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 26, 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 1584: Supreme Court and court system, I voted Yes, the measure passed 117-0.
• HB 1592: Department of Education, I voted No, the measure passed 117-1.
• HB 1600: Departement of Human Services, I voted No, the measure passed 118-1.
• HB 1602: Department of Rehab Services, I voted No, the measure passed 116-1. 
• HB 1610: Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks,  I voted No, the measure passed 115-2. 
• SB 2954: Community and Junior Colleges, I voted No, the measure passed 118-1. 
• SB 2991: Department of Information Technology Services, I voted No, the measure passed 118-1. 
• SB 2988: Department of Finance and Administration, I voted No, the measure passed.
• SB 2994: Treasurer’s Office, I voted No, the measure passed.
• HB 1582: Attorney General, I voted No, the measure passed 113-1. 
• HB 1588: Department of Insurance, I voted No, the measure passed 118-1.
• SB 2953: Community and Junior College Board, I voted No, the measure passed 117-1.
• HB 1617: Deficit spending, I voted No, the measure passed 115-1.
• SB 2944: Institutions of Higher Learning, I voted No, the measure passed 115-2.
• SB 2955: Department of Corrections, I voted No, the measure passed 115-1.
• HB 1597: Department of Transportation, I voted No, the measure passed 118-1.
• SB 2996: Mississippi Development Authority, I voted No, the measure passed 111-3.
• SB 2963: Department of Revenue, I voted No, the measure passed 118-1.
• HB 1598: Division of Medicaid, I voted No, the measure passed 116-1.

 

• HB 354: This bill requires that a portion of general fund revenue growth be allocated to road and bridge construction and repair, divided equally among cities and counties. I voted Yes, the measure passed 119-0.

 

• SB 3013: 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 98-11.

 

• HB 995: This bill expands freedom by allowing distillers to sell products at their location. While it regulates how and when they may sell these products, the bill expands freedom by allowing an activity that is currently prohibited by the government. I voted Yes, the measure passed 93-23.

 

• HB 325: This bill, as amended, provides protections to make it easier for individuals to get their driver’s licenses back after their car insurance has lapsed. I voted Yes, the measure passed 107-4.

 

Tuesday, March 27, 2018

 

• SB 2675: This bill restructures the Department of Child Protective Services. It moves the agency to a sub-agency under the Department of Human Services. I voted Yes, the measure passed 114-0.

 

• HB 1202: This bill helps protect public safety by requiring that government vehicles with flashing lights are required to use those lights when traveling over 30mph over the speed limit. I voted Yes, the measure passed 117-0.

 

• SB 2779: This bill authorizes a state department to charge other agencies for technology services. This will allow the department to more accurately provide services to agencies with the most need. I voted Yes, the measure passed 118-0.

 

• SB 2855: This bill expands the scope of local governments. It allows governments to exceed budgets and increase spending for special benefit plans. I voted No, the measure passed 114-2.

 

• HB 693: This bill gives local governments more authority to appeal tax assessments if individuals disagree with assessed values. This will help protect property owners. I voted Yes, the measure passed 118-0.

 

• SB 2209: This bill allows a number of organizations to apply for and get distinctive license plates. The organizations must bear the expense of the license plates. I voted Yes, the measure passed 117-0.

 

• SB 2578: This bill states that if a property was illegally exempted from taxation, then the taxpayer is liable only for the taxes owed and not subject to penalties and interest because of the error. I voted Yes, the measure passed 119-0.

 

• SB 2618: This bill expands freedom by allowing a particular resort area to sell alcoholic beverages. The state should seek to undo these regulations whenever possible. I voted Yes, the measure passed 91-20.

 

• HB 736: This bill aims to reduce the cost of operating state government by requiring that existing office space is considered before agencies decide to lease space not owned by the government. The state currently owns properties that are vacant, and this bill could help reduce costs. I voted Yes, the measure passed 116-0.

 

• HB 767: This bill reduces the size of government by allowing the Department of Mental Health to sell a property currently owned by the state. I voted Yes, the measure passed 118-0.

 

• HB 1040: This bill requires all state law enforcement agencies to use standardized crime reporting systems which comply with federal standards. I voted Yes, the measure passed 118-0.

 

• HB 1150: This bill designates a section of highway in honor of several recognized citizens of the state. I voted Yes, the measure passed 118-0.

 

• HB 1239: This bill clarifies the process that allows individuals to appeal decisions of local governing bodies to circuit courts. It streamlines this process to help citizens reach a conclusion. I voted Yes, the measure passed 117-0.

