Several South Mississippi lawmakers’ bills appear likely to die Tuesday under a state legislative deadline for measures to make it out of committee.
Sen. David Baria, D-Bay St. Louis, has filed several insurance reform bills again this year to address post-Katrina problems. Last year, Baria filed seven bills aimed at reform, but they died without discussion, when Senate Insurance Committee Chairman Eugene S. “Buck” Clarke, R-Hollandale, didn’t take them up.
Last week Clarke held a hearing at the Capitol on insurance issues, which Baria said at the time was a positive sign. But Baria said Friday that Clarke told him he wasn’t going to take up his bills. Clarke did not return a phone call from the Sun Herald on the bills.
Baria said he would use one avenue available to lawmakers whose bills die in committee — he will offer some of the measures as amendments to other bills throughout this year’s session.
