Bryant unveils policy

JACKSON -- Republican Gov. Phil Bryant used his first State of the State address Tuesday evening to unveil detailed policy proposals, from education to health care to energy, saying he wants to create a “Mississippi Works Agenda.”

“My first job is to make sure every Mississippian has a job,” Bryant said on the south steps of the state Capitol, using the platform that was built for his inauguration two weeks ago. The Jan. 10 inaugural ceremonies moved inside the House chamber because of rain.

“To the taxpayers who are here today, let me express my humble appreciation,” Bryant told an estimated 400 to 500 people on the Capitol grounds and a statewide television audience. “You are the sovereigns of this government, and we here are your servants.”

Bryant called for development of charter schools and advocated performance pay for teachers based on student achievement. He said the state should encourage dual enrollment for high school students who might be at risk of dropping out of school, allowing them to learn vocational skills at community colleges.

“We will work to give these young adults a marketable skill and help them find jobs,” Bryant said. “I will ask the state Department of Education, the community colleges and the Mississippi Department of Employment Security to come together to implement this program. We should set an enrollment goal and get to work, so Mississippians can go to work.”

On health care, Bryant proposed capping income tax for physicians in under-served areas and providing economic incentives to spur development of medical facilities.

On energy, he advocated offshore drilling for natural gas in the Gulf of Mexico and said he wants to begin converting state government’s fleet of vehicles to cars and trucks powered by natural gas.

Bryant said he’ll ask lawmakers to approve $31 million in job-creation incentives this year, though he didn’t name specific projects.

“Economic development is the sun in our universe and everything revolves around it,” Bryant said.

In a televised Democratic response, Rep. Bobby Moak of Bogue Chitto said it’s time for elected officials to “stop grandstanding” about budgets and passing expenses down to local governments. He also said education should be a budget priority.

“We believe in our K-12 programs, community colleges and universities,” Moak said. “That’s why Democrats in the Legislature will not turn their backs on public education.”