News
MLCC Adopts 2010 Session Primary Objective
In the current economy, households and small businesses all around Mississippi are tightening their belts and refusing to spend money they don’t have. The Mississippi Legislative Conservative Coalition believes it is entirely reasonable and appropriate for the State to do likewise. In light of the ongoing economic challenges facing the State, the Coalition at its recent 2009 Annual Retreat adopted the following policy statement as its primary objective for the 2010 Regular Legislative Session:
The Coalition will support only those appropriations measures which are brought forth at a time when the Legislature is fully advised of the amount of State funds available to be spent and which authorize spending only within the known funding limits. The Coalition supports completing this budgeting process within the 90-day Legislative Session.
In addition, the Coalition voted to support in concept two separate “good government” proposals expected to be introduced during the Session. The first is a proposal to generally require at least 72 hours be given to members of the Legislature to review all bills and conference reports brought to the floor prior to a vote on such bills or conference reports. The people have the right to expect their elected representatives to know exactly what is contained in legislation before them and to formulate a reasoned opinion prior to a vote.
The second is a proposal to adopt the Mississippi Performance Review Act. Taxpayers expect and deserve their elected officials to be good stewards of their money not only during a crisis, but day in and day out. The Mississippi Performance Review Act would create an independent public-private commission that is tasked with reviewing all state agencies and then making recommendations to the legislature for consideration. Cost savings are always important as well as the efficiency and effectiveness of operations and delivery of services.
Conservative Coalition 2009 Retreat Rescheduled
Due to the possibility of a Special Session late last month or earlier this month, the Mississippi Legislative Conservative Coalition Annual Retreat has been rescheduled to November 19th and 20th. The topics and location remain the same. We look forward to updating you soon after the Retreat.
2009 Conservative Coalition Retreat Announced
The Mississippi Legislative Conservative Coalition will hold its annual retreat on October 29 - 30, 2009 at the Eagle Ridge Conference Center in Raymond, Mississippi. A primary purpose of the Annual Retreat is to prepare for the upcoming Legislative Session and adopt a consensus for specific conservative legislation and general ideas to support.
Coalition President Brian Aldridge is pleased to announce that Senator Alan Nunnelee (R - Tupelo) is scheduled to speak during the annual Retreat Dinner.
Among other topics to be considered by the Coalition during the Retreat are the overall plan of action for the 2010 Legislative Session, charter schools, and the need for a conservative response to the current economy and budget situation.
Photos from the 2008 Annual Retreat are included in the September 30th post.
Highlights from Mississippi Conservative Coalition Retreat 2008
Here’s a photo gallery of the recent Mississippi Conservative Coalition Retreat
Sine Die
On the Governor’s call for a Special Session, the Mississippi Legislature convened at 10:00 a.m. on July 10th to fund the Mississippi Public Service Commission and Mississippi Public Utilities Staff. Yesterday’s post gave a brief explanation of how the PSC went unfunded during the June 28th Special Session.
This morning, after much debate, the House passed a bill by a vote of 72 to 41 which added three new positions to the PSC staff. In the Senate, this bill was amended to remove the new positions, but to provide additional funding (some $280,000) to fund three existing but un-filled positions. Another provision of the bill is that the PEER Committee will conduct research into best practices for public utilities regulators and report back to the Legislature with recommendations, if any.
All three Public Service Commisssioners agreed with the Senate amendments to both the PSC and Public Utilities Staff bills, and the House concurred in the amendment. Thus, the Special Session that began this morning was concluded by 3:45 p.m. this afternoon, and the House of Representatives adjourned Sine Die.
As a sidelight, one interesting development today: a bill was presented in the House to take $8.2 Million from the Health Care Trust Fund to pay matching dollars for mental health crisis centers around the State. This issue had not been included in the Governor’s call for a Special Session. However, on point of order made by Rep. Jim Ellington, the Speaker made a ruling from the Speaker’s stand that the bill was properly before the House. Ultimately the bill passed the House with 65 votes; however, there were 57 members who did not cast a vote as they felt the bill was not properly before the House. In the Senate, the bill was not taken up as it was not included in the Governor’s call.
