BIPEC scorecard grades Mississippi legislators on business-friendly policies
The Business and Industry Political Education Committee (BIPEC) released its scorecard on the Mississippi Legislature Monday, grading lawmakers on their policy decisions regarding business issues.
Each legislator was graded on an A through F scale by a criteria devised by BIPEC. The Legislator Business & Jobs Report Card score is determined by an objective portion, which are votes on bills that BIPEC says were supported by most business leaders. There was also a subjective portion, which was determined by 35 business and professional leaders.
House Bill 1649 was a bond bill that gave Huntington Ingalls Shipyard in Pascagoula $45 million and $50 million for the local bridge replacement program. It was signed into law by Gov. Phil Bryant.
HB 1122 would prohibit local governments from adding more regulations to farmers already regulated by state agencies and was signed into law by the governor.
Senate Bill 3046 was the so-called "BRIDGE Act" that would've redirected $1.5 billion in state revenues to infrastructure repair. The bill passed both chambers, but died in committee when a compromise couldn't be reached.
SB 2455 would've diverted some of the state's use tax revenue for roads and bridges. Died in the House Ways and Means Committee.
SB 2570 prohibits local governments from imposing ordinances that could add taxes or fees on any container (such as a bag or cup) for protecting merchandise, food or beverages.
No Democrats in either chamber received A grades, which BIPEC calls "business champions." In the House, four Democrats received B grades. Five Democrat senators received the same score.
In the Senate, all of the failing grades — D's and F's — were awarded to Democrats. Two Republicans were among a crop of Democrats with failing grades in the House.
Senators receiving A grades included: Kevin Blackwell, Jenifer B. Branning, Nickey Browning, Terry C. Burton, Videt Carmichael, Joel R. Carter, Jr., Chris Caughman, Lydia Graves Chassaniol, Eugene S. Clarke, Sally Doty, Joey Fillingane, Josh Harkins, Billy Hudson, W. Briggs Hopson III, Dean Kirby, Chris Massey, J. Walter Michel, Philip Moran, David Parker, Rita Potts Parks, John A. Polk, Gray Tollison, Neil S. Whaley, Brice Wiggins and Charles Younger.
Representatives listed as "business champions" included: Shane Aguirre, William Tracy Arnold, Charles Jim Beckett, C. Scott Bounds, Randy P. Boyd, Charles Busby, Larry Byrd, Lester Carpenter, Gary Chism, John Glen Corley, Becky Currie, Scott DeLano, Bill Denny, Robert Foster, Philip Gunn, Jeff Hale, Greg Haney, Mac Huddleston, Bill Kinkade, Timmy Ladner, Vince Mangold, Roun McNeal, Nolan Mettetal, Sam C. Mims, Ken Morgan, Bill Pigott, Brent Powell, Rob Roberson, Ray Rogers, Randy Rushing, Donnie Scoggin, Jeffrey C. Smith, Brad Touchstone, Jerry R. Turner, Tom Weathersby, Jason White, Patricia H. Willis, Cory Wilson and Henry Zuber III.