Jackson Free Press

On a mild but drizzly afternoon that forced planned inauguration ceremonies indoors, Phil Bryant took the reins of Mississippi government.

Just before noon Tuesday, Chief Justice William Waller, Jr. Administered the oath of office to Bryant, marking the formal end to Gov. Haley Barbour's colorful and, at times, tumultuous, eight-year run as Mississippi's governor.

Bryant's address centered on four areas that, as the theme inaugural activities suggest will enable Mississippians to rise together.

"It would be timid and insincere to believe all our problems are solved or our shared potential exhausted," Bryant said.

"If we are to rise together, we must do so with the inherent characteristics of Mississippi. We are a people of character who value hard work and treasure loyalty to our families, state and country."

Bryant's inauguration, which concluded with a "black-tie and boots-optional" ball at the Jackson Convention Complex, capped a first week of the 2012 legislative session that saw more pomp and circumstance than actual lawmaking.

One week ago, new and returning lawmakers, lobbyists and anxious young pages filled the Capitol chambers to officially kick off the session. As expected, House members selected as their new speaker Phillip Gunn. Gunn is a Clinton Republican and the first member of that party to hold the post since African American abolitionist Isaac D. Shadd during Reconstruction. Gunn, in turn, tapped Greg Snowden of Meridian to be his No. 2 as speaker pro tempore.

The House chamber again swelled with well wishers on Thursday, Jan. 5, to witness the swearing in of statewide officials. In a brief speech, former state Treasurer Tate Reeves, who replaced Bryant as lieutenant governor and Senate president, called for improving the state's business climate and ensuring that law enforcement has the tools needed to keep families safe.

In a speech that was part valedictorian address and part freshman orientation, Haley Barbour delivered his swan song Wednesday, giving advice to freshman lawmakers tasked with passing a balanced spending plan in a environment where needs for government services are increasing as revenues remain flat.

Outlining the economic obstacles that face the new Legislature, Barbour constructed the foundation for an oft-repeated argument that he acknowledged seemed to run counter to his reputation as a small-government fiscal conservative. While taxes should be kept as low as possible so people and businesses can keep more of what they earn, Barbour advised, "Everybody should pay their fair share."

With that, Barbour continued a drum beat that began several few weeks ago and urged lawmakers in the room to consider whether sales tax exemptions are a benefit to the state. In his final months as governor, Barbour wrote a letter supporting a bipartisan congressional bill to permit states to collect sales taxes from purchases made on the Internet. In his final speech to the Mississippi Legislature as governor, he framed the issue as the federal government's usurping the state's authority to collect taxes from online purchases.

"It's time for the federal government to allow Mississippi to enforce our laws and collect those taxes," Barbour said to weak applause from both Democrats and members of Barbour's own Republican Party.

Committee Chairs
Calling it a leadership team that represents both the Mississippi Senate and the state, Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves unveiled his appointments of committee chairs, vice-chairs and members at the Capitol last week. Several Democrats from the Jackson area, including John Horhn, Hillman Frazier, David Blount and Alice Harden, received chairmanships.

Hohrn will lead the Economic Development Committee with fellow Democrat Steve Hale of Senatobia as vice chairman. Reeves selected Harden and Blount to chair the committees for enrolled bills and public property, respectively. Frazier will head the Housing Committee.

Even with Reeves promoting the mantel of budgetary caution as the standard for legislating decisions, Frazier said he would focus on making sure housing is affordable throughout the state. He said lawmakers would also determine how to assist cities with attracting private housing investment and keeping financing incentives for developers intact. 

Reeves also made some changes to the committees themselves. He added an Accountability, Efficiency and Transparency Committee and appointed Tupelo Republican Nancy Collins as its chair. He also merged the committee that handled oil and gas issues and the Public Utilities Committee into a new Energy Committee. 

Gunn, on the other hand, has been slow to name the people who would usher legislation through the House. As of press time, he'd named Mark Formby, R-Picayune, to chair the rules committee but made no other committee appointments.

