Barbour Opposes Effort to Tweak Water Bill
By Geoff Pender, The Sun Herald, Biloxi, Miss.
Feb. 9–JACKSON — Gov. Haley Barbour says a bill that passed the House on Thursday to “tweak” last year’s Gulf Regional Water Act could jeopardize hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding for water and sewerage in South Mississippi.
The Senate is expected to kill the House bill. But this might be bad news for residents of Diamondhead seeking relief from astronomical fees for tapping into Diamondhead Water and Sewer District lines. Rep. Jessica Upshaw, R-Diamondhead, amended House Bill 638 on Thursday to allow people who believe they were charged too much to appeal to the state Public Service Commission.
The Diamondhead measure could get trampled in the fight over the regional water authority, and with the midnight Thursday deadline to pass general bills, Upshaw might have difficulty finding another vehicle for her Diamondhead amendment.
Barbour’s opposition to the Gulf water bill greatly angered House Conservation and Water Resources Chairman Jamie Franks, D-Mooreville. Franks, who said he proposed the changes based on many complaints from South Mississippi leaders, said he learned of the governor’s opposition only when he returned to his seat on the House floor after bringing the bill up for a successful vote.
“Look at what was in my seat when I walked back!” Franks said of a hand-delivered letter from Barbour. “He waits until after we vote! What is this bull crap?”
Barbour’s letter to Franks said: “I am currently seeking approval from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to spend some $630 million on regional water and wastewater projects in five coastal counties… If the existing act is changed as proposed in HB 638 to take authority and responsibility away from the County Utility Authorities… this would put a significant portion of the funds for the regional water and wastewater system at risk.”
Franks’ bill made clear that new county water authorities created by last year’s Gulf regional legislation do not have carte blanche control over rural water associations, and cannot take them over if they are operating properly. The bill also limits fees the larger authorities can charge. It would allow the city of Lucedale to participate in the regional water authority system. Lucedale is in George County, which chose not to participate in the regional water and sewer plan.
Developing parks: A bill that would allow Wildlife Fisheries and Parks to lease land at six state parks for commercial or residential development drew heated debate before passing the House Thursday 84-34.
Supporters said the development would be of the type that fits in with recreation and that the money would be used to spruce up the parks, many of which are rundown because of years of underfunding.
Opponents said development would spoil the scenic nature of the parks.
House Bill 1492, which now goes to the Senate, would not affect any South Mississippi parks. It applies to J.P. Coleman, John W. Kyle, Hugh White, George P. Cossar, Percy Quinn and Legion Lake parks.
Tourism incentives passes: The Senate on Thursday passed a bill that would provide tax breaks for large new tourist attractions in Mississippi.
Senate Finance Chairman Tommy Robertson, R-Moss Point, wrote the bill, which would provide breaks for theme parks, water parks, entertainment, cultural or educational centers, museums and other attractions with a private investment of $15 million to $25 million, depending on the location. Public golf courses with minimum investment of $10 million and hotels with private investment of $40 million also would qualify.
Law enforcement: House Bill 792, which would make law enforcement incident reports public record, died with a Thursday deadline for action after House Judiciary Chairman Ed Blackmon skipped over it during floor votes Tuesday and moved it to the end of the House calendar.
The law enforcement lobby killed the bill, which also would have opened police records of a crime after the criminal has been convicted. This was pushed by a family from North Mississippi whose son was murdered and who was denied access to records.
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Copyright (c) 2007, The Sun Herald, Biloxi, Miss.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News.
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