Lawmakers Kick Off 2009 Session

Mississippi's 2009 legislative session is underway. MPB's Stephen Koranda reports on the first day, and what lawmakers face in the coming three months.

The ceremonial start of the session coincides with the restoration of the Old Capital museum, heavily damaged by hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005. Representative Steve Holland of Plantersville hopes the history of the building can inspire lawmakers.

“We learn from these lessons, and I hope that ceremonially today, coming here and opening this session will say to us that Mississippi’s had some dark past, but we’ve got a bright future and we need to work together,” said Holland.

Working together could be more of a challenge with fewer dollars in the state’s coffers, thanks to a falling economy. Senator Dean Kirby of Pearl Chairs the Finance Committee.

“The tight budget’s going to affect everything, it’s going trickle down to everything we do. I hate to say it’s all about money, but sometimes it is,” said Kirby.

Lawmakers may have avoided one fight, over funding K through 12 education. Members of the House, Senate and Governor Haley Barbour have all proposed full funding. Again, Representative Steve Holland.

“I think we put that off the table in the legislative budget. I don’t hear any opposition to that. That puts a lot of the nastiness aside right up front,” Holland said.

Former Governor William Winter’s 1980 inauguration took place at the Old Capital. He returned to tell lawmakers about the legislature’s 1932 session, when the state faced around 6 million dollars in costs with only 1300 dollars in the state treasury.

“That’s how tough things were then,” said Winter. “It may be tough now, but it’s not anything like that. We came out of the depression a much stronger, richer state than we’d known before.”

Many lawmakers hope that’s a story that can be repeated. They’ll reconvene later today at the new capital to get down to business.