Coastal Delegation Working to Keep BP Settlement Money on the Coast
Teamwork: that’s the name of the game for local state Legislators who are trying to ensure BP oil spill money comes back to South Mississippi. Our coastal delegation has been working together to plan how we can ensure the $150 million coming back to the state legislature in January makes its way home.
While it seems like a no-brainer that the $150 million in BP money coming to the state Legislature should be funneled back into the Coast, a number of lawmakers across the state are trying to get their hands in the pot. Knowing it’s going to be a tough fight, members of the coastal delegation are putting some of their usual differences aside and coming together.
State Senator Sean Tindell said, “That’s the one thing about us folks from the Coast, when we work together for promoting the Coast, common good of the Coast, we put aside some of the partisan issues so that we can focus on coastal issues.”
The challenge lies in making sure the settlement money doesn’t get swept in with the rest of the state’s $6 billion budget. The money will go into the general fund, which goes to pay for projects state wide. Speaker of the House Philip Gunn tells News 25 it’s sure to be a major focus point among legislator’s come January, each with their own opinion on how the money should be spent. “Nobody can deny the fact that the Coast was hurt by that. Our effort is going to be that the Coast, to the extent that we can, make sure the Coast receives the money that makes them whole.”
Some of our local lawmakers say while the fight to keep the cut of the money here will be tough, they believe we’re moving in the right direction. “I think it’s a good shot. I mean, we’ve got the governor who’s on board with that. So, when the leadership is coming from the top down, wanting to see that money for the Coast, I think it’s really, really a great start,” said Tindell.
The 2016 session doesn’t start until January. Until then the coastal delegation will continue to meet so they can have a collective voice in Jackson.
House Democrat David Baria of Bay St. Louis and Republican State Senator Chris McDaniel of Jones County say they will both file legislation in January to make sure the money comes back to the Coast.
While it seems like a no-brainer that the $150 million in BP money coming to the state Legislature should be funneled back into the Coast, a number of lawmakers across the state are trying to get their hands in the pot. Knowing it’s going to be a tough fight, members of the coastal delegation are putting some of their usual differences aside and coming together.
State Senator Sean Tindell said, “That’s the one thing about us folks from the Coast, when we work together for promoting the Coast, common good of the Coast, we put aside some of the partisan issues so that we can focus on coastal issues.”
The challenge lies in making sure the settlement money doesn’t get swept in with the rest of the state’s $6 billion budget. The money will go into the general fund, which goes to pay for projects state wide. Speaker of the House Philip Gunn tells News 25 it’s sure to be a major focus point among legislator’s come January, each with their own opinion on how the money should be spent. “Nobody can deny the fact that the Coast was hurt by that. Our effort is going to be that the Coast, to the extent that we can, make sure the Coast receives the money that makes them whole.”
Some of our local lawmakers say while the fight to keep the cut of the money here will be tough, they believe we’re moving in the right direction. “I think it’s a good shot. I mean, we’ve got the governor who’s on board with that. So, when the leadership is coming from the top down, wanting to see that money for the Coast, I think it’s really, really a great start,” said Tindell.
The 2016 session doesn’t start until January. Until then the coastal delegation will continue to meet so they can have a collective voice in Jackson.
House Democrat David Baria of Bay St. Louis and Republican State Senator Chris McDaniel of Jones County say they will both file legislation in January to make sure the money comes back to the Coast.
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