Report from the MS Senate


Thursday, January 13, 2011
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Report from the MS Senate
Senator Bill Stone District 2

Report from first week of Mississippi Senate session

In our first day of the 2011 Legislative Session, Jan. 4, the Mississippi Senate passed House Bill 403 that helped to lure California-based Stion to Hattiesburg where it plans to hire up to 1,000 workers within six years. The bill is on the governor’s desk awaiting his signature.

Stion is a leading manufacturer of high efficiency thin film solar panels, will pay workers an average of $43,000 annually and be located in the old Sunbeam building.

The bill authorizes a $75 million state loan for Stion that will be repaid with interest within ten years. The company will invest $500 million in the state.

Community colleges will benefit from Stion’s presence in the state as they will be used for workforce training. The Senate also approved a rule change resolution creating the position of Senate Chaplain.

Lt. Governor Bryant appointed Rev. Ben James of Prentiss Baptist Church to the position. Bro. James will serve on a voluntary basis to provide spiritual counseling to members and staff and will attend at least one day per week during the regular session, offering prayer when requested.

Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann delivered petitions for three ballot initiatives which voters will decide in the November 8, general election. The initiatives include the “Personhood Amendment” that states that life begins at conception, not birth, a property rights amendment, sponsored by Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation that would restrict the government’s power of eminent domain from being used for economic development projects and a third to require photo identification to be required before a person can vote.

The proposals, barring any court challenges, are headed to the November ballot but the Legislature will act on them with the possibility of providing alternative proposals.

The Senate adjourned Thursday, Jan. 6, and was set to return on Monday afternoon (Jan. 10) but those plans could be altered by agreement between the lt. governor and the speaker of the House due to the winter weather affecting our state. I can be reached at the Capitol while in session at (601) 359-3770, by cell phone at (662) 224-4126 or by e-mail at: bstone@senate.ms.gov.

The Senate mailing address is P.O. Box 1018, Jackson, MS 39215.

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