LAUREN WOOD/THE NATCHEZ DEMOCRAT — Newly-elected state Sen. Melanie Sojourner joined the familiar table of state legislators Monday morning during the legislative breakfast sponsored by the Natchez-Adams Chamber of Commerce.

Legislators ready for new year

Published 12:06am Tuesday, January 24, 2012
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NATCHEZ — Local state legislators shook hands, spooned some eggs and laid out their plans for the first session of 2012 at Monday’s legislative breakfast at the Eola.

Many talked at the Natchez-Adams County Chamber of Commerce-sponsored event about their intentions to make a dent in the committees in which they were recently appointed as chairpersons.

Rep. Robert Johnson said with all five local legislators as the chair of a committee, including energy, public health, forestry, labor and transportation, the group can do good things for southwest Mississippi.

“That is a very big deal,” said Johnson, a Democrat from Natchez.

Nearly every legislator mentioned concerns over another tight budget year.

“We can only appropriate money that the taxpayers send us,” said Rep. Sam Mims, a Republican from McComb.

Mims and newly elected Sen. Melanie Sojourner, a Republican from Natchez, said they would try to spend the money they do have efficiently.

“The budget situation is still very bleak,” Sojourner said.

Sen. Kelvin Butler, a Democrat from Magnolia, said as chair of labor, he was enthusiastic about finding jobs in the state to turn the budget situation around.

“(I will) make sure folks know where the jobs are,” Butler said.

Sojourner, the forestry chairperson, and Rep. Angela Cockerham, the energy chairperson a Democrat from Magnolia, both talked about the opportunity of bringing new industry to southwest Mississippi through the use of its timber industry.

The group also faced questions submitted by audience members, a group of more than 80 local government officials, school board members, business people and other active community members who sat over their breakfast at round tables.

One audience member asked about the possibility of Adams County benefitting from taxes that will be generated by a major expansion of Grand Gulf Nuclear Power Plant in Port Gibson.

All legislators said they had encountered resistance on this issue from other legislators but would bring it back to the table.

Each legislator also addressed at least a couple of questions about Public Employees’ Retirement System of Mississippi.

Each emphasized any possible changes would not go into effect for current public employees but perhaps to new employees.

“A deal is a deal,” Sojourner said.

Butler failed to see any reason for a change to the current PERS.

“I don’t even know why the government brought that up,” Butler said.

Legislators were also asked for their opinion on the pardons granted by former Gov. Haley Barbour.

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Comments
  • Anonymous

    Tax cuts.  Tax cuts, tax cuts, tax cuts.  Not a word mentioned about tax cuts???

    Tax cuts stimulate the economy?  Why aren’t the Republicans–Mr Bryant???–out front championing tax cuts?  McConnell and Boehner have repeatedly called for tax cuts to stimulate the economy.

    Sojourner, doen’t you have a television?  Do you not pay attention to what the GOP has called for?  Tax cuts.  That is what SW Miss and the US need.

    Seriously, you are already embarrassing us–never mind yourself.

  • http://www.natchezdemocrat.com khakirat

    Agreed we need tax cuts in Adams county with all the folks the ten to 12 thousand that left out to better themselves that the goverments should be smaller with small budgets??!! Less taxes and service suits the majority with no raises of taxes but decreases!!! This motto will get people to move back to Natchez as it has across the river and their economy is doing well!! Don’t want no more grants of any kind!!!!!

  • Anonymous

    Why do you rail against Sojourner? She was just inaugerated and is just getting started. Its one thing to rant against a representative who has a history which differs from your opinion…but this…what gives?

  • Anonymous

    PS: I do agree on tax cuts. In my opinion, cuts across the board in government (local, state, federal) are required…beginning with “entitlements”.

  • Anonymous

    Must be a Damoldcrat.

  • Anonymous

    I don’t know…could be…maybe…but does THAT alone justify such comments???

  • Anonymous

    How is Sen. Sojourner embarrassing us? What has she done? I just think you wanted to get a bunch of people to reply to you.

  • Anonymous

    Nope not a Democrat.  The problem with many in the GOP is that they think anyone who doesn’t agree with them must be a Dem.  A fatal flaw.

    What is the greatest issue before us these days?  Taxes.  It is what everyone is talking about.  Yet here she sits saying NOTHING about tax cuts.   It shows a blindness to what the people want.  A willful blindness.

    She got her job simply to defeat Bob M. A good and decent man. She didn’t win because she was the better candidate. She won because of the backing of the GOP in Jackson.

    Where are the tax cuts???

  • Anonymous

    It appears all the other legislators failed to mention your concern also, why pick on Sojourner for your comments, how about spreading the blame and making generic observations?  I’m not sure tax cuts are necessary, but spending cuts should be on top of the list.

  • Anonymous

    Cut spending….

  • Anonymous

    Your man-love for Bob is amusing.  I like Bob, but the man never met a tax increase he didn’t like.   It was time for him to go and the voters agreed.  He got beat, and you need to get over it.  It’s ridiculous that you continually take shots at her.  She too is a good and decent woman.

  • Anonymous

    The article leads me to believe we elected a bunch of idiots, especially Johnson who’s economic plan seems to be based on a Kevin Costner movie about ghosts.

  • Anonymous

    This is an incredibly naive statement.:

    “A deal is a deal,” Sojourner said.

    Wonderful, someone who will send the state into bankruptcy rather than cut back on the extravagances of our public retirement system.  A deal may be a “deal” but it isn’t a freakin’ suicide pact.

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