Modest bond bill approved by House

Modest bond bill approved by House

The days of the “Christmas tree” borrowing bills at the Mississippi Legislature appear to be over.

The House on Tuesday approved $153 million in bonds, or borrowing, mainly for college and university construction projects. The House earlier had passed $31 million in borrowing for an expanded University of Mississippi Medical Center medical school.

Senate leaders have not indicated how much borrowing they’re willing to approve. Last year, they didn’t approve any.

Absent this year is a “Christmas tree” bond proposal, with dozens of lawmakers’ pet projects and hundreds of millions of dollars of borrowing proposed. Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves on Tuesday reaffirmed his stance against such borrowing.

Clarion Ledger
1/19/13