser until a determination is made as to whether it is a legal transaction. Among other rules, all metal recyclers and junk dealers will be required to keep a signed statement from the person making the transaction that he is the rightful owner of the metal property or is entitled to sell the metal property being sold.
  • SB 2910 would create a task force to study the state’s election laws and to establish an early voting pilot project in the counties of Alcorn, Bolivar, Lafayette, Lauderdale and Washington counties.  Persons will be able to vote early not more than 25 days before nor less than four days before the day of an election. No excuse is required for early voting. Any vote cast by early ballot will be final. The name of any person who votes by early ballot will be shown as voted in the poll book before the day of election. An elector who desires to vote by absentee ballot will be able to do so by mail.  No person may vote absentee in the registrar's office.
  • SB 2526 would make it unlawful to use a false ID card to purchase any type of alcohol. The bill would also allow some direct shipments of wine to package stores, allow stores to stage a wine marketing event once a year and allow consumers to take home a bottle of wine bought in a restaurant.
  • SB 2781 would clarify legislative and executive duties of council members and mayors in city governments. All executive power is with the mayor, who has the superintending control of all the officers and affairs of the municipality. The legislative power of the municipality is exercised by the board of aldermen. No member of the board of aldermen is allowed to give orders to any employee or subordinate of a municipality other than the alderman's personal staff.

2009 Budget
           
Yet to be decided is the budget for state fiscal year 2009 beginning July 1. This week, both the House and Senate gave final approval to many “special fund” agencies that generate their own funds. Matters that have not been finalized are the state’s large Medicaid budget and the final public education budget.

In what could be a sign that the legislature is not headed for another special session, a leading budget expert said that a compromise budget seems likely.

In other budget news, the House amended the budget bill for the Department of Public Safety this week to give authority to specially-trained law enforcement officers to help curb the problem of illegal immigration. Also, it was revealed during our budget discussions that the Governor’s Medicaid Office owes the University of Mississippi Medical Center some $61 million.

Tax Study Commission

A group of more than 35 business leaders and state officials met this week to begin studying Mississippi’s tax structure. The members, appointed by Governor Haley Barbour in January, were briefed on the state’s revenue sources. Meetings will be held once every three to four weeks said the group’s leader, former Mississippi Development Authority director Leland Speed. “We need to understand our state's economy before we can do a good job figuring out how to tax in order to pay the bills.” An initial report is due from the group by August.

Toyota Plant to be “Environmental Model”

This week, the House Ways and Means Committee heard a report from Toyota regarding the new Northeast Mississippi plant which was approved by the legislature last year. Dennis Cuneo, a senior adviser to Toyota on site selection and a former top official with the company, told the House panel that the plant will be the “environmental model” for the leading automaker. Cuneo said the plant will be so technologically advanced that it will produce almost no landfill waste.

The Toyota rep also said that the company is a leader in diversity in employment and purchases from minority-owned suppliers. Toyota now makes 7.5 percent of its purchases from minority firms but has a goal of increasing that number to 10%.

Cuneo said it was the “work ethic” of Mississippians that attracted the company to our state. Five major suppliers that will employ 1,500 workers have already been announced for the plant with many more expected in the coming years. Future suppliers will not necessarily have to be as close to the plant as those already announced.

Our senior and two year colleges will be heavily involved with the plant as will the WIN Job Centers across the state. The 2 million square foot plant will open in 2010 with 2,000 employees. Cuneo said Toyota has no plans to scale back its plans in the state despite a reeling national economy.

House Webcasting

Don’t forget that you can follow floor debates by going to www.mpbonline.org and clicking on “House video.”

How to Contact Me

If you have any questions or concerns, I invite you to call me on my cell phone at 228-326-7649 or e-mail me at bjones@house.ms.gov. Please feel free to forward this report to folks in our district and let me know if I need to add someone to my list.

I will also be posting my updates and House related news on my campaign website at www.electbrandonjones.com.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve.

Brandon