Legislative Update 6

February 22, 2008

I hope you and your families are doing well. Please continue to send along your questions and concerns. Your feedback has proved very helpful in Jackson.

REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 22, 2008

Medicaid

This week, the House passed HB 1013, a bill to raise funds for Medicaid. I was glad to take part in the press conference preceding Thursday’s vote and relieved to see the bill pass.

The revenue portion of the bill would increase the excise tax on cigarettes from 18-cents per pack to $1.18 per pack, raising upwards of $200 million annually for the cash strapped Medicaid program. The alternative plan, recommended by the Governor’s Medicaid Office, calls for a bed assessment on hospitals. This “assessment” would almost certainly be passed on to patients. As I said to the Sun Herald on Thursday, “When given a choice between taxing hospitals and taxing cigarettes, I’ll choose cigarettes every time.”

Overall, Medicaid is a $4 billion program in Mississippi, with the state paying for about 25 percent of that total (an estimated $513 million). It has grown from $126 million in 1990. In an effort to help alleviate these expenses, the bill has some cost-cutting measures particularly affecting medications and administrative changes.

The Chevron Tax Bill

This Tuesday, the House Ways and Means Committee will hear a full presentation on HB 979. I am again encouraging everyone interested in this bill to contact members of the Ways and Means Committee to tell them how important this effort is to the future of the Pascagoula School District. Speaking from experience, there is no substitute for hearing from concerned citizens. Thanks again for your support on this issue.

Insurance Policyholder’s Bill of Rights

The House overwhelmingly passed HB 498 which would create the Mississippi Insurance Policyholder’s Bill of Rights. As I mentioned before, the Bill of Rights passed by the House is not the comprehensive legislation I introduced but it is a step in the right direction. The main provision puts the burden of proof on insurance companies for proving exclusions and exceptions in policies. The document would be attached to all policies.

PFOA Moratorium

Unfortunately, my bill calling for a moratorium on PFOA died in committee. However, Chairman Mayo told me that he recognizes this issue needs serious consideration and he intends to visit Jackson County to hold hearings on the subject when the session is over. Thank you for your help with this bill and I will let you know when these hearings take place.

Tax Holiday

The House passed HB 212 to establish a “tax holiday” on the weekend of July 25. This bill would provide a tax break for parents of school children purchasing clothes and footwear costing less than $100. These tax holidays have become popular in several surrounding states in recent years and our Legislature has tried to pass the bill before without success.

Other Floor Action

This was one of the busiest weeks of the session. We completed work in House committees on bills that originated in our chamber and then took the bills that survived committee action to the full floor. We have until Feb. 28 to complete floor work on those same bills and then we will begin considering bills that originated in the Senate. The session is scheduled to end on April 19.

Among the other bills that we considered and approved on the full House floor this week:

  • HB 558 (approved late last week) requires the use of booster seats when transporting children if they are at least four but less than eight years of age, measure less than 4 feet 9 inches or weigh less than 80 pounds. This bill hopes to address Mississippi’s death rate for children in accidents which leads the nation;
  • HB 609 would initiate a hiring and equipment freeze throughout state government. The move would save about $22 million annually. This is another move to help balance the books for FY 2009;
  • HB 1357 is a conservation measure which puts restrictions on the use of motorized vehicles in creek and river beds without the permission of the adjoining landowners;
  • HB 829 criminalizes the use of fake identification cards in obtaining alcohol;
  • HB 1196 allows casinos to gain tax credit incentives for developing non-gaming attractions;
  • HB 1006 creates a 15-member Mississippi Tourism Advisory Board to develop a long-range plan to develop the state’s tourism industry, with the goal of creating jobs and improving the quality of life for all Mississippi residents. A main task is to review laws and policies affecting tourism;
  • HB 19 extends the time that dwelling houses destroyed by Hurricane Katrina are considered homes for homestead exemption purposes;
  • HB 648 ensures that any “Katrina cottages” are disposed of in conformity with federal regulations;
  • HB 737 creates a Task Force on Underperforming Schools and School Districts. The idea is to examine both low level and high level schools to enhance public school effectiveness;
  • HB 973 would require extra training for members of school boards in districts that have either failing schools or financial problems;
  • HB 975, the “High School Redesign Pilot Program,” would phase in through 2013-2014 with funding subject to appropriations. This program will allow students seven pathways of curriculum: agricultural sciences, business, construction and manufacturing, health sciences, human sciences, art and humanities, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, and transportation. The Redesign Program implements workforce education to better prepare students for the future workplace;
  • HB 1089 legalizes the hunting of deer over bait statewide as long as the feed is protected from the weather elements. This only applies to privately-owned land;
  • HB 857 would name a portion of state highway 393 in Winston County as the “Cpl. Dustin J. Lee Memorial Highway” in honor of a Mississippi soldier who died in the war in Iraq;
  • HB 1227 allows the use of a webcam to make an appearance in participating courts;
  • HB 701 allows state marine officers to make arrests in international waters of the Gulf;
  • HB 755 raises certain fees charged to insurance companies doing business in the state; and
  • HB 952 allows jobless benefits to be paid immediately if a worker is eligible.

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