Thompson responds to legislation that would potentially take some autonomy from Jackson's leaders

US Congressman Bennie Thompson presented checks to groups heading community projects in Bolton yesterday, and used the time afterward to comment on legislation centered around the city of Jackson. Bills that would put the water system in the hands of the state and create a court system of unelected judges are all still active in the legislature.

Thompson, a democrat representing Mississippi's second district, opposes the legislation and says the state taking autonomy away from Jackson's elected officials is "a step backward."

"It's mean spirited, some of them are unconstitutional, and the rest is just patently wrong," he said. "If you want to help any community, any county, any city, the first thing you do is go talk to them."

Some of the bills he discussed are authored by Trey Lamar, a republican who does not represent Jackson. Thompson's district includes most of the capitol city and Hinds County. He says lawmakers who want to help Jackson need to consult Jackson officials.

"How under God's Green Earth, can you decide that we're gonna create special judges just for Jackson Mississippi?" he said. "Who by the way, happens to have a majority African-American population?"

Thompson says the city can challenge the constitutionality of the legislation in court.