Monday Legislative Notebook

- Rep. Alex Monsour (R-Vicksburg) has introduced HCR 17, a Constitutional amendment which is meant to be a direct shot at the pending federal healthcare legislation. Under HCR 17, it would be unlawful to require any person, employers, or healthcare provider to participate in any healthcare system.

- Mississippi University for Women will remain Mississippi University for Women. After the Senate Universities and Colleges Committee did not vote on a bill that would give the state College Board authority to change MUWs name, the issue appears dead for the legislative session. State Sen. Doug Davis (R-Hernando), Chairman of the Universities and Colleges Committee, said the bill died because similar legislation was not filed in the House.

- Those who predicted a quick death to the House bill requiring the governor to use $100 million of one-time funds to help ease the budget gap were right. The bill stalled in the Senate when the body voted to send the bill to conference with House members.

- Haley Barbour is calling on the legislature to approve SB2928 which would shift law enforcement housed in the Mississippi Department of Transportation to the Mississippi Department of Public Safety. The purpose of the bill is to streamline motor carrier safety operations, and in return increase the number of state troopers who focus on enforcing traffic laws.

- Speaker Billy McCoy is no fan of a bill that trim the size of the state legislature. State Sen. Walter Michel (R-Jackson) had introduced legislation that would reduce the number of senators from 52 to 40 and representatives from 122 to 90. The Senate Elections Committee cleared a bill that would cut the legislature by ten percent- to 47 senators and 100 House members. McCoy, however, called this a “stupid idea” and said there is “no support for it in the House.”

- A bill that would institute a state-sponsored lottery saw no action today as only five of the 15 members of the House Gaming Committee attended a meeting on the bill. If the bill does not pass tomorrow, it will be dead for the legislative season.