 

• HB 1343: This bill helps pave the way for automated vehicles in the state by defining the term “platoon” and exempting these coordinated vehicles from certain traffic regulations. The state should seek to remove regulations that prohibit these innovative technologies from operating in the state. I voted Yes, the measure passed 118-1.

 

• SB 2138: This bill simply provides civil immunity to individuals working on behalf of a state judicial committee. This immunity already exists for other judicial commissions, this bill just extends that immunity to special committees created by the state courts. I voted Yes, the measure passed 116-2.

 

• SB 2197: This bill updates the state’s “Good Samaritan” law to apply to alcohol. This law is intended to help reduce drug and alcohol overdoses by giving criminal immunity for drug or alcohol charges to anyone who reports an overdose. I voted Yes, the measure passed 112-0.

 

• SB 2458: This bill renames several state highways to honor certain individuals. I voted Yes, the measure passed 118-0.

 

• SB 2467: The bill extends the size of government by reenacting a law that places regulations on how individuals may insure their homes. I voted No, the measure passed 99-18.

 

• SB 2473: This bill expands property rights in the state by giving landlords more authority to determine how to lease their property. The state should seek to decrease these regulations and allow the free market to govern these transactions. I voted Yes, the measure passed 105-8.

 

• SB 2526: This bill requires occupational licensing boards to review their rules and regulations to find any that should be removed and submit them to a review commission. These boards often make it difficult for individuals to enter the workforce, and this bill helps reduce these burdensome regulations. I voted Yes, the measure passed 117-1.

 

• SB 2614: This bill defines conflicts of interest for individuals who serve on public hospital boards. This is intended to prevent corruption in these entities. Government should leave the private sector to manage healthcare to prevent these problems. I voted Yes, the measure passed 104-11.

 

• SB 2836: This bill extends restrictions on how the state may operate the Division of Medicaid. It makes a number of changes giving the Governor more latitude to cut the costs associated with the program, which are skyrocketing. This will allow the executive branch to reduce the size of this government program. I voted Yes, the measure passed 106-6.

 

• SB 2841: This bill aims to help promote employment among those who have had an interaction with the criminal justice system. This bill will increase employment opportunities and provide significant cost savings to the state. I voted Yes, the measure passed 119-0.

 

• SB 2934: This bill revises the definition of “dog fighting” to include possessing materials that reference dog fighting. It drastically increases criminal penalties for not only actual dog fighting, but possessing any materials that could be related to dog fighting. It raises the maximum penalty from 3 years in prison to 5 years. This undermines the conservative principle of limited government. It will lead to an increased incarcerated population, and research has shown that merely increasing sentencing lengths does not deter criminal behavior. I voted No, the measure passed 109-5.

 

• HB 1637: This bill extends a local tax. The state should seek to decrease the tax burdens on citizens at all levels of government. I voted No, the measure passed 93-12.

 

• HCR 105: This is a ceremonial resolution. I voted Yes, the measure passed 117-0.

 

• SCRs 653, 654, 655: The House considered these ceremonial resolutions in a block. I voted Yes, the measures passed 119-0. 

 

• SCR 657: The House considered this ceremonial resolution, I voted Yes, the measure passed 118-0.

 

 

Wednesday, March 27, 2018

 

• SB 2773: This bill sends state funds to a variety of special projects. The state should seek to decrease spending on special projects and pay down the state’s debt. It changes appropriations to increase government spending on certain agencies. This undermines the conservative principle of limited government. I voted No, the measure passed 115-1.

 

• SCR 658: The House considered this ceremonial resolution. I voted Yes, the measure passed 116-0.

 

• SB 2618: This bill expands freedom by allowing a particular resort area to sell alcoholic beverages. The state should seek to undo these regulations whenever possible. I voted Yes, the measure passed 92-20.

 

• HB 1306: This bill limits the freedom to contract. It voids any construction contracts concerning buildings in the state if the contracts require dispute resolution take place outside the state. This violates the conservative principle of free enterprise and limits the liberty of contractors and makes it more difficult to do business in Mississippi. I voted No, the measure passed 97-14.

 

• SB 2663: This bill expands the scope of state government. It makes it more difficult for individuals convicted of drug offenses to regain their license to drive. The new drug testing program authorized in this bill could require individuals to remain completely drug-free to get their license back, although opioid addiction must be treated often times by prescription drugs. This is an overly broad solution to a problem which will have the unintended consequence of making it more difficult for these individuals to recover. I voted No, the measure passed 110-1.

 

• SB 2197: This bill updates the state’s “Good Samaritan” law to apply to alcohol. This law is intended to help reduce drug and alcohol overdoses by giving criminal immunity for drug or alcohol charges to anyone who reports an overdose. I voted Yes, the measure passed 112-0.

 

 

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