Legislative Update 9

March 16, 2008

Dear Friends,

I hope that you are all doing well and that you have found ways to enjoy this nice weather with your families. Due to a surge in committee meetings, I’ve been a little slow in responding to your e-mails and phone calls. I hope to get to all of your questions and comments in the next few days. As always, thanks for your feedback.  

REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING MARCH 14, 2008

Chevron Tax Bill

As many of you are aware, the bill I authored which would keep ad valorem taxes from future Chevron developments and improvements in the Pascagoula (Gautier) School District died in the House Ways and Means Committee.

The Chevron tax issue is a complex one and has been very controversial.  I want you all to know that I recognize the funding shortfall all of our school districts are facing in Jackson County.  I also believe that it is important that no representative become so consumed with representing their district that they forget about the impact their actions might have on other folks in the state, particularly children.

I hope that the citizens of Jackson County will ultimately understand that this issue is largely one of taxation philosophy.  For years, our county and our state have allowed municipalities to benefit from the ad valorem taxes collected from industries located within their district.  While my insistence on this bill has been labeled "unfair," I really see it as a matter of fairness to the children in the Pascagoula School District who should benefit from their district's ad valorem taxes like other children in the state.  On that note, I have wondered many times if the same people who criticize this initiative would support an effort to spread ad valorem taxes from Plant Daniels, the new concrete plant in Moss Point or industry in Ocean Springs and Vancleave throughout the county.  I'm afraid those options may be among the unintended consequences of last year's senate bill.

Because I believe so strongly in this issue, I am unwilling to let the death of this year’s bill become the final word on this matter. If the issue is not resolved through a court proceeding or in another manner, I intend to revisit the problem in next year’s session. I invite your questions or comments on this issue and want to thank those of you who supported my bill. There is no question that the bill would not have survived as long as it did without your help.

Jackson County Environmental Issues to Get a Closer Look

While I am on the subject of bills that I failed to get through the House, let me mention the PFOA moratorium bill I submitted earlier in the session. The Chairman of the House’s Committee on Conservation and Water Resources, Representative John Mayo, has shown an interest in my bill and has said that he intends to visit the Coast when the session is over to evaluate this and other environmental issues. I will keep you posted on his plans to visit with folks from our area and will be sure to post all pertinent information if he decides to convene a hearing in Jackson County.

Lowry Island Bill Passes

A bill that would allow the state to lease portions of Lowry Island for residential purposes passed the House on Friday. Many of you will remember Lowry Island as the longtime home of the Scranton Floating Museum in Pascagoula. The Chairman of the Marine Resources Committee, Representative Frances Fredericks of Gulfport, did a great job of moving the bill through her committee and the House. Because the bill requires approval from the state, Chairman Fredericks worked out all the details with the Secretary of State’s office prior to bringing the bill out for a vote. Her work ensured smooth passage on the House floor and resulted in a finished product that will likely be signed by the Governor.

The passage of this bill clears the way for construction of a marina and condominiums on the Lowry Island site.

Highways and Bridges

A new start for an old program to improve Mississippi highways and bridges drew the green light from the House of Representatives during the 10th week of the 2008 legislative session.

Under HB 1624, $200 million in general obligation bonds would be issued to rehabilitate or replace almost 100 bridges located in 23 counties across the state that have been deemed deficient. Another $75 million will go to the construction and improvement of several major highways and the remaining $25 million will be used to finance highway improvements in and around the Toyota plant under construction in Northeast Mississippi. Already, five suppliers bringing 1,800 new jobs have been named for the Toyota plant, including one announced this week to be constructed at New Albany (more information below).

Some of you will recall that I opposed the Governor’s request to re-direct money from the Hurricane Katrina recovery fund to help finance road improvements around the Toyota plant. I urged members of the Transportation Committee to look for another way to meet the Governor’s request and am pleased with their work. Those of us on the Coast owe a debt of gratitude to Chairman Warner McBride and the other members of the Transportation Committee for developing a plan that addresses the needs of Northeast Mississippi without compromising Katrina funds.

Floor Action

Last week was a deadline for revenue-generating and appropriations bills on the House floor. We will later be considering another large group of those types of bills that originated in the Senate.

We also debated and voted on general bills this week that had originated in the Senate. At the same time that body was considering general bills that earlier had passed the House.

Among the general and “money bills” bills we considered and approved this week:

  • SB 2176 would grant a 3 percent across-the-board pay for school teachers. If the Governor signs this bill, teacher assistants will get a $500 pay raise and the teacher increment scale would go to 35 years. The teacher pay raises, as always, will be an integral part of final budgeting work for the new fiscal year that starts July 1. Those final negotiations on the next year’s budget are usually worked out during the final week of the session. Adjournment is schedule for April 19.
  • SB 2011 extends to 24 months the validation that a particular home is a safe place for a child who is adopted from a foreign country.
  • HB 23 gives a sales tax exemption for the purchase of nonperishable food items to certain charitable organizations. The bill passed the House last year but died in the Senate.
  • HB 1506 would issue $5 million in bonds to repair dams in the state. The federal government also would put up some funds. More than 200 dams in 30 counties already have been rehabbed.
  • HB 1656 would extend an economic development grant program for small cities and counties.
  • SB 2866 would make more non-violent prisoners eligible for the house arrest program.
  • SB 2590 would enhance the nursing profession in the state, which currently is facing a severe shortage of qualified nurses. This bill would enact a one-year feasibility study and comprehensive plan for nursing schools in Mississippi. The program would provide computerized interactive learning capabilities for all the schools, utilizing the pooled resources or mobile capability models from other states. The completed plan shall be developed and a report made to the 2009 Legislature by Dec. 1.
  • SB 2974 would establish bonding and insurance requirements for the modular home industry, which has been gaining a stronger foothold in the state, particularly in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. A companion bill, SB 2986, would initiate an installation inspection fee for the factory-built homes industry.

Mississippi Health Insurance Exchange

In a health related news, Governor Barbour continued to push his plan to create a Mississippi Health Insurance Exchange that could extend health benefits to thousands of small businesses and their employees. Nearly 134,000 Mississippians work for small businesses that do not offer employer-sponsored health insurance. He said creation of a Mississippi Health Insurance Exchange program would be a major step toward giving employees of small businesses more access to health insurance at more affordable rates. Under his proposal, the state-authorized health insurance exchange would function as a market clearinghouse for health insurance options, and participation would be entirely voluntary.

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