MLCC Gears Up For 2006 Regular Session

The Mississippi Legislative Conservative Coalition is a bipartisan organization comprised of like-minded conservative members of the Mississippi House of Representatives.  The MLCC is not a caucus, and its members are not bound to hew a party line or to vote as a block; rather, members expect each other to adhere generally to the organization's guiding principles.  The stated purposes of the Conservative Coalition, as set forth in its Bylaws, are "to influence the adoption of conservative legislation in the Mississippi Legislature, and to promote on a bipartisan basis conservative principles of limited government, free enterprise, individual liberties, and strong traditional families, at all times consistent with the progress of our state and with the well-being of our fellow Mississippians."  Although membership in the MLCC varies from year to year, as of the end of 2005 the organization boasted fifty-nine (59) members -- 46 Republicans and 13 Democrats.  The MLCC membership roster may be accessed here.  The Conservative Coalition meets weekly during the 2006 Regular Session at 11:30 a.m. each Tuesday, in Room 113 of the Capitol.  Meetings are open only to Coalition members and invited guests.  Rep. Joey Fillingane (R--Sumrall) is the president of the           Rep. Fillingane   MLCC for 2006-07.

Conservative Coalition Honors Two of Its Own

The Mississippi Legislative Conservative Coalition presented its two highest membership awards at the MLCC annual banquet held March 21, 2005, at the Old Capitol Inn in Jackson.  The "Spirit of the Coalition Award" is given each year to the member who consistently embodies the ideals and principles of the organization, whether over a prolonged period of time or throughout a legislative career.  The "Legislator of the Year Award" is presented to a member who has made remarkable contributions in furthering the Coalition's goals and objectives during the preceding calendar year.  Rep. Jim Ellington (R--Raymond), pictured standing at the left, received the "Spirit of the Coalition Award," and Rep. Herb Frierson (R--Poplarville), pictured on the right, was honored as "Legislator of the Year."  These two awards are special recognitions given to two very special legislators by their appreciative and respectful colleagues.  Congratulations, Jim and Herb!

New Leaders Elected To Lead MLCC

New leadership has been elected to take the reins of the Mississippi Legislative Conservative Coalition for 2006-07.  Rep. Joey Fillingane (R--Sumrall), who served as MLCC Vice President for 2003-05, was elected to serve as the sixth President since the Coalition's founding in 1996.  Elected to serve with President Fillingane is  Vice President Rep. Brian Aldridge (R--Tupelo), pictured at left with Fillingane and U. S. Senator Trent Lott.  Also newly elected are:  Secretary Rep. Virginia Carlton (R--Columbia), Treasurer Rep. Clint Rotenberry (R--Mendenhall), and Board members Rep. Sid Bondurant (D--Grenada), Rep. Gary Chism (R--Columbus), Rep. Bill Denny (R--Jackson), Rep. Philip Gunn (R--Clinton), and Rep. Jessica Upshaw (R--Diamondhead).  There is a lot of new blood in the organization, with no less than five members of the House Freshman Class of 2004 (Aldridge, Bondurant, Carlton, Gunn and Upshaw) serving the MLCC either as newly-elected officers or board members.  Rounding out the Board for 2006-07 is Immediate Past President Rep. Mike Lott (R--Petal), who is ending two memorable years as leader of the Coalition.  Click on the following link to see a complete listing of the organization's entire membership, together with all current and newly-elected officers and directors.

Conservative Coalition Unveils '05 Agenda

The Mississippi Legislative Conservative Coalition has unveiled its official Legislative Agenda for the 2005 Regular Session of the Mississippi Legislature, according to Rep. Mike Lott (R--Petal), the current President of the MLCC.  Most prominent among the Coalition's agenda is the strong fiscal policy statement that the Coalition will insist that the eventual FY 2006 State Budget must employ responsible spending reductions   Click on the following link to see the entire 15-point MLCC agenda for the 2005 Regular Session as adopted by the full Coalition membership at the annual retreat held in Jackson on December 13, 2004. 

