Jackson Free Press

The bills started coming off the calendar this past week and will continue to be voted on until this Thursday.

Teaching gaming-related courses on college campuses failed again (HB 605). I voted yes. A tax was approved (HB 1070) to be applied to all cigarette brands that did not participate in the tobacco lawsuit settlement (mainly new companies). The funds generated will be primarily used to fund repairs and upkeep of the state's veteran's homes. I voted yes.

The past week ended with a bill (HB 1073) to stop immigrants from attending our state universities, basically by requiring a US birth certificate for admission. I offered an amendment to allow immigrant students who have graduated from a state high school they attended for two consecutive years and who are in the process of legalizing their status in America, to qualify for in-state tuition. This amendment is the law in ten states, including Texas. My amendment may be ruled not germane to the bill on a point of order, but I accomplished what I wanted to do, which was to temporarily stop debate until this week on the bill. If my amendment is ruled not germane, I will vote against the bill.

The baiting bill (HB 1089) also passed this week. This will allow certain counties to legalize hunting deer while feeding on laid out food like corn. Deer are the only animals in the state that you are not allowed to bait. I voted no. We also voted to increase unemployment benefits to $250 a week (HB 207), something that was overdue. I voted yes.

As usual many of my bills died this week, but one that survived and passed by the House was HB 153. That bill creates a one-stop shop for minority businesses that want to do business with the state. If this becomes law, every state RFP will have to go through the Office of Minority Business Affairs of the Mississippi Development Authority. That office will keep a database of all qualified minority businesses in Mississippi and will notify them when bids are let on state contracts.

Previous Commentsshow

The baiting bill (HB 1089) also passed this week. This will allow certain counties to legalize hunting deer while feeding on laid out food like corn. Deer are the only animals in the state that you are not allowed to bait. I voted no. OK, can I ask: Where the hell is the sport in this?

ladd

Feb 6 2006

I for one have been laughed at by coworkers who hunt. My idea of hunting is to cover myself in mud, a ghillie suit, and crawl around on the ground with nothing but a knife or a spear. According to these folks i would never be able to get close enough, but have you ever seen me covered in mud with a ghillie suit? exactly i would be able to practically walk up to it. That is sport. racing bull fighting and mountain climbing were the only sports according to hemingway, but that was before he started hunting. and even then he was probably too drunk to know what he was doing. Not much has changed in 100 years. I by the way do not hunt. I do fish and i think it is ok to use bait for that. The fish don't have to bite it, see river trout, they can just as easily swim away. Make it an even playing field, why shoot it from 600 yards away with rifle and high powered scope? Get up and catch it if you can and if it runs away then you have a sport.

*SuperStar*

Feb 6 2006

Certainly there is no hunting like the hunting of man and those who have hunted armed men long enough and liked it, never really care for anything else thereafter--Hemingway Perhaps this is a new possibility?

*SuperStar*

Feb 6 2006

Donna: I think it detracts from the sporting aspect, personally. I do not hunt. No particular reason, I just have not ever had the opportunity. But, according to my friends that do, they don't think we need to legalize baiting deer. A major concern is the corn they feed the deer. Most of the corn is purchased somewhere like a Wal-Mart, which most hunters will honestly tell you is an inferior product. There is a fear amongst sportsmen (BTW, I joined the newly formed sportsmen's caucus) that if the deer eat this corn it will cause a number of illnesses in the state's herd, which then make the deer dangerous to eat once it has been killed. Not to mention that it may thin out the herd to the point where hunting may be limited in some parts of the state. The argument for baiting is that many hunters are doing it already and that we allow this for other animals like bears and wild hogs. People that are lazy hunters (but otherwise law abiding, good citizens) don't want to go to jail or pay a fine, so they are pushing for baiting to be legal. It is an emotional issue every year at the Capitol.

