Coast lawmakers share their agendas for 2020 legislative session

As Mississippi celebrated its 202nd anniversary Tuesday, state lawmakers were preparing for a busy legislative session that starts in less than four weeks.

Just ask Michael Thompson, Scott DeLano, Jeremy England and Brice Wiggins. The four state Senate Republicans on Tuesday morning spoke during the Mississippi Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce’s annual Pre-Legislative Briefing at the Golden Nugget Casino.

Both Thompson and England will head to Jackson as freshman senators when they’re sworn-in to represent District 48 in Harrison County and District 51 in Jackson County, respectively. For Wiggins, he will begin his third term representing Senate District 52.

And DeLano, who is no stranger to state politics having served 10 years as representative for District 117, fills the vacated District 50 seat that was held by Tommy Gollott since 1980.

So what exactly will the upcoming legislative session bring to the Magnolia State?

For starters, an additional $107 million is expected in the $5.5 to $6 billion state budget thanks to a big year in gambling tax revenue from sports betting, and now, the statewide lottery.

Then, there is 75% of the nearly $750 million in BP settlement funds that is planned to benefit Coastal Mississippi. The senators credited Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves, now governor-elect, for his role in negotiating those funds.

Wiggins told the Sun Herald it’s essential to find the most economically feasible projects that will sustain the Coast over the long haul.

“We always want to look after the interests of the Coast,” said Wiggins. “You have the BP dollars, but there is nothing that requires the Legislature to appropriate those funds this session.”

Still, funding teacher pay raises, mental health and even infrastructure will undoubtedly play a big role in how this year’s session progresses.

One proposal that may not get any state funding is a proposed convention center in East Biloxi. The four senators were vocal that money from the state coffers should not be used on this type of project.

“There’s going to be a pretty heavy lift to have the Legislature approve this,” said DeLano.

“I have had no one from the City of Biloxi talk to me about that project.”

Raises deserved

Pay raises for Mississippi’s 32,000 teachers is another hot topic to watch in 2020.

Wiggins said early education is on his policy agenda since the Coast has been a leader in early-childhood learning.

“We have the early learning collaboratives that place Mississippi in the top five in the country,” he said.

In K-12 alone, the cost of a $1,000 raise per teacher, according to DeLano, would take nearly $50 million.

A sensible move, he said, would be to send any additional education dollars directly to the classroom before using them for administrative costs.

“There’s got to be a change in the MAEP (Mississippi Adequate Education Funding) formula,” he said.

And according to Wiggins, any narrative on teacher pay raises seems more cloudy.

“The teachers are the ones on the front line, so they deserve [it],” he assured.

“Nobody I talked to in the Legislature does not want a teacher pay raise. It’s about where are we budget-wise and what is the priority.”

Relief needed

Other issues discussed were the legalization of marijuana and the state’s mental health crisis.

A referendum on the ballot next November will let Mississippi voters have a voice on medicinal use of marijuana. However, the four senators said they do not expect recreational use to happen any time soon.

“If there are farmers that want to do it, then let them do it,” said DeLano. “Let’s help people find the medical relief needed.”

“We have lowered the penalties,” said Wiggins. “We need to be realistic about what we are talking about.”

And, while talk of improving the mental health system happens each year in the legislature, DeLano says it now needs more attention and assistance.

“Unfortunately, those community mental health facilities have failed a large part due to lack of leadership accountability at the local level,” he said.

“Nobody wants to talk about it, but it’s something that has to be addressed.”

The newcomers

“It’s okay that we run the state with additional revenues, but we don’t have to spend every dollar,” said Thompson during the discussion.

Nonetheless, his wishlist includes funding the expansion of Beatline Road in Long Beach and improvements to infrastructure at the Port of Gulfport.

Thompson told Sun Herald that gaining the respect of fellow legislators is key to a successful first term.

“I’ve got two ears, two eyes, one mouth for a reason,” said Thompson. “And, I’m trying to pay attention to my senior members of the Coast delegation and to the state leadership, and learn.”

As a self-proclaimed “small government guy,” England agreed with Thompson on unnecessary spending.

In addition to tackling business restrictions and regulations that put a burden on economic growth, England plans to push for ecotourism funding to promote Jackson County.

“The Pascagoula River is such a treasure for us, and I’ll fight to preserve that,” said England.

“Once we get tapped into that, I think we’ll start seeing the tourism start rolling in.”

He told the Sun Herald a sense of optimism exists despite the topics already on their plates as the session nears.

“We know that there’s going to be a lot riding on this session, and we’re ready to tackle the big issues,” he said.

Mississippi’s 2020 legislative session begins Jan. 7.

This story was originally published December 11, 2019 at 5:00 AM.