In accordance with the long-standing provisions of Article III of the Bylaws, which first were enacted in 1996, the membership of the Coalition formally is re-established each year, at the outset of the Regular Session, by secret ballot vote of the MLCC Board of Directors.  Accordingly, the official current membership of the Coalition will not be known until some time after the 2005 Regular Session is well underway.  Coalition members rightly expect each other to adhere generally to the organization's conservative principles regardless of party affiliation, as the MLCC is not a party caucus, but rather is proud to be a bipartisan organization which as of February 8, 2005 is composed of 46 Republicans and 15 Democrats.    Click here to access a current listing of 2005 MLCC members, as well as the current (2004-05) officers and board of directors.  This year's official and approved membership to date matches that of 2004 -- a record-number SIXTY-ONE (61) dues paying members -- fully ONE-HALF of the 122-member Mississippi House of Representatives. 

The events marking the 2004 Regular Session, and the accomplishments during the various extraordinary sessions last year, demonstrate vividly the growing, positive influence exerted within the Mississippi House of Representatives by the membership of the Conservative Coalition.  Click on the following link to see a partial listing of 2004 Legislative Successes enjoyed by the Mississippi Legislative Conservative Coalition.  Also, follow the link below to see a copy of the "Coalition Tort Reform Bill" -- the bill co-sponsored by sixty members of the House in 2004's first special session  -- 57 of whom were then members of the Mississippi Legislative Conservative Coalition!  And the efforts of the Coalition during the first special session paid off handsomely with the eventual passage of HB 13, the comprehensive tort reform bill (substantially similar to the Coalition-sponsored version) passed by both chambers and sent to the governor.  A summary of HB 13 is also available online.  At the bill signing ceremony in the Capitol on June 16, 2004, Governor Barbour stated that perhaps the most significant feature of HB 13 is the protection of innocent sellers -- a sentiment especially gratifying to members of the Mississippi Legislative Conservative Coalition, as the MLCC had spearheaded its Innocent Seller Amendment as a centerpiece of the tort reform efforts during the 2002 special session which lasted 83 days.

  MLCC members and their Senate colleagues celebrate Governor Barbour's signing of HB 13, Mississippi's new comprehensive tort reform law--Old Supreme Court Chamber, June 16, 2004

          2004 MLCC LEGISLATIVE SUCCESSES

 HB 13  FULL TEXT OF TORT REFORM BILL

 HB 13  Summary of Tort Reform Bill

Mississippi's new Governor, Haley Barbour, has made it a priority to confer regularly with MLCC members.  The governor is a frequent guest at the Coalition's weekly lunch meetings at the Capitol.

News:

Official 2005 MLCC Legislative Agenda

2003 MLCC Agenda Press Release

Positions:

Innocent Seller Position Paper (as prepared and distributed to House membership during the 2002 special session on tort reform)

What is the MLCC?

The Mississippi Legislative Conservative Coalition was established as a platform for conservatives in the Mississippi House of Representatives to express their views and positions. Its objective is to uphold, maintain and promote conservative values and to encourage the application of those values to current public policy.  Conservative values are based upon the belief that, as a free people, individual liberty is our greatest inheritance.  The greatest threat to individual liberty is the growth and centralization of governmental power and the exercise of that power through regulation and taxation.

Who can join MLCC?

The Mississippi Legislative Conservative Coalition is a bipartisan organization.  At no time will the Coalition endorse political candidates; nor shall the Coalition's written materials be used in political advertisements.  MLCC membership shall be open to the members of the Mississippi House of Representatives so long as they continue to subscribe to a conservative philosophy.

How can I learn more about MLCC?

Please browse this site to learn more about us. Read our policy statement and our bylaws, then if you would like to learn more or to ask a question that isn't answered here, you can email us here.

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