From fully funding the Mississippi Adequate Education Program and mental health centers to the future of the Delta Correctional Facility and economic development, lawmakers representing Leflore County are preparing for Tuesday’s opening session of the state Legislature.
State Sen. David Jordan, D-Greenwood, said education has to be one of the top priorities. He would like to see the state adopt a pre-kindergarten program and has discussed the idea with Lt. Gov.-elect Tate Reeves.
“We’re one of the few states that hasn’t done it,” he said.
The senator said he will reintroduce a bill requiring two years of college for all school board members.
“On-the-job training can only go so far. ... I do think you need education if you are talking about children,” he said.
Jordan, a former science teacher, said he is proud of the advancements made in Greenwood and Leflore County public schools. More state funding would help, he said.
State Rep. Willie Perkins, D-Greenwood, and state Rep. Linda Whittington, D-Schlater, both said fully funding MAEP is a priority for them also.
“Education and health, if we can manage those things, we’ll be doing really well,” Whittington said.
The U.S. Justice Department has just issued a report on the mental health system in the state. “They are going to want to see more community-based mental health. That ties into our Community Health Centers,” Whittington said.
Community-based systems provide good treatment at a lower cost, she said.
“The thing about it is it costs us $150,000 per patient at Whitfield. For some people, yes, that’s necessary,” she said.
If the Legislature fails to act, the state might be sued by the Justice Department, she said.
Whittington said another health-related item is the sunsetting of the hospital bed tax on July 1. The tax currently provides the state’s $90 million Medicaid match and has received some support from hospitals in the Delta.
“It’s an important thing. We should keep it going,” Whittington said.
State Sen. Lydia Chassaniol, R-Winona, said she’s already pre-filed a bill that will allow the soon--to-be-shuttered Delta Correctional Facility to be converted into a regional jail.
“We’ve got to do something. There are 200 some jobs that about to go ‘ptooey,’” she said.
Delta Correctional employs 241 workers.
Chassaniol, who in the past has served on the senate’s Corrections Committee, said there appears to be more of a move toward regional jails now. She said she has already talked with officials in Leflore County about her bill.
On the job front, Jordan said he’d like to the development of a consortium in which several counties could come together and build an industrial park, which would be similar to an effort in Tupelo.
“We need to adopt that concept and bring it to the Delta. If we could have a major industry locate here, we could come off the bottom,” he said.
Perkins said he will continue to focus on the four-laning of Mississippi 7 from Grenada to Greenwood, making it a “first-tier” project that will be placed on the fast track.
He also said he would like the Legislature to fund a disparity study regarding minority contractor hiring by the state.
“The state of Mississippi has a terrible, terrible, terrible record on minority contract hiring,” Perkins said.
He said he’s concerned that state Attorney General Jim Hood, a Democrat, is awarding contracts to private law firms without any signs of diversity toward minority-owned law firms.
“I’ve had concerns for a long time, and this attorney general is fully aware of my concerns,” he said.
Regarding local issues, Perkins said he’s considering a bill that would place a cap on the salary of chancery clerks.
“Once a chancery clerk reaches that cap, then they cannot serve as county administrator,” he said.
Perkins said he is also considering legislation that would subject any politician who switches parties once in office to possible recall by the voters.
“I think that is nothing but fraud to the community,” he said.
Chassaniol said tourism is also a big player in this session.
One thing, she is proposing is designating U.S. 82 from Columbus to Greenville as a “Heritage Highway.”
Similar to a program already in place in Georgia, the designation would spark tourism along the highway, Chassaniol said.
“Each town has its own interesting thing about it. Museums, blues markers, whatever. ... By getting this official designation, every town on that roadway will be spotlighted,” she said.
The effort only requires signage, and it could be as simple as “Stop here, leave money” or “Come back and see us and bring friends,” Chassaniol said jokingly.
Jordan is focused on tourism, too.
“Tourism is the thing that is going for us. I just want to do what we can to develop more tourism. That’s why I’m interested in working together. People will come here,” said Jordan.
Chassaniol said the construction of the new Mississippi Highway Patrol substation, which will be located in the Greenwood-Leflore Industrial Park, should start by June. The the funding for the substation was diverted shortly after Hurricane Katrina.
Now, she’s watching it like a hawk. “You have to monitor this stuff,” she said.
State Rep. Bobby Howell, R-Kilmichael, said the budget will be very tight this year.
He said he’s concerned that the state park system, which has been neglected for years due to tight budgets, needs to be funded to prevent it from deteriorating further.
Howell vowed to work with everyone, across party lines, in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives.
Whittington offered a similar sentiment.
“I hope we have a very civil session,” she said. “It is fine for us to disagree — if we can just get away from maintaining such strict party lines that we can’t work together.”
