Legislative Update 47

March 01, 2009

Dear Friends,

House Approves Additional $20 Million for Wind Pool

On February 17, the House of Representatives passed a bill that would provide an additional $20 million to the state wind pool program. In a study commissioned by the Gulf Coast Business Council, the John C. Stennis Institute for Government stated that this appropriation would more than pay for itself if 90 percent of the money is returned to policyholders in the form of rate reductions. The study also projected that rate reductions would generate 715 local jobs, $72 million in consumer spending and $26.9 million in additional state tax revenue.

As many of you know, the Mississippi Windstorm Underwriting Association or “wind pool” has increasingly become the insurer of only resort for many Gulf Coast homeowners and businesses. The high price of insurance has had a crippling effect on our local real estate market and many businesses have held off on projects until insurance prices come back to earth.

Early projections indicate that this infusion of cash into the wind pool program could lead to premium reductions of 10% to 20%. I do not have to tell you how necessary these savings are in the current economy. I do, however, want you to know that this measure would not have been possible without the support of Johnny Stringer, Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. He understood the necessity of action in this area from the very beginning and told me (more than once) to calm down because he was on our side. Being able to co-sponsor this legislation has been one of the most satisfying experiences I have had as your representative.

As the bill moves through the committee process in the Senate, please let your senator know how important this dollars are to the Gulf Coast.

Tax Credits Survive Deadline

I was pleased to co-sponsor several tax saving measures that were passed in the House last week. House Bill 194 would provide a tax credit for the purchase and installation of wind and solar energy systems. House Bill 348 would make the last week in July a “sales tax holiday” for the purchase of school clothes and recreational equipment. House Bill 1728 would provide an income tax credit for investments in certain small business ventures.

I hope we see these tax savings signed into law this year.

Another Pardon Amendment

Last Wednesday, the Chairman of the Corrections Committee brought forward the Senate’s version of the bill I amended to require the Parole Board to make a recommendation on pardons. I was disappointed by what I perceived as an attempt to slide a bill past the chamber and allow the year to go by without addressing our Governor’s unfettered ability to issue pardons. If we would have passed the Senate’s bill without amendment, the House bill I amended would have been allowed to die on the calendar.

I had marked the Senate bill on the calendar and was hopeful that the Chairman would offer my previous language as a friendly amendment. When this didn’t happen, I offered the same amendment I offered a couple weeks back and was pleased to see it pass the House again. You can see my amendment at http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/2009/html/ham/SB2683_H_Amend_01.htm You’ll have to forgive the handwriting as I was trying to finish before the moment passed.

I will monitor this bill through the conference process and insist that our amendment remain on the final bill.

House Web casting

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