Quotes of the Week
"Do you support Phil Bryant?" —a reporter to a Mississippi Mass Choir member

"It is time for the federal government to allow Mississippi and every other state to choose to enforce our laws and to collect these taxes. They are owed us today, and there is no longer any public policy reason to keep us from collecting." —former Gov. Haley Barbour urging lawmakers to consider legislation that would allow the state collect taxes from Internet sales

"I'm an unabashed conservative, but I ain't mad at anybody about it." —Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves, channeling former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, on choosing a bipartisan mix of committee heads.

"A Mississippian with a job doesn't need public assistance, adds taxes to the state treasury, is an example of responsibility to his or her children, and is more likely to avoid crime, to vote and to participate in a community." —Gov. Phil Bryant

"Every church, health-care provider, teacher and employer must help in identifying teen pregnancy as an activity more devastating than smoking." —Gov. Phil Bryant

Senate Committee Leaders
Accountability, Efficiency and Transparency
Nancy Collins, Chairman
J. P. Wilemon, Vice Chairman

Agriculture
Billy Hudson, Chairman
Russell Jolly, Vice Chairman

Appropriations
Buck Clarke, Chairman
Terry Burton, Vice Chairman

Business, Financial Institutions
Gary Jackson, Chairman
J. P. Wilemon, Vice Chairman

Compilation, Revision and Publication
Derrick Simmons, Chairman
Dean Kirby, Vice Chairman

Congressional Redistricting
Sampson Jackson, Chairman
Lydia Chassanoil, Vice Chairman

County Affairs
Nickey Browning, Chairman
Billy Hudson, Vice Chairman

Drug Policy
David Jordan, Chairman
Michael Watson, Vice Chairman

Economic Development
John Horhn. Chairman
Steve Hale, Vice Chairman

Education
Gray Tollison, Chairman
Nancy Collins, Vice Chairman

Elections
Chris McDaniel, Chairman
David Blount,Vice Chairman

Energy
Merle Flowers, Chairman
Giles Ward, Vice Chairman

Enrolled Bills
Alice Harden, Chairman
Kelvin Butler, Vice Chairman

Environmental Protection Conservation and Water Resources
Tommy Gollott, Chairman
Deborah Dawkins, Vice Chairman

Ethics
Bennie Turner, Chairman
Gary Jackson, Vice Chairman

Executive Contingent Fund
Robert Jackson, Chairman
Gray Tollison, Vice Chairman

Finance
Joey Fillingane, Chairman
Merle Flowers, Vice Chairman

Forestry
Melanie Sojourner Chairman
Giles Ward, Vice Chairman

Highways and Transportation
Willie Simmons, Chairman
Perry Lee, Vice Chairman

Housing
Hillman Frazier, Chairman
Chris Massey, Vice Chairman

Insurance
Videt Carmichael, Chairman
Rita Parks, Vice Chairman

Interstate and Federal Co-op
Kenny Wayne Jones, Chairman
Sampson Jackson, Vice Chairman

Investigate State Offices
Albert Butler, Chairman
Videt Carmichael, Vice Chairman

Judiciary A
Briggs Hopson, Chairman
Bennie Turner, Vice Chairman

Judiciary B
Hob Bryan, Chairman
Chris McDaniel, Vice Chairman

Labor
Kelvin Butler, Chairman
Robert Jackson, Vice Chairman

Legislative Reapportionment and Congressional Redistricting
Merle Flowers, Chairman

Local and Private
Perry Lee, Chairman
Tony Smith, Vice Chairman

Municipalities
J. P. Wilemon, Chairman
Bill Stone, Vice Chairman

Ports and Marine Resources
Brice Wiggins, Chairman
Josh Harkins, Vice Chairman

Public Health and Welfare
Dean Kirby, Chairman
Hob Bryan, Vice Chairman

Public Property
David Blount, Chairman
Sally Doty, Vice Chairman

State Library
Deborah Dawkins, Chairman
Albert Butler, Vice Chairman

Tourism
Lydia Chassanoil, Chairman
Sean Tindal, Vice Chairman

Universities and Colleges
Terry Burton, Chairman
John Polk, Vice Chairman

Veterans and Military Affairs
Haskins Montgomery, Chairman
Philip Moran, Vice Chairman

Wildlife Fisheries and Parks
Giles Ward, Chairman
Angela Hill, Vice Chairman