WJTV – Speaker Gunn, House members reflect on legislative session
CLARION LEDGER – Mississippi lawmakers shocked they voted for $2 million more in private school vouchers
Advocates for a controversial school choice program secured a surprise win Thursday, with many lawmakers crying foul that $2 million more for private school tuition vouchers had been secreted into a larger, unrelated bill they passed.
The additional money for education scholarship accounts, often referred to as vouchers, was tucked away into into a list of $27.3 million worth of special construction projects approved by both chambers Thursday.
Many lawmakers expressed surprise and anger when they later discovered they had helped approve the spending. But House Speaker Philip Gunn, R-Clinton, said Senate leaders wanted the funding and that, “Everybody knew it was in there, if they read the bill.”
“The Senate made it known to us it was a priority of theirs, and they used discretionary money they had (in the big projects bill),” Gunn said.
WTOK – Abortion-rights groups sues Mississippi over ‘heartbeat’ law
The Center for Reproductive Rights Thursday expanded a lawsuit it filed last year challenging a Mississippi law that banned abortions after 15 weeks’ pregnancy. A federal judge declared that law unconstitutional.
Republican Gov. Phil Bryant signed the heartbeat bill March 21, and it is set to become law July 1. It’s one of the strictest abortion laws in the nation.
Governor signs human trafficking bill
Thank you to all advocates, law enforcement members, legislators who helped craft and pass meaningful legislation to end Human Trafficking in Mississippi. Thank you @PhilBryantMS for your support. pic.twitter.com/UZJ2hIwVz0
— Philip Gunn (@PhilipGunnMS) March 28, 2019
WLOX / WLBT – Where will money come from for $1,500 teacher pay raise?
The teacher pay raise amount is more than what leaders first said was feasible. So, where did they find more money?
“We thought just the $1,000 pay raise was going to be a little over $50 million,” explained Senate Appropriations chairman Sen. Buck Clarke. “And there was a little calculation error that there was some federally paid teachers that had been included in that. And so they were able to pull $12-13 million out of there. And so we more or less instantly said, well with the money we have, what kind of pay raise would that generate?”
That’s what led to the $1,500 dollar amount that the Senate took up first thing Thursday. Some of the debate was familiar.
Sen. Hyde-Smith questions Ed Sec. Devos on workforce training
Sen. Hyde-Smith Questions Sec. DeVos on Workforce Training Programs https://t.co/5B7V9SYSye via @YouTube
— U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (@SenHydeSmith) March 28, 2019
Congressman Palazzo discusses Jones Act with Coast Guard Commandant
I discussed the importance of the Jones Act to the nation’s economic and national security with Admiral Karl Schultz, Commandant of the @USCG, in the @HouseAppropsGOP DHS subcommittee hearing #JonesAct #NationalSecurity
Watch our full exchange here: https://t.co/gMeag14a79
— Cong. Steven Palazzo (@CongPalazzo) March 27, 2019
WLOX – Gulfport’s quest for new food/beverage tax dies in the Senate
Gulfport voters won’t even get a chance to vote on a proposed three percent food/beverage tax. The local and private bill to hold a referendum died Thursday in committee.
Sen. Joel Carter of Gulfport told WLOX News the chairman of the Senate committee reviewing House Bill 1745 wouldn’t bring it to the floor for a vote.
The city was requesting the additional sales tax, which would mostly affect restaurants, so a new sports complex could be built.
Governor signs HB 1205
In recent years, charitable donations have been weaponized by certain groups against individuals to punish donors whose political beliefs differ from their own. I was pleased today to sign HB 1205, which protects free speech rights of Mississippians who make charitable donations. pic.twitter.com/Vb0DJMMyRd
— Phil Bryant (@PhilBryantMS) March 28, 2019
Speaker Gunn wishes best to Baria, Rogers in retirement
Best wishes to Rep. Baria in his retirement. pic.twitter.com/8QuSgNgEbb
— Philip Gunn (@PhilipGunnMS) March 28, 2019
Good luck in your retirement, Rep. Rogers. pic.twitter.com/mA91qxxD2d
— Philip Gunn (@PhilipGunnMS) March 28, 2019
WAPT – Gluckstadt can become city, Madison County court rules
It’s been more than 2 years since Gluckstadt filed it’s first petition to be incorporated as a city. Canton city leaders filed a lawsuit earlier this year annexing some land that overlaps Gluckstadt boundaries. A ruling was made on both issues and some in Gluckstadt say they’re ready to see a change.
