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(Publisher's comment)
The state of Delta legislators
The Business and Industry Political Education Committee, also known as BIPEC, has recently
released their report card scoring Mississippi Legislators on their voting performance in
regard to how they voted for economic growth. Total legislative performance evaluated by
BIPEC showed some improvement over mid-term ratings calculated in 1997.
The organization was founded in 1980 by Mississippi business leaders in order to provide
solid research needed to find out if legislative candidates have a good sense of business
knowledge. BIPEC members include hundreds of small and large Mississippi businesses,
individuals, and more than 30 trade associations. The organization represents overall
business interests in Mississippi and are not tied to any one industry. BIPEC is also a
non-partisan non-lobbying group. This allows them to research, rate and recommend
business-minded individuals who will promote the economic growth of our state without
having to contend with party politics or lobbying for particular issues.
BIPEC's performance evaluation or "PE" is a measuring stick used to determine
each legislator's business philosophy, attitude and effectiveness in supporting growth of
Mississippi's economy. According to the organization, key factors in their assessments
are:
-legislators' vote on clearly identified economic principles and business issues
-leadership in committee and floor debates on job-related legislation
-encouragement of other legislators to support economic growth and build coalitions.
No one issue dominates BIPEC's ratings. The organization makes a great effort to ensure
that the votes chosen represent a broad cross-section of job-related issues. These issues
vary from year to year depending on what votes are brought forth in the session. Some
areas include government growth, lawsuit reduction, business taxation, government spending
controls and several more.
Performance evaluations are grouped into four performance levels. Each level gives an
indication to business leaders how, in general, legislators support economic growth, jobs
and other broad job-related issue. BIPEC's "Business Champions" receive scores
of 76 - 100, "Moderate Business Support" - 56 to 75, "Marginal Business
Help" - 41 to 55, and "Anti-Business" - 0 to 40.
According to BIPEC's analysis of grades, the Senate showed a slight improvement while the
House recorded a small decline in performance.
Here in the Delta State Representative, Tom Cameron (R) from Greenville and Charlie Capps
(D) of Cleveland received the designation of "Business Champions" because of
their strong pro-business voting records.
Other Delta voting records according to BIPEC:
"Anti-Business" - (0 - 40) State Senators Johnnie Walls, Jr.
(18), and Neely Carlton (39) both of Greenville; Delma Furniss (21) of Rena Lara. State
Representatives Linda Coleman of Mound Bayou (35), Jimmy Thornton (23) and Willie Bailey
(27) of Greenville; Rufus Straughter (23) of Belzoni; Willie Perkins (30) of Greenwood;
Robert Huddleston (38) of Sumner; and Patricia Miller (27) of Walls.
"Marginal Business Help" - (41 - 55) Are State Representatives
Robert Clark (46) of Lexington; Clayton Henderson (50) of Tunica; Leonard
Henderson (45) of Clarksdale; and Sarah Thomas (49) of Indianola. Delta area State
Senators: Willie Simmons (47) of Cleveland.
According to BIPEC president, Dick Wilcox, "When the count of anti-business
legislators is added to those scoring near the anti-business level, the research says 42%
of our legislators do little or nothing to help create new and better jobs in Mississippi.
It's sad but true, we have a sizable number of legislators who just don't understand what
it takes to create jobs. They say one thing but their actions don't match their
words."
From the day one the promotion of economic development has been the DBJ's
primary goal. In order for the Delta to reach its full economic potential, we need all of
the help that we can get. Let's urge our state representatives and senators from the Delta
to vote pro-business. Although this isn't a complete list, we salute some of the standouts
who voted in pro-business manner: Representatives Tom Cameron (89) of Greenville; Charlie
Capps (89) from Cleveland; Jimmy Green (77) from Itta Bena; and Leonard Morris (78) from
Batesville. And from the Senate: Bunky Huggins (76) Greenwood. We appreciate BIPEC
forwarding this information to us.
In this issue of the Delta Business Journal we celebrate on page one
Mississippi Chemical's 50th anniversary. Much has been written about this outstanding
company in the past few weeks, however we decided to take a different turn and write about
the company's history. Their story is another great Mississippi success story.
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