Blog

*Note: This page will be continuously updated as votes are taken and posted. By clicking on the bill number, you can view the full text of the bill, current status, and vote totals. Vote totals are preliminary and may differ from the final totals. To view the vote by party, copy and paste the names from the vote totals pdf here. You can view upcoming votes, along with my explanation, on my House Calendar page here.

 

Monday, March 19, 2018

 

• HB 1670: The House reconsidered this bill for the purposes of a technical amendment. The bill allows a city to allow the use of golf carts on their streets. I voted Yes, the measure passed 116-2.

 

• SB 3012: This bill extends the size of government by extending a local tax on citizens. The state should seek to decrease the tax burden on citizens at all levels of government. I voted No, the measure passed 102-8.

 

• SB 3018: This bill allows a county to transfer taxpayer funds directly to a private entity at the discretion of the board of supervisors. The state should seek to protect taxpayer dollars at all levels of government. I voted No, the measure passed 110-4.

 

• SB 3021: This bill allows a county to transfer taxpayer funds directly to a private entity at the discretion of the board of supervisors. The state should seek to protect taxpayer dollars at all levels of government. I voted No, the measure passed 110-3.

 

• SB 3028: This bill allows a county to use jail phone program proceeds to fund a prison ministry program. I voted Yes, the measure passed 116-0.

 

• HB 1521: This bill extends the size of government by extending a local tax on citizens. The state should seek to decrease the tax burden on citizens at all levels of government. I voted No, the measure passed 98-9.

 

• SB 3023: This bill allows a local board to send taxpayer dollars directly to a private entity. The state should seek to protect tax dollars at all levels of government. I voted No, the measure passed 107-5.

Tuesday, March 20, 2018

 

• HB 1563: The House considered the Senate’s amendments to this bill. This bill extends the size of government by extending a local tax on citizens. The state should seek to decrease the tax burden on citizens at all levels of government. I voted No, the measure passed. 

 

• HB 1685: This bill allows Wayne County supervisors to send taxpayer dollars directly to a private entity. The state should seek to protect taxpayer dollars at all levels of government. I voted No, the measure passed 107-6.

 

• HB 1692: This bill allows Copiah County supervisors to use taxpayer dollars and resources construct a road for the exclusive use of a private organization. I voted No, the measure passed 113-4.

 

• HB 1693: This bill allows Wayne County supervisors to send taxpayer dollars directly to a private entity. The state should seek to protect taxpayer dollars at all levels of government. I voted No, the measure passed 107-6.

 

• HB 1696: This bill expands accountability. It requires that payments made to a Rankin County utility service must be prioritized for repayment of bonds. I voted Yes, the measure passed 106-1.

 

• SB 3027: This bill expands local freedom by allowing the City of Oxford to authorize the use of golf carts on their streets. I voted Yes, the measure passed 108-4.

 

• SB 3037: This bill allows a municipality to provide natural gas services to residents who live outside the city limits. I voted Yes, the measure passed 118-0.

 

• SB 3057: This bill allows a municipality to provide natural gas services to residents who live outside the city limits. I voted Yes, the measure passed 116-0.

 

• SB 3067: This bill allows a local government to impose a new additional tax on its citizens. The state should seek to decrease the tax burden and protect the property of citizens at all levels of government. I voted No, the measure passed 95-13.

 

Thursday, March 22, 2018

 

• HCR 56: The House considered this resolution, which calls for a convention of the states to require the federal government to balance the budget. This will help reduce the size of the federal government and protect taxpayers. I voted Yes, the resolution passed 76-42.

 

• HCRs 92, 93: The House considered these ceremonial resolutions in a block. I voted Yes, the measures passed 115-0.

 

• HCRs 82, 85, 87, 88, 89, 90: The House considered these ceremonial resolutions in a block. I voted Yes, the measures passed 114-0.

 

Friday, March 23, 2018

 

• SB 2940: This bill allows a city to authorize the use of golf carts on their streets. I voted Yes, the measure passed 113-2.

 

• SB 3061: This bill allows Prentiss County to use money in the jail’s inmate canteen fund to purchase goods and services for the individuals incarcerated there. I voted Yes, the measure passed 115-0.

 

• SB 3075: This bill allows Jackson County to extend a local tax on its citizens. This will grow the size of government and undermines the conservative principle of limited government. The proper role of the state is to protect property and taxpayer dollars at all levels of government. I voted No, the measure passed 101-7.

 

• SB 3076: This bill allows Jackson County to send taxpayer dollars directly to a private entity at the discretion of the Board of Supervisors. This undermines the conservative principles of free enterprise and limited government. The state should seek to protect taxpayer dollars at all levels of government. I voted No, the measure passed 112-4.

 

• SB 3077: This bill allows the city of Vicksburg to expand their local government by building a new jail. I voted No, the measure passed 112-3.

 

• SB 3072: This bill expands the reasons that a local tax may be used by Hancock County. It allows the tax funds to be spent on a convention and visitor’s center. This undermines the conservative principles of free enterprise and limited government. I voted No, the measure passed 101-6.

