Furniture industry ‘shocked’ over Barbour’s veto

Furniture industry ‘shocked’ over Barbour’s veto

Furniture industry leaders, along with House Speaker Billy McCoy, said Tuesday they were surprised and disappointed by Gov. Haley Barbour’s veto of a bill that would have provided tax credits for the furniture industry.

But the furniture officials said they would continue to fight for the incentives that they insist will save jobs.

On Monday, Barbour said the credit proposal would have cost a battered general fund budget about $11 million this year.

The governor also said that the state tax credit law was designed to encourage newer, higher-paying jobs, and that the furniture incentives bill did not do that.

Ken Pruett, president of the Mississippi Furniture Association, said he was caught off guard by the veto.

Daily Journal 4/8/9