WLBT 3 - Jackson, MS: Governor Barbour to call special session

Governor Barbour to call special session

By Cheryl Lasseter - bio | email

JACKSON, MS (WLBT) - Good news and bad news out of the Hobnob Mississippi social event in Jackson Wednesday.

Governor Haley Barbour mentioned he'll call a short special legislative session late next week. 

"At which they'll consider a 500-job, $300 million economic development project that will go in the Mississippi Delta," he said, generating applause from the crowd.

Without sharing too many details, the governor told the crowd the sophisticated manufacturing plant will go up quickly and produce high-paying jobs.

Tunica is the location, according to State Representative George Flaggs.

But optimism about the plant is tempered by pessimism over the state's economy. State Treasurer Tate Reeves says Mississippi may post negative revenue numbers for a record-breaking three years in a row. Job creation at the new Delta plant won't do much to offset statewide unemployment.

"We have about 1 million 100,000 people in Mississippi who have a job, so 500 helps," Governor Barbour says.  "100 jobs added at United Furniture in Okolona, Chicasaw County, that helps. The general economy has to get back to growth."

Other state leaders featured at Hobnob have their own ideas for shrinking state government.

"I would like to see us do something we did my first year as Lieutenant Governor, shorten the session," says Lieutenant Governor Phil Bryant.

"Do we really need a superintendent in every district, a secretary, executive secretary?" asked Rep. Flaggs from the podium.  "Shouldn't the money be going in the classrooms with the students?"  Representative Flaggs' statements were also met with applause.

"I've always felt we have far too many school districts in this state, 152, we got some school districts with superintendents and no students," he tells WLBT.  "Everything has to be on the table, education, corrections, we have to revisit whether we can afford eight universities, 152 school districts... We've got some school districts with superintendents and no students."