 

 

Saturday, March 24, 2018

 

• HCRs 91, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98: The House passed these ceremonial and technical resolutions in a block. I voted Yes, the measures passed 116-0. 

 

• HCR 99: The House considered this ceremonial resolution. I voted Yes, the measure passed 119-0.

 

• HCR 100: The House considered this ceremonial resolution. I voted Yes, the measure passed 119-0. 

 

• HCRs 101, 102: The House considered these ceremonial resolutions in a block. I voted Yes, the measures passed 119-0. 

 

• SCRs 640, 641, 642, 643, 645, 647, 648, 649, 650, 651, 652: The House considered these ceremonial resolutions in a block. I voted Yes, the measures passed 119-0.

 

• SCRs 103, 104: The House considered these ceremonial resolutions in a block. I voted Yes, the measures passed 117-0.

 

• SB 3061: The House reconsidered this bill for an amendment. It allows several counties to use inmate canteen funds to provide services to inmates in jail. I voted Yes, the measure passed 119-0.

 

• HB 1665: This bill extends a local tax on citizens. The state should seek to protect property at all levels of government. I voted No, the measure passed 98-9.

 

• SB 3069: This bill increases a local tax on citizens of Hattiesburg. The state should seek to protect property at all levels of government. I voted No, the measure passed 90-14.

 

• SB 3059: This bill allows a city to enforce sewer ordinances on individuals who live outside the city limits but use the city’s sewer system. I voted Yes, the measure passed 115-0.

 

• SB 3070: This bill extends a law which allows Monroe County to contribute taxpayer dollars directly to a private entity for “beautification.” This undermines the conservative principle of limited government. I voted No, the measure passed 110-2.

 

• SB 3071: This bill extends a law which allows a local government to contribute up to $250,000 of taxpayer money to a chamber of commerce. This undermines the conservative principles of limited government and free enterprise. I voted No, the measure passed 93-13.

 

• SB 3079: This bill allows Lowndes County to contribute up to $130,000 of taxpayer funds to a private entity. This grows the size of government and undermines the conservative principles of limited government. I voted No, the measure passed 100-9.

 

Sunday, March 25, 2018

 

Each of the following votes were conference reports on appropriations bills to fund various state agencies for the upcoming fiscal year. One repeated concern that I hear from constituents is that our government is too big. While I appreciate the efforts of our leadership to craft these appropriations using a limited budget, our government is too large. We should practice the conservative principle of limited government by decreasing the tax dollars that are spent on these dozens of agencies and regulatory boards. For these reasons, I voted against most state government spending bills, with the exception of our constitutionally mandated responsibilities like the Governor’s office, legislature, court system, and payments on the debt. Below I’ve listed each appropriation bill along with the agency receiving tax dollars, and the vote totals.

 

