Media
May 17, 2012
LEGISLATIVE REPORT: A Summary of the 2012 Session
The historic 2012 legislative session has ended and it will likely be remembered as a story of “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” for the Republican leadership who, for the first time in over 100 years, controlled all levers of State Government. There were certainly some successes for the Republican agenda as they were able to pass legislation aimed at ending abortion in Mississippi, curtailing the rights of injured workers, providing tax credits to large corporations, and eliminating bureaucratic red tape for small businesses. However, there were several significant agenda items that failed to pass despite Republican control of both chambers of the legislature. For instance, the Charter Schools bill, the Immigration Reform bill, and a bill to make the Pascagoula River Bar Pilots immune from lawsuits all died in committee. There were other agenda items that simply failed to pass either Republican-controlled chamber due to lack of support.
Apr 20, 2012
LEGISLATIVE REPORT: More on Charter Schools and Civil Service Protections
As I have discussed in previous reports, there has been a concentrated effort to introduce privately run charter schools in Mississippi via legislation. The charter schools bills all failed in the House Education Committee due to lack of support. However, the Republican leadership has insisted on resuscitating this idea. First, Gov. Bryant reacted to the death of the charter schools bills by threatening to call a special election to force a fourth vote on the issue. Leadership then decided to amend an unrelated bill by adding the charter schools language to HB 1152. Originally, this bill sought to mandate a one-year transitional period for establishing conversion charter schools. Mississippi law currently allows for conversion charter schools when public schools are rated as “underperforming” for 3 consecutive years.
Mar 27, 2012
Baria proposes changes to governor's pardons
State Rep. David Baria on Monday renewed his effort to require public hearings before a governor could pardon a convicted criminal. Baria, D-Bay St. Louis, attempted to add the measure as an amendment to the reauthorization of the state Parole Board. But his amendment was held on a point of order by Rep. Jessica Upshaw, R-Diamondhead.
Mar 26, 2012
LEGISLATIVE REPORT: The Budget and Civil Service Protections
This past week, the issue most vital to the direction of our state finally took center stage -- our state budget. The Governor’s proposed cuts to education, healthcare, and local libraries are disturbing, but under our Constitution the Mississippi Legislature has final budget-writing authority. Of particular concern among the Governor’s proposals are the education cuts. For the fourth consecutive year, the Mississippi Adequate Education Program will be underfunded by hundreds of millions. Additionally, there is a proposal to eliminate civil service job protections for 25,000 Mississippians. Our children and civil servants are crucial to the future of our state, and the current proposed plans for them are irresponsible and inappropriate.
Mar 21, 2012
LEGISLATIVE REPORT: The Week's Significant Successes
This past week proved to be a particularly successful one for my legislative agenda. As the new House of Representatives and its leadership was getting used to its role, we dealt with an unusually high number of bills. In the midst of the long nights of debate, the House passed two bills and one amendment to a bill that I authored: the William Lee Montjoy Pool Safety Act, a bill to create a Highway Patrol escort service, and the RESTORE fund amendment to the Budget Transfer bill. I am certain that these pieces of legislation will greatly benefit the people of Hancock County.
Mar 9, 2012
LEGISLATIVE REPORT: Committee Deadline, and the Unemployment Rate
This past Tuesday, the House faced its committee deadline for bills. Five bills of particular interest to me were: 1. A bill to transfer funds from the state’s general coffers to a special fund that concentrates on Coastal oil spill recovery; 2. The charter school bill; 3. My bill to create standards for pool enclosures to protect children; and 4. My bill to allow highway patrolmen to earn extra money by providing VIP escort service when off duty. Finally, I want to point out troubling new studies by US Bureau of Labor Statistics on Mississippi’s unemployment rate. Our economic recovery is one of my top priorities, and I pledge that I will work tirelessly to reverse our jobs problem.
Mar 1, 2012
House passes bill to allow stronger beer in state
State Rep. David Baria, D-Bay St. Louis, has pushed for the measure for years, to allow the sale of gourmet and craft beers sold in most other states and to help the state's only brewery, the Lazy Magnolia in Kiln.
Feb 24, 2012
Mississippi House committee passes immigration crackdown bill
Rep. David Baria, D-Bay St. Louis, tried to also exempt government health care facilities and government-owned utilities from provisions that say illegal immigrants can't enter into business transactions with any state agency or local government. Baria said after the committee meeting that he is worried about the public health consequences of illegal immigrants and their children not being vaccinated or being able to connect water and sewer services.
Feb 22, 2012
LEGISLATIVE REPORT: The AG Bill, and Unclaimed Property Returned to Hancock County
The past week’s events in the House of Representatives primarily centered on a controversial bill that essentially strips the Office of the Attorney General of its Constitutional power to represent state agencies. The bill allows an appointed agency head to determine that a conflict exists between it and the AG and to hire its own lawyers at taxpayer expense. I attempted to counter some of the bill’s negative effects by defining a “conflict of interest” and also by exempting the Public Employees Retirement System (“PERS”) Board from hiring outside counsel, but both amendments failed on very close votes. I am also happy to report that the Mississippi Treasury Department will be returning over $1 million in unclaimed property to Hancock County residents.
Feb 15, 2012
Beer Sellers Hope New Bill Will Boost More Than Alcohol Content
Rep. David Baria, D-Bay St. Louis, is proposing the bill. He said he introduced the same bill more than five years ago. Baria said the state is missing out on about 700 beers that other states get but Mississippi doesn't because of current state laws.
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