Member input vital in forming MEC's legislative positions

On this page you will see an outline of MEC’s priority issues for the coming legislative session, as outlined by our Board of Directors.

We take these priorities seriously, because they are developed carefully over a period of months and years - the result of research, examination and careful vetting with MEC members and community leaders around the state through our intensive road show process every year – and with a very solid survey system, which allows us to weigh regional differences, when they occur.

These are not the only issues MEC will take on this year. There will be scores of others where we are asked to weigh in based on specific positions taken in past years – or the “history” of positions of the work done by the leaders who have served over the 60 year history of MEC.

There are many ways you can keep track of what is going on.  You can check back to these pages – and to your personalized web page – frequently during the session.  We update our site every business day during session.  You can follow me on Twitter – and Scott Waller, senior vice president and chief lobbyist, as well. 

Scott also does a daily blog, which is accessible from this site.  And you can always email me with your questions – bwilson@mec.ms.  If I don't know the answer, I will forward your email to someone who does – and make sure you get a response.  Most of the time we will be able to give you an update.  Every now and then, your question may be over our head, but we will do our best.

These are challenging times in government and business.  Just like in your business, there are no easy answers in times like these.  You have to work harder and dig deeper to make progress.  But MEC was founded during a very challenging recession in 1949 – and we have weathered plenty of them in between.  With your help,Mississippi will emerge stronger and in a place of even greater opportunity when the recovery begins in earnest.

Thanks for your involvement in the future of our State.

1,299

During the first two weeks of the 2010 there have been 1,299 bills introduced in the House and Senate. Traditionally, there are more than 3,000 total bills introduced each session, but legislators usually take action on only about 300 of those bills.

750

There are a total of 750 interior lights in the interior dome of the Mississippi State Capitol.

1,850

More than 1,850 business and community leaders attended the MEC Fall Transformation Tour, which traveled to 12 cities around Mississippi, which was sponsored by Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi.

A Capital Day
Draws Large Crowd

MEC Sets Priorities
for 2010 Legislative Session

Lt. Governor Phil Bryant addresses a standing-room only A Capital Day crowd.

Business and community leaders from across Mississippi converged on the State Capitol Thursday, Jan. 7. More than 1,000 leaders took part, as the morning session featured Gov. Haley Barbour. Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant highlighted a list of legislative leaders at the Capitol Briefings. Legislators and other state officials joined MEC members at the State Officials Reception at noon.

MEC's Board of Directors announced five Legislative priorities for the upcoming session during A Capital Day. Priority issues are established using MEC member input through surveys taken during the annual fall tour. The results of those surveys are carefully considered when determining priorities each year.

The 2010 priorities are:

• MEC supports pursuing monetary and fiscal policy that puts education at the highest priority, while focusing on stimulating workforce and private sector job creation and retention while pursuing opportunities for reasonable consolidation of entities, programs and services.
• MEC supports the elimination of the State’s Inventory Tax with a phased-out approach taking effect at a FUTURE date, while using rising general fund revenues to replace lost ad valorem tax revenues so that cities, counties and school districts do not have any reduction in revenue as a result of the elimination of this tax. .
• MEC supports the Teacher Retention Act – raising retirement service requirements for NEW teachers (those who start teaching after passage of the act) from 25 Years to 30 Years.
• MEC supports the recommendations of the Lt. Governor’s Commission for a New Mississippi including creation of a strategic plan for government, performance based budgeting and the creation of the merger of the Joint Committee on performance evaluation and expenditure review and Legislative Budget Office.
•  MEC supports continued improvement of education accountability and management – including implementation and strengthening of the Children First Act and an approach to appoint superintendents of education.

  For More on MEC's Priority and A Capital Day

Were you at MEC's A Capital Day? Do you have the wrong men’s black/charcoal gray coat?  If you had anObama Inaugural Metro Pass in your pocket – and the coat you are wearing doesn't, and if the coat you are wearing is now missing a button and wasn't before, you have the wrong coat.  Call Sandy Maxwell and we will get it exchanged for you – 601-969-4408.
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Generously Funded by a Grant From

The business community sent a strong signal a year ago as MEC’s Leadership Mississippi Program partnered with Momentum Mississippi to focus heat and light on the issue of early childhood education with the Mississippi Building Blocks Conference. Find out what next steps are being taken by Mississippi Building Blocks and other leading early childhood education initiatives and programs in Mississippi and the nation – and learn how the Mississippi Center for Education Innovation is playing a pivotal role in pulling policy leaders together to assure Mississippi is in a competitive position in early education.

For More and To Register

AGENDA
9:00 a.m. Welcome and Overview
Steve Williams, Director,
Mississippi Center for Education Innovation
9:10 a.m. Early Brain Development
Dr. Wanda Newell, Dean,
Department of Human Sciences, Alcorn State University
9:45 a.m. Mississippi Building Blocks
Dr. Laurie Smith, Executive Director,
Mississippi Building Blocks
10:15 a.m. Break
10:30 a.m. Mississippi Early Childhood Video
10:45 a.m. Panel Discussion: Early Childhood Initiatives in MS
Moderator: Rebecca Combs,
Executive Director, Phil Hardin Foundation
Annjo Lemons, State Director, Excel by 5
Claiborne Barksdale, Chief Executive Officer,
Barksdale Reading Institute
Robin Robinson, Director Organization Development & Communications, Sanderson Farms,
 and Chair of the MB Swayze Educational Foundation
Dr. Marvin Hogan, Executive Director,
Friends of Children of Mississippi, inc
11:45 a.m. Lunch and Program
Special Luncheon Presenter
Oleta Fitzgerald, Director,
Children’s Defense Fund, Southern Regional Office
Luncheon Keynoter
Michael Petro, Vice President and Director of Business and Government Policy & Chief of Staff,
Committee for Economic Development, Washington, DC
Challenge for Action
Blake Wilson, President & CEO Mississippi Economic Council
1:30 p.m. Adjourn
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For More
For Registration Form
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Walmart shows support for Public Education Forum of Mississippi

Tice White (second from left) presents a check for the Public Education Forum of Mississippi to Vickie Powell, vice president of programs at MEC. White is senior manager of southeast public affairs for Walmart. Also pictured are Rafael Brown, market human resource manager at Walmart, Melanie Morgan, PEF Treasurer and first vice president of Trustmark, and MEC President Blake Wilson.

$80,000 Grant helps fund Mississippi Scholars

On January 13, Tice White of Walmart presented a check from Walmart for $80,000 to the Public Education Forum of Mississippi – Mississippi Scholars, which is an affiliate of MEC.  The investment in Mississippi Scholars is paying off in partnerships between businesses and schools with over 11,000 graduates since inception.  The program started in 2003 with 2 pilot school districts and has grown to 70.  The highly successful program has trained more than 1,500 volunteers to go into the classrooms to encourage and challenge students to complete more rigorous academic courses in high school.  As a result of partnerships with local business communities, private individuals and institutions of higher learning, some students graduating as Mississippi Scholars are also receiving scholarships.

Advance Mississippi’s Power Lunch Jan. 20

Dr. Patrick Moore will be the featured speaker at Advance Mississippi's Power Lunch from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. on Jan. 20 at the Jackson Marriott. Moore, co-founder of CASEnergy, has been a leader in the international environmental field for over 30 years. He is also a co-founder of Greenpeace.

Please RSVP to Steven Carter at (601) 397-6667 or Carter@advancemississippi.com