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. 

 

Monday, March 4, 2019

• SB 2844: This bill approves extra spending by local governments on their employees. While I think we need to take care of our state employees, we need to reexamine how we distribute our tax dollars. I voted No, the motion passed 112-3.

 

• SB 2864: Caution needed as 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 No, the motion passed 114-2.

 

• The House also considered these commemorative resolutions. I voted Yes, they all passed unanimously: HC 68, HC 69, HC 70, HC 71, HC 72, HC 75, HC 76, HR 50, HR 51, HR 52, HR 53, HR 54, HR 55, HR 56, HR 59, HR 60, HR 61, HR 63, SC 591, SC 594, SC 595, and SC 606.

Wednesday, March 6, 2019

• SB 2161: This bill changes the standards for being the State Medical Examiner. I voted No, the motion passed 82-31.

 

• SB 2392: This bill changes several definitions, notably “Research-Based Program” and “Promising Program” now include “Rigorous Controlled Evaluation” in their definitions. RCE means an evaluation for which the program received a ranking of at least three (3) on the Maryland Scientific Methods Scale, which level requires a control group. The law is additionally changed from having the Legislative Budget Office recommending applying this bill to different agencies to having the Peer Committee staff recommending that the Legislative Budget Office require additional agencies to comply with the provisions of subsections (1), (2) and (3). Agencies designated by the Legislative Budget Office shall comply with subsections (1), (2) and (3) of this section. I voted Yes, the motion passed 117-0.

 

• SB 2444: This bill increases the taxes paid to a tax collector. The State should seek to reduce costly taxes and regulations on the economy so tax collectors paychecks can purchase more, not increase the tax burden on the tax payers. I voted No, the motion passed 104-8.

 

• SB 2541: This bill extends a repealer on the Health Care Expendable Fund. There is a risk of loss of money from investing the fund to earn interest. If the State Treasurer, in consultation with the Executive Director of the Department of Finance and Administration, determines that there is a need to borrow funds to offset any temporary cash-flow deficiencies in the Health Care Expendable Fund created in this section, the Treasurer may borrow those funds from any state-source special funds in the State Treasury. I voted No, the motion passed 115-1.

 

• SB 2681: This bill allows Jackson State University to sell property. I voted Yes, the motion passed 115-1.

 

• SB 2827: This bill seeks to increase the salary of local public officials and will result in a tax increase. The state should reduce taxes and regulations to increase employment opportunities. I voted No, the motion passed 93-14.

 

• SB 2918: The purchase of aircraft to be used for the purpose in this chapter shall be in compliance with Sections 31-7-1 through 31-7-21. The Department of Finance and Administration is hereby exempt from the requirements of Section 27-104-7(2)(f) when procuring aircraft maintenance, parts, equipment and/or services. The process undertaken by the Department of Finance and Administration for procurement of the maintenance facility shall be reported to the Public Procurement Review Board (PPRB) but is no longer subject to the rules and regulations of the PPRB. I voted Yes, the motion passed 114-0.

 

• SB 2947: This bill seeks to allow the State Fiscal Officer to reduce the budget of the Office of State Aid Road Construction by no more than 5% if he finds the funds are not available or break the law. The bill further adds the Office of State Aid Road Construction to code section 27-104-13. I voted Yes, the motion passed 110-2.

 

• The House also considered these commemorative resolutions. I voted Yes, they all passed unanimously: HC 66, HC 67, HC 74, HC 77, HC 78, HC 79, HR 64, HR 65, HR 66, and HR 67.

 

Thursday, March 7, 2019

• HB 1423: This bill seeks to increase the tax burden on industries that attract tourists to fund a marketing program to attract tourists. The state should seek to decrease the tax burdens on citizens at all levels of government. I voted No, the motion passed 99-4.

 

• HB 1565: This bill seeks to increase the tax burden on industries that attract tourists to fund a marketing program to attract tourists. The state should seek to decrease the tax burdens on citizens at all levels of government. I voted No, the motion passed 100-4.

