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, January 28, 2019

• HB 325: This bill seeks to increase taxation to attract tourists. The state should seek to decrease spending on items outside the core functions of government. I voted No, the motion passed 92-20.
• The house also voted on these commemorative resolutions. I voted Yes, they passed unanimously: HC18, HC19, HC25, HC26, HC28, HC32, HR14, HR15, SC501, SC502, SC503, SC504, SC505, SC507, SC509, SC512, SC513, SC514, SC515, SC516, SC517, SC518, SC519, SC520, SC521, SC522, SC523, SC525, SC526, SC527, SC528, SC529, SC530, SC532, SC533, SC534, and SC540.

Tuesday, January 29, 2019

• HB4: This bill allows business owners to practice preferential discrimination when hiring veterans. When consumers decide which businesses will succeed or fail, the resulting profit motive will greatly reduce discrimination unrelated to job performance and reward those who put the interest of their customers first. I voted Yes, the motion passed 118-0.
• HB322: This bill seeks to reduce the liability of the State Guaranty Fund by stating: Covered Claim shall not include any claim that would otherwise be a covered claim under this paragraph that has been rejected or denied by any other state guaranty fund based upon that states statutory exclusions regarding the insured’s net worth. When consumers decide which businesses will succeed or fail, the resulting profit motive will greatly reduce bad business practices and reward those who put the interest of their customers first. While the State Guaranty Fund does violate the principles of the free market, this does not repeal the fund, it instead limits which citizens can use it. I voted Yes, the motion passed 110-0.
• HB323: This bill expands the scope of government by adding additional regulations. The state should seek to undo governments regulations whenever possible. When consumers decide which businesses will succeed or fail, the resulting profit motive will greatly reduce bad business practices and reward those who put the interest of their customers first. I voted No, the motion passed 110-4.
• HB324: This bill expands the scope of government by adding additional regulations. The state should seek to undo governments regulations whenever possible. When consumers decide which businesses will succeed or fail, the resulting profit motive will greatly reduce bad business practices and reward those who put the interest of their customers first. I voted No, the motion passed 109-7.

Wednesday, January 30, 2019

• HB344: This bill seeks to increase the power of the president of a county board of supervisors to declare an emergency in cases of natural disaster or invasion. The mayor or governing body of a municipality, the governing body of a county, and the Governor of Mississippi already have this power. Citizens should be encouraged to be self reliant, prepared, and practice mutual aid. Dependence on the state will weaken residents ability provide help. I voted No, the motion passed 115-2.
• HB630: This bill expands insurance licensing to cover limited lines of credit for self storage units. While more business opportunities and insurance options are good for the people, the state should enforce contracts and rights, not limit contracts and willing business opportunities through licensing and regulations. I voted Yes, the motion passed 114-2.
• HB752: This bill seeks to modify dental insurance contracts. The state should enforce contracts and rights, not limit contracts and willing business opportunities through licensing and regulations. When consumers decide which businesses will succeed or fail, the resulting profit motive will greatly reduce bad business practices and reward those who put the interest of their customers first. I voted No, the motion passed 103-9.
• HB785: This bill exempts motor vehicles in a dealerships inventory from being required to have motor vehicle liability insurance if the vehicle does not have a motor inside presently. The state should seek to decrease costly regulations whenever possible. I voted Yes, the motion passed 111-3.
• HB874: This bill increases the amount of funds counties can use to feed prisoners. I voted Yes, the motion passed 118-0.
• HB924: This bill allows former public employees to keep 50% of their retirement pension after being elected to public office. I voted No, the motion passed 107-6.
• HB1249: This bill allows local governing authorities, if they so choose, to pay for the expense of additional insurance benefits paid to public employees as compensation for work. While this may result in additional taxes, local government is best suited to administer laws and regulations. I voted No, the motion passed 112-4.

Thursday, January 31, 2019

• HB348: This bill seeks to create additional punishments for smuggling contraband in prison. The punishments do nothing to rehabilitate the offender and instead add to the tax burden. Other punishments should be prescribed that do not add to the tax burden. I voted No, the motion passed 97-20.
• HB698: This bill calls for public works by any state agency or division, on or before the date and time established to receive bids for any contract, to be budgeted but that additional allocations to the budget can occur at any time. I voted No, the motion passed 112-4.
• HB807: This bill seeks to limit foreigners and corporations from buying public land. The state should not be in the business of selling-for-use or leasing land. If the state is selling land because the land has been forfeited because of taxes, instead of limiting who the land is sold to, the taxes should be lowered to alleviate the fear of land being bought by nonresidents or corporations. I voted No, the motion passed 104-10.
• HB898: his bill increases government transparency for State agencies by requiring the Mississippi Joint Committee on Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review (PEER) to conduct a thorough and regular review of agencies to determine whether they are still relevant and fulfilling a necessary function of government. The report must be delivered to members of the Legislature, the Lieutenant Governor and the Governor on December 15 of each year and made public on December 31 of each year. I voted Yes, the motion passed 99-15.
• HB961: This bill seeks to use the Department of Finance and Administration to fulfill a land transfer from the Department of Mental Health to the Board of Supervisors of Tate County, Mississippi. The bill states that the Department of Finance and Administration shall only transfer and convey the unused and undeveloped portion of the property specifically designated for use by the Mississippi Department of Mental Health to the Board of Supervisors of Tate County. I voted Yes, the motion passed 113-3.
• HB1237: This bill seeks to punish those who have cellphones smuggled to them in prison with 3-15 years additional prison time and/or $25,000. Additional prison time for inmates will result in additional tax burdens. Smuggling will continue so long as wages for prison guards are low enough to incentive breaking the law or looking the other way. I voted No, the motion passed 105-9.
• The house also voted on these commemorative resolutions.I voted Yes, they passed unanimously: HC36 and HC45.

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