• HB 1579: Auctioneer’s Commission, I voted No, the measure passed 110-5.
• HB 1580: Medical Licensure Board, I voted No, the measure passed 114-2.
• HB 1581: Public Employees Retirement System, I voted No, the measure passed 113-1.
• HB 1583: District Attorneys, I voted No, the measure passed 116-1.
• HB 1585: Legislature, I voted Yes, the measure passed 113-3.
• HB 1586: Capital Post-Conviction Counsel, I voted No, the measure passed 115-1.
• HB 1587: State Public Defender, I voted No, the measure passed 114-1.
• HB 1589: Fire Academy, I voted No, the measure passed 114-1.
• HB 1593: Authority for Educational Television, I voted No, the measure passed 90-24.
• HB 1594: Library Commission, I voted No, the measure passed 109-8.
• HB 1595: Arts Commission, I voted No, the measure passed 114-3.
• HB 1596: Department of Archives and History, I voted No, the measure passed 114-3.
• HB 1590: Public Service Commission, I voted No, the measure passed 117-1.
• HB 1591: Public Utilities Staff, I voted No, the measure passed 116-1.
• HB 1599: Department of Health, I voted No, the measure passed 115-1.
• HB 1604: Forestry Commission, I voted No, the measure passed 116-2.
• HB 1605: Soil and Water Conservation Commission, I voted No, the measure passed 115-2.
• HB 1607: Department of Environmental Quality, I voted No, the measure passed 112-5.
• HB 1608: Grand Gulf Military Monument Commission, I voted No, the measure passed 111-4.
• HB 1609: Oil and Gas Board, I voted No, the measure passed 114-2.
• HB 1616: Department of Finance and Administration Projects, I voted No, the measure passed 115-1.
• SB 2945: Institutions of Higher Learning Subsidiary Programs, I voted No, the measure passed 113-4.
• SB 2946: Institutions of Higher Learning Student Aid, I voted No, the measure passed 113-2.
• SB 2947: Institutions of Higher Learning, University Medical Center, I voted No, the measure passed 109-3.
• SB 2948: Alcorn State University Agricultural Programs, I voted No, the measure passed 114-2.
• SB 2949: MSU Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, I voted No, the measure passed 114-2.
• SB 2950: MSU Extension Service, I voted No, the measure passed 115-2. 
• SB 2951: MSU Forest and Wildlife Research Center, I voted No, the measure passed 114-2.
• SB 2952: MSU Veterinary Medicine College, I voted No, the measure passed 115-2.
• HB 1606: Department of Marine Resources, I voted No, the measure passed 115-1.
• SB 2958: Department of Public Safety, I voted No, the measure passed 117-1.
• SB 2956: Emergency Management Agency, I voted No, the measure passed 116-1.
• SB 2957: Military Department, I voted No, the measure passed 117-1.
• SB 2959: Veterans Affairs Board, I voted No, the measure passed 114-1.
• SB 2960: Judicial Performance Commission, I voted No, the measure passed 115-1.
• SB 2961: Ethics Commission, I voted No, the measure passed 117-1.
• SB 2962: Department of Employment Security, I voted No, the measure passed 116-1.
• SB 2964: Board of Tax Appeals, I voted No, the measure passed 116-1.
• SB 2965: Worker’s Compensation Commission, I voted No, the measure passed 116-1.
• SB 2966: Department of Mental Health, I voted No, the measure passed 113-2.
• SB 2967: Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway Development Authority, I voted No, the measure passed 115-3.
• SB 2968: State Aid Roads, I voted No, the measure passed 116-1.
• SB 2976: Gaming Commission, I voted No, the measure passed 112-5. A motion was made to recommit the bill to conference with instructions for the Governor to call a special session to create a lottery. I voted No, the motion failed 56-58.
• SB 2982: Department of Agriculture, I voted No, the measure passed 116-1.
• SB 2983: Egg Marketing Board, I voted No, the measure passed 113-5.
• SB 2984: Board of Animal Health, I voted No, the measure passed 114-2.
• SB 2985: Fair and Coliseum Commission, I voted No, the measure passed 113-2.
• SB 2986: Fair Livestock shows, I voted No, the measure passed 114-2.
• SB 2987: Department of Banking and Consumer Finance, I voted No, the measure passed 116-1.
• SB 2989: Governor’s Office, I voted Yes, the measure passed 114-0.
• SB 2990: Department of Audit, I voted No, the measure passed 115-1.
• SB 2992: Personnel Board, I voted No, the measure passed 116-1.
• SB  2993: Secretary of State, I voted No, the measure passed 115-1.
• SB 2995: Debt service payments, I voted Yes, the measure passed 117-1.

 

• HB 1217: This bill lowers the population threshold for special districts, which will allow more cities to set up tax exemptions for businesses. This will decrease the size of government and expand local control of taxation. I voted Yes, the measure passed 117-0. 

 

• HB 1557: This bill expands a tax credit program to incentivize business investment. The state should seek to reduce the aggregate tax burden for all individuals across the board to spur business development. I voted for Yes, the measure passed 115-0.

 

• HB 1566: This bill reduces the size of government. It creates a tax credit to reduce the tax burden on citizens who contribute to charitable organizations that help children get adopted. The state should always seek to decrease the aggregate tax burden for all individuals. I voted Yes, the measure passed 118-0.

 

• HB 1649: This bill grows the size of government and undermines the conservative principle of limited government. It borrows more money at taxpayer’s expense, adding to the state’s debt. The state should prioritize existing tax dollars for infrastructure projects and reduce the debt. I voted No, the measure passed 106-7. 

 

• SB 2312: This bill expands sales tax exemptions. It exempts nonprofit events held on public property that don’t benefit specific individuals. I voted Yes, the measure passed 117-0. 

 

• HB 1671: This bill allows the Warren County board of supervisors to send taxpayer dollars directly to private entities. The state should seek to protect the property of taxpayers at all levels of government. I voted Yes, the measure passed 101-9. 

 

• HB 1687: This bill restores the right to vote for an individual who has been convicted of a crime and has since paid their debt to society. I voted Yes, the measure passed 107-2.

 

• HB 1688: This bill restores the right to vote for an individual who has been convicted of a crime and has since paid their debt to society. I voted Yes, the measure passed 106-3.

 

• HB 1690: This bill restores the right to vote for an individual who has been convicted of a crime and has since paid their debt to society. I voted Yes, the measure passed 106-4.

 

• HB 1700: This bill restores the right to vote for an individual who has been convicted of a crime and has since paid their debt to society. I voted Yes, the measure passed 102-5. 

 

• HB 1691: This bill restores the right to vote for an individual who has been convicted of a crime and has since paid their debt to society. I voted Yes, the measure passed 107-3.

 

• SB 3068: This bill extends a local tax on citizens in Lowndes County. The state should seek to protect taxpayer dollars at all levels of government. I voted No, the measure passed 85-18.

 

• SB 3013:  This bill extends a local tax on citizens in Carroll County. The state should seek to protect taxpayer dollars at all levels of government. I voted No, the measure passed 91-12. 

 

 

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