Jackson Free Press

A potentially raucous Republican-led legislative session begins tomorrow at noon. Political observers describe the weeks leading up to the start of the session as akin to the first day of school.

"Most of the new legislators are Republicans and seem to be fairly energetic, fairly frisky 40- to 50-year-olds," said Marty Wiseman, director of the Stennis Institute at Mississippi State University.

This will be a session of firsts in a long while for the Mississippi Legislature. It's the first time since Reconstruction that Republicans held the reins of power in the House. It's also the first time since 1976 that the state has had a new governor, lieutenant governor--who presides over the state Senate--and House Speaker all at once, Wiseman said.

"There's not a veteran in any of those slots. We're going to see different committee chairs, not only different people, but philosophically," he added.

Ideological differences will undoubtedly be one of the key markers of the session. Lawmakers and observers agree that legislators will work together to pass a balanced spending plan, but admit fault lines are likely to emerge over partisan issues such as charter schools, immigration, civil rights, redistricting and social-services funding.

"I'm excited about the changes, and I'm thrilled that we have a chance now for Republicans to get our views out in the open," said Republican Rep. Rita Martinson of Madison about the session.

Sen. Joey Fillingane, R-Sumrall, is also excited. "It's not that often that you have this much turnover," he said.

Democrats, who have held power in the House for more than a century and have served as stopgaps against controversial proposals that came out of the Senate, are less than excited.

"I'm apprehensive," said Steve Holland, a Democrat from Plantersville. "I have always been in the throes of leadership, and I likely will not be this time around. But the sky is not falling. We have to focus to get to the real issues facing this state."

Read more about how the shifting power dynamics will influence legislation in the Jackson Free Press 2012 Legislative Preview issue, which hits newsstands Wednesday.

Previous Comments

ID

165662

Comment

It will be interesting to see how this session goes? There are some initiatives that republicans have been trying to pass for the last 6 years that have been blocked by the Dems. It will be interesting.

Author

Duan C.

Date

2012-01-05T10:04:45-06:00