Legislative Update 41

December 28, 2008

Dear Friends,

On Tuesday, January 6, 2009, we will be convening the 2009 Legislative Session at the old Capitol Building on North State Street in Jackson at noon. This historic building opened in 1839 and served as the site where Mississippi voted to secede from the Union and where the current constitution was written and approved in 1890. In 1903, the seat of government was transferred a few blocks to the northwest to what is still known as the “new Capitol”, a larger and more ornate building. In recent years, the old Capitol has served as a museum and gift shop. It sustained substantial damage in 2005 during Hurricane Katrina and has been closed since the Hurricane while undergoing a $14 million facelift. The museum will reopen on January 10.

January 6 will mark my second visit to the old Capitol. My other visit came in 1994 when I was a Pascagoula High School delegate to Boys State. I look forward to this historic day and will be sure to let you know how it goes.

On that note, I would like to invite each of you to visit Jackson during the 2009 Legislative Session. If you call me in advance at 228-326-7649, I will gladly give you and your family a tour of either capitol building and would be honored for you to be my guest in the gallery.

2009 Legislative Priorities

As we inch closer to the 2009 Session, I am focusing on three priorities for the New Year:

Election Reform

As many of you know, I plan to introduce the Comprehensive Election Reform Act of 2009 when the Legislature reconvenes. This Act would allow for Voter Identification and Early Voting. I have been pleased with the level of bi-partisan support for these initiatives and am hopeful that 2009 will be the year that Mississippi steps into the modern era in terms of its election laws.

I am grateful to members of our local voter identification committee and those of you who have weighed in on this subject during the year.

Pardon Power

By now, many of you are aware that on December 23, Governor Barbour granted a ninety day furlough to Leslie Bowlin, a man convicted of raping a Mississippi State University student in the early 90’s. Thankfully, Governor Barbour revoked the furlough on Friday.

This episode reinforces the need for a system of checks and balances to be put in place for dealing with post conviction releases of violent criminals. I have submitted several bills that would change the law in this area. In addition to a bill that would amend our constitution and take this authority away from the Executive Branch altogether, I will introduce a bill that would require local law enforcement officials to be contacted when these releases are being considered and a bill that would require the Parole Board to weigh in on these decisions.

I am offering several bills in hopes that one of these options will be satisfactory to the Legislature. I believe that the decisions passed down by our courts in these matters should be honored and that family members and friends of victims should see justice served. I simply do not want another community to have to deal with a Michael Graham type release.

Insurance Reform

One of the most pressing issues along the Gulf Coast is the issue of insurance availability and affordability. As Vice-Chairman of the House Insurance Committee, I have supported increasing the level of state funding for the wind pool program and have sponsored a Policyholder’s Bill of Rights.

In the coming session, I am introducing legislation that would allow for a $100,000 investment to a mitigation program study. During the break, I have become convinced that one of the quickest ways that we can improve our insurance situation is to implement a mitigation program that would encourage home owners to make their home Hurricane ready and provide insurance premium breaks in the process. This $100,000 appropriation is an important first step in that process.

I will keep you updated of our progress on these and other issues as we move through the Session. As always, feel free to contact me with your ideas and questions anytime.

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