Legislature candidates speak at forum
The five candidates in the open special election for the House 82 seat talked about medicaid funding, voter ID, and a variety of other topics.
The candidates are Wilbert Jones, John C. Harris, Robert Barfield, Bill Marcy, and Roscoe Jones.
The first question posed to House candidates was whether they think federal stimulus funds ought to be spent right away or held for future emergencies.
Roscoe Jones, Wilbert Jones, and Barfield agreed that the stimulus funds ought to be spent right away because they are meant to stimulate the economy right away.
“We need to have a jump start in the state of Mississippi and we need it quick,” Wilbert Jones said.
Harris said that the state ought to spend it’s rainy day fund. “It’s raining in Mississippi right now,” he said.
Marcy, the only Republican in the race, did not say outright whether stimulus funds should be saved. “What we’re going to have to do is look at everything we do and be very careful,” he said. “What we don’t need is to raise taxes.”
All five candidates were in agreement when asked whether the state ought to allow county law enforcement agencies to run radar, a practice from which they are currently prohibited. The candidates agreed that the prohibition of radar use only for county law enforcement is an outdated and unfair practice based on events of the past.
“Radar is there for a reason, and it’s to save lives,” Harris said.
“The city is part of the county, the county is part of the state,” Roscoe Jones said. “The state uses radar. The city uses radar. I don’t see why the county should not be allowed to use radar.”
When asked whether they were in support of a voter ID referendum being pushed by Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann, Harris and Barfield were solidly against it, citing the possibility that voter ID could be abused to disenfranchise voters. Wilbert Jones and Roscoe Jones were both skeptical of voter ID, saying they would consider it only if they found that there were no possible loopholes allowing for abuse.
Marcy was the only candidate in favor of voter ID, saying “Voter ID is a common sense situation,” and adding, “Every time someone votes illegally it cancels out a citizen’s vote.”
When asked whether they would support House speaker Billy McCoy in any future runs for the post, Harris and Roscoe Jones said they would.
“I will go along with the rank and filed as a Democrat,” Roscoe Jones said. Barfield and Wilbert Jones said they would have to know who else was running for speaker before deciding for whom they would vote.
“I will support the best person for the House… that’s after I evaluate his (McCoy’s) history as the current speaker and other candidates that’s running for speaker,” Wilbert Jones said.
“I would have to see who else is running. What are their views? Are they anywhere near where I am,” Barfield said.
Marcy said he would “probably vote for a more conservative Speaker of the House.”
Candidates wrapped up the forum by talking about one of the most prevalent issues in the state Legislature — the $90 million hole in Medicaid funding.
All of the candidates except for Marcy said they were flatly against the governor’s proposal of taxing hospitals to fill the gap.
Meridian Star
5/29/9
Magnolia Tribune