 

• HB 1677: The Board of Supervisors of Hinds County is authorized to use $50,000 of County taxes to give to the City of Jackson to fund the Jackson Zoo. The city should reduce taxes and regulations to attract business. I voted No, the motion passed 100-7.

 

• HB 1678: The Board of Supervisors of Hinds County is authorized to use $50,000 of Hinds County taxes to fund a historic landmark that commemorates African American public education struggles. Hinds County should focus on improving and funding current public schools and students. I voted No, the motion passed 104-4.

 

• HB 1691: This bill authorizes the City of Union to expand their water services outside of the city but that they may not charge twice the rate that is charged inside the city regardless of the cost. I voted Yes, the motion passed 116-0.

 

• SB 2043: This bill increases the fee charged for a marriage license. I voted No, the motion passed 96-17.

 

• SB 2133: This bill seeks to increase the dependency on the state for financial well being by extending a repealer. The state should reduce taxes and regulations so that the citizens can be self reliant enough to fund employment or charity. I voted No, the motion passed 114-3.

 

• SB 2272: This bill allows for interest on general obligation loans to fund the cost of the MDA administering taxes to economic development. The state should seek to decrease spending on special projects and pay down the state debt. If the state would lower taxes and regulations, then economic growth would follow. I voted No, the motion passed 112-4.

 

• SB 2425: This bill seeks to divert sales tax revenue in Jackson county, which has incurred debt to redevelop an economically declining area. It borrows more money at taxpayer’s expense, adding to the state’s debt. The state should seek to decrease the tax burdens on citizens at all levels of government. I voted No, the motion passed 110-5.

 

• SB 2570: This bill increases the number of special license plates that people can pay additional money for. I voted Yes, the motion passed 115-0.

 

• SB 2577: This bill creates a committee to study processes to streamline the issuance of motor vehicle tax and licensing. I voted Yes, the motion passed 115-1.

 

• SB 2598: This bill extends a repealer granting people who invest in government economic projects to have a tax credit. This distorts investment from the free market to where the government decides the economy should grow. The government should cut taxes and regulations to encourage growth. I voted No, the motion passed 110-4.

 

• SB 2599: This bill allows for a portion of the state sales tax to go to the Mississippi Development Authority Job Training Grant Fund. I voted Yes, the motion passed 116-1.

 

• SB 2602: This bill extends a repealer to allow the Mississippi Home Corporation to issue bonds to finance home buying and renting. This results in moral hazard by creating an incentive for consumers purchase or rent what would otherwise be unaffordable by both increasing housing prices and available tax grants and loans. I voted No, the motion passed 110-7.

 

• SB 2603: This bill extends tax rebates on Motion Picture Production Companies. I voted No, the motion passed 101-16.

 

• SB 2604: This bill seeks to eliminate the savings necessary to justify a variable rate refunding bond used to pay off old bond debts. The state should seek to reduce spending or raise taxes to pay off maturing debt. I voted No, the motion passed 111-5.

 

• SB 2669: This bill extends a repealer allowing for the MDA to spend interest collected from tax loans on their expenses. The state should seek to decrease spending and pay down the states debt. I voted No, the motion passed 112-4.

 

• SB 2810: This bill allows for the Mississippi Development Authority to sell or lease land, and the Mississippi Transportation Commission to lease property. I voted Yes, the motion passed 117-0.

 

• SB 2854: This bill seeks to increase the tax burden on industries that attract tourists to fund a marketing program to attract tourists. The state should seek to decrease the tax burdens on citizens at all levels of government. I voted No, the motion passed 97-4.

 

• SB 2885: This bill extends a repealer from 2029 to 2033 on businesses exempted from local taxation if they are located in or near to growth and prosperity counties as determined by the MDA. While a step in the right direction, the state should seek to reduce the tax burden on everyone, not just those in certain parts of the state. I voted Yes, the motion passed 115-0.

 

• The House also considered these commemorative resolutions. I voted Yes, they all passed unanimously: HC 82, HR 76, and HR 77.

 

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