2018 Mississippi Legislative Session

The 2018 Mississippi Legislative Session is officially underway.
News 25’s Toni Miles was in Jackson today and caught up with some South Mississippi lawmakers to see what issues are topping their agenda.
As in years past, Sean Tindell was on hand for the opening day of the state legislative session, but this year, he stood on the outer fringes as Joel Carter was sworn in to take over the District 49 state Senate seat Tindell once held.
Although Carter has only had two weeks to prepare for his new position, it appears the freshman senator has hit the ground running on a hot topic. “I am one hundred percent for a lottery and I’d like to see the lottery like Louisiana does it, a paper lottery, no video machines or anything. I’d like to see the proceeds go into the education fund.”
So would state Senator Philip Moran. “I think the climate is right for it. I look at it as an economic development bill. It is something that is going to bring in probably $100 million to our state, at a time and tight budget, which we’re in.”
Also topping the agenda for South Mississippi lawmakers is the allocation of the BP oil spill money. South Mississippi lawmakers know they will have to band together and work with other lawmakers across the state to make sure that the majority of that money stays in South Mississippi. Senator Angela Hill said, “The impact was on the Coast and the Coast needs to stand as one voice and be united and make sure that bulk of the money is spent on the Coast where we had the greatest economic impact.”
Senator Moran said, “It will take work negotiating and working with our fellow colleagues, but I think we can get the job done.”
State lawmakers have the next three months to do just that, whether it’s the allocation of BP dollars or moving forward with a state lottery.