State Representative Joey Hood was the featured speaker at the July meeting of the Winston County Republican Women, on Monday evening, July 15, held in the Colonial Room at Lake Tiak O’Khata.
Hood acknowledged that 2019 being an election year, many people did not expect a great deal of action from the legislature in this year’s session. However, members of the Republican caucus met at the beginning of the session and set an agenda for action.
One bill that drew a great deal of attention was the Broadband Enabling Act. Hood described internet access at the ‘electricity of this century,’ as internet access is becoming more and more critical for day to day activities. The legislation would allow electric cooperatives to explore the possibility of offering this service to its customers which is especially important to those in rural areas.
Hood stated that the legislature was able to accomplish several things in this year’s budget, including a $1.5K teacher pay raise, a teacher assistant pay raise, raises for state employees, and some raises at community colleges and institutes of higher learning. He also pointed out that there was a two-percent set-aside which went into the State’s ‘Rainy Day Fund.’
Also on this year’s agenda was the Human Trafficking Bill, which states that youth under 18 years of age are immune to prostitution charges. The bill also provides $250K for a statewide human trafficking coordinator and data analyst, and an additional $250K to Child Protective Services.
Another important piece of legislation is the Landowners Protection Act which protects a landowner if someone is injured while trespassing on the owner’s land. Hood described it as common sense and the right thing to do.
Hood received a round of applause when he spoke of the Heartbeat Bill which gives Mississippi the most restrictive law in the nation when it comes to protecting the lives of unborn children. The legislation passed both houses of the legislature and has been signed into law by Governor Phil Bryant.
Winston County Republican candidates Rhonda Prisock, Supervisor Dist. 3, and Byron Foster, Coroner spoke briefly, as did Reagan Monk, representing Andy Taggart, candidate for Attorney General, and Alex Bucklew, representing Michael Watson, candidate for Secretary of State.
Winston County Republican Women Give Back
From staff reports
The Winston County Republican Women recently visited the Fikes-Gatewood campus of Baptist Children’s Village in Winston County. The visit consisted of a tour of the beautiful facility as well as a donation of cleaning supplies. Supplies were collected by the WCRW and friends.
The Baptist Children’s Village operates strictly from donations and the supplies were greatly appreciated by the staff. For more information on Baptist Children’s Village you can check this link https://www.baptistchildrensvillage.com/
The Winston County Republican Women is a politically minded group of women with a compassionate heart for children. President Kay Forsman has been instrumental in bringing awareness to sex-trafficking in our state and as the Mississippi Federation of Republican Women Legislation & Research Committee Chair, she worked to pass the new Human Trafficking Law that was signed into law this legislative session. Aside from the current cleaning supply project and donation, the WCRW is now accepting donations of gently used or new backpacks or duffles. These will be donated to Child Protective Services to give children in state custody a place to keep their precious belongings during transition. If you are interested in learning more about WCRW or making a donation of a backpack or duffle contact Kay at (601) 416-9458. The group is always welcoming new members.
