Local lawmakers comment on failed bond bill
Funding for state and community college capital improvement projects is in jeopardy, after the Mississippi Senate failed to approve a proposed $400 million bond bill Saturday.
The state House of Representatives passed the bill, but it was killed in the Senate, following a lengthy debate between legislators and Speaker of the House Philip Gunn, R-Clinton, and Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves.
Leaving the state without a bond bill for the coming year will affect funding for roads, bridges, fire trucks, the Mississippi Development Authority and others, in addition to the college projects.
“Am I disappointed? Of course I’m disappointed; this was the whole bond bill for the state,” Rep. Jeff Smith, R-Columbus, said, when asked if the bill’s demise was disappointing. “I really thought we would come together at the last minute like we’ve done in the past. This wasn’t the usual party politics; there didn’t seem to be any support from the Senate at all.”
Read more: http://www.cdispatch.com/news/article.asp?aid=16791#ixzz1tiQYCueC
5/1/12
Magnolia Tribune
