In time, we all can agree on something in our political lives. This week, I can honestly say that I am in agreement with Gov. Haley Barbour on several points. First, I am glad that the governor has had a change of heart considering the Vulnerable Adults Act, which he had vetoed earlier this month.
When we voted on the bill to create a permanent funding mechanism to an already-existing program that protects our state's elderly, we only had debate about how much the fees would be. There was no doubt in any of our minds about the value of the attorney general's office being able to prosecute crimes committed against our state's senior citizens. The governor somehow thought that this was a new program and, in his mind, could not justify anything new in this atmosphere of fiscal crisis. I am glad that Republican and Democratic leaders spoke to the governor and got him to change his mind. The governor should be commended for admitting he made a mistake, and working to correct it.
Second, I am in agreement with the governor that part of the MCI settlement should be used to pay off the beef plant. This is clearly the way to make lemonade out of the two lemons in our state's recent history. By using one-time monies to pay off a one-time debt, the Legislature will show some sense of fiscal responsibility to bring to a close two glaring examples of fiscal irresponsibility. The remaining funds of the settlement should either go to the Tobacco Trust Fund, the Local Bridge Repair Fund and/or the Department of Transportation to replace funds we have raided in the past. Anything else will put us back to the point where we have been the last three years, spending one-time monies on recurring expenses. We all know how that is going.
Third, I am glad that the governor has put the No-Call List legislation in the special-session call. As one of the co-sponsors of the original legislation that made our state, in my opinion, more consumer-friendly, I was shocked that in the midst of the turmoil over the state budget, we let this important bill slip through the cracks. It is my hope that we can get this legislation passed on the first day, so that our citizens can still enjoy the peace of their evening time without it being interrupted by unwarranted solicitations.
Finally, and this may be a shock to most, I believe it is time to pass Momentum Mississippi. Many of our state's business leaders took time out of their busy schedules to participate in a process to help attract more businesses to Mississippi. Their plan has been held up enough by partisan politics. We have used Momentum as a hostage to make sure that certain legislation concerning Medicaid and other issues was passed, and now it is time to let it go. Will it work? I don't know for sure, but I do know that the window for such legislation may be closing.
In October 2004, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, in Cuno v. DaimlerChrysler, ruled that the state of Ohio violated the commerce clause of the United States Constitution by offering tax incentives and abatements to lure DaimlerChrysler to build a plant in Toledo. If the U.S. Supreme Court affirms the ruling of this court, legislation such as Momentum Mississippi will become null and void. It is this type of legislation that has allowed Mississippi to secure Nissan, SteelCor, and even the new Mississippi Braves franchise. The loss of this tool will have a chilling effect on economic development in this state. Therefore, while the case is still in litigation, the Mississippi Legislature should adopt Momentum Mississippi, and then, together with the governor, urge Congress to pass legislation that will allow states to continue this practice. This will enable us to compete to keep American companies in America and lure international companies to develop here, thus creating more jobs, and most importantly, revenue.
I have always made the argument that partisanship should remain on the campaign trail and statesmanship should prevail in the Capitol. Altruistic, I know, but if that principle is practiced more often, then columns like these will be less of an aberration.
Rep. Erik Fleming represents Hinds County, District 72, in the Mississippi House of Representatives. He is a frequent JFP columnist.
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