Rep. Erik Fleming

Feb 6 2006

"Detracts" seems an understatement. Ah, but the health concern seems very important. I don't get how people don't understand that the crap fed to animals then goes into their own bodies. Duh. I don't eat meat, but people are fools if they eat meat with the crap being shot into most livestock these days. And chickens are the worst, people. Corporate chickens aren't the birds of yesteryear. (Sounds like the name of a poem.) Screw lazy hunters. They need to shed a few pounds stalking their prey through the woods. The deer camp will be there when they're done. This is plain silly.

ladd

Feb 6 2006

I CANNOT believe it censors *screw* How in hell can I say, "I need to *screw* in a lightbulb. in mixed company. KNOL!?!?! Sigh.

ladd

Feb 6 2006

s-c-r-e-w Take that.

ladd

Feb 6 2006

Well done.

Rep. Erik Fleming

Feb 6 2006

Thanks. Sorry to act up so on your blog. ;-) I can delete if you'd like.

ladd

Feb 6 2006

I've been there, Donna. Just last week, I typed s l u t and it got censored. I don't curse, and I can think of a few stronger words that got past the filter recently. Anyway, my dad hunts, and I have a feeling he wouldn't approve of the baiting thing either. He doesn't shoot anything he can't eat. I read the above about HB 153, and I like it. I know one or two people who would probably take advantage of it.

L.W.

Feb 7 2006

L.W.: I am hoping that all minority businesses in Mississippi will take advantage of it. When I first proposed this, I talked with several business people I knew and their initial concern was who the governor now and can we trust him to do the right thing. I told them with this language, you now give me and the other legislators a clear way to monitor the progress of minorities getting state contracts, regardless of who the governor is. Plus, it gives the Office of Minority Business Affairs some legitimate power to positively impact our state's economy.

Rep. Erik Fleming

Feb 7 2006

Screw the censor! <<< See, y'all can screw in as many lightbulbs as you want now.

kaust

Feb 7 2006

Rep. Fleming, I'm curious... What constitutes a "minority business"?

kaust

Feb 7 2006

Yeah, Knol! "Screw" is an important word, you know.

ladd

Feb 7 2006

As defined in another bill, a business in which 75 percent of the ownership is either African-American, Native American, Asian-American, Hispanic-American or female.

Rep. Erik Fleming

Feb 7 2006

Elderly, handicapped, young, and homosexual are not included? Interestingly, men are statistically a minority in Mississippi according to the 2000 census. :::hunkers down for a flaming from the FAWN (Fondren Angry Women's Network)::: ;-)

kaust

Feb 7 2006

ooo la la ... luvvvv "FAWN." Thanks, Knol. Of course, I already coined the D-JAC Club, I think. But FAWN is good, too.

ladd

Feb 7 2006

:::hunkers down for a flaming from the FAWN (Fondren Angry Women's Network)::: ;-) Wouldn't that be "Fondren Angry Womyn's Network"? *ducks* ;-) Best, Tim

Tim Kynerd

Feb 7 2006

Hell, no. I personally hate the woMYN spelling. There are more important battles to fight, guys and grrls. And, Tim, watch yourself. My flamethrower reaches to Sweden, bud. ;-)

ladd

Feb 7 2006

It doesn't have to reach any farther than the general Jackson area, babe, depending on where I'm staying :-). Right now I'm in Fondren. Are you womAn enough? :-P

Tim Kynerd

Feb 7 2006

You're here!?! You coming to the reading Thursday? We need to meet. I'll leave the weapons at the house. ;-)

ladd

Feb 7 2006

Reading? I'm on the LoungeList; I assume there'll be info about it there? If so, I'll make it a point to be there. I'd love to meet you too. And thanks for agreeing not to pack any heat. ;-)

Tim Kynerd

Feb 7 2006

Apologies! I reread the LoungeList E-mail I got today. I'll be there.

Tim Kynerd

Feb 7 2006

I'm almost blushing myself from the exchange. Too bad I'm busy Thursday night....If I didn't have to belly dance and then have a working dinner AFTER belly dancing class, I would be all over that. Who else here genuinely HATES being a grown up?

Lori G

Feb 7 2006

I should have a contraption on the computer that doesn't let me post if it senses alcohol on my breath. Anyone else here know what the hell I was talking about?

Lori G

Feb 8 2006

Ali, things are always clearer the morning after, aren't they? :-P

L.W.

Feb 8 2006