Jackson Free Press

By Rep. Erik Fleming -- Haley Reeves Barbour's inauguration and first address to the citizens as Mississippi's 63rd governor and the announcement of committee assignments in the House of Representatives highlighted the second week of the 2004 Legislature.

Gov. Barbour took the oath of office on Jan. 13 from State Supreme Court Justice Edwin Pittman, as a throng estimated at 5,000 people jammed the south lawn of the State Capitol to watch the event. Speaker of the House Billy McCoy called the inauguration ceremony to order.

The Yazoo City native and longtime national Republican leader expressed gratitude for the trust placed in him. "The people of Mississippi can bestow no greater honor on one of its sons or daughters than to elect him governor," Barbour said. "I'm deeply honored to serve as your governor, and I'm also humbled — I'm humbled by the enormous trust you've placed in me. I'll do my utmost to be deserving of that trust."

He praised outgoing Gov. Ronnie Musgrove's help in providing a smooth transition from one leader to another. Gov. Barbour then pushed politics aside, saying to other officeholders, "This is not about party or politics. It's about solving problems and taking advantage of opportunities. As elected officials, we serve not as Republicans or Democrats, but as public servants whose fellow Mississippians have elected us to move our state forward. We're not here to represent black or white, urban or rural, north Mississippi or south Mississippi."
He promised to "establish and maintain" a solid working relationship with the Legislature. "Just as nobody ever got elected by himself, no one can govern by himself," said the 56-year-old Barbour. "Solving problems and seizing opportunities require team work."

Speaker McCoy gave out committee assignments to those of us in the House of Representatives. The committees will begin work in earnest to consider the bills and constitutional amendments proposed by the 174 members of the Legislature (122 House members, 52 Senate). Traditionally, about 3,000 proposals are submitted annually for members to consider. Feb. 23 is the deadline for the introduction of bills and constitutional amendments. March 9 is the deadline for House and Senate committees to approve or reject the proposals originating in our own chamber.

The first House panel to meet was the Select Committee on Access and Affordability of Medical Malpractice Insurance. The group will analyze the malpractice insurance market in the state and recommend ways to make it more affordable and more accessible to Mississippi's 4,600 physicians and other healthcare providers.

Fiscal experts on Jan. 15 briefed us on how the state and national economies are faring. State Tax Commissioner Ed Buelow expressed disappointment over holiday sales, calling sales tax collections the "main revenue factor" in determining how much the Legislature can appropriate. State Economist Phil Pepper gave us a somewhat brighter outlook, noting state employment numbers increased in November 2003 and forecasting a "gradual upturn" in the economy. State Treasurer Tate Reeves told us the state's total bonded indebtedness was $3.166 billion as of Dec. 31, 2003. The Legislative Budget Committee has recommended we appropriate $173.3 million toward that debt for FY 2005, which would be 4.9 percent of all General Fund appropriations.

We in the House of Representatives are always eager to hear from our constituents. You can reach us by calling the Capitol at 601-359-3770. You can follow activities of the Legislature on the Internet at http://www.ls.state.ms.us