Legislative Update 27

August 03, 2008

Dear Friends,

Last week, Pascagoula’s O-Zone World Series team turned in several inspired performances and helped deliver one of the most exciting weeks of local sports in recent memory. If you weren’t at Gibson Field on Thursday, you missed a special sporting event. Congratulations are in order for Tracy Hadley, Montie Smith, Kalyn Rembert, Raheem Williams, Mousa Hassan, Bray Miles, Brandon Dunn, Corley Reynolds, Slater McCarty, Carlos Lott, Jerry Jackson, Zach Broom, and their coaches, Jon Reynolds, Greg Smith, and Rob Holifield.

Medicaid Update

The Medicaid Special Session will resume in Jackson tomorrow. As many of you know, last week, Governor Barbour withdrew his plan to implement $375 million in cuts to the Medicaid program. That’s good news. What’s less clear is whether this action signals the beginning of the end of the Medicaid stand-off. Following his announcement that he won’t be making the proposed cuts, Governor Barbour unveiled a new Medicaid funding plan that he says does not require the Legislature’s approval. If he’s right, this could be a short trip to Jackson.

The Governor’s Decision to Suspend the Sentence of Michael Graham

I cannot overstate how helpful your feedback has been during my time in office. At different times, you have helped me realize my mistakes and you have helped me to understand issues with greater clarity. In the case of the Governor’s decision regarding Mr. Graham, you have given me some excellent ideas for potential legislation. Among the bill ideas I will take up with our attorneys tomorrow is a bill that would require public hearings in the county where violent crimes take place prior to any premature release, a bill that would require individuals convicted of certain violent crimes to register with the county upon their premature release, and a bill that would keep certain criminals from being considered for trusty positions. Thank you for your help in this process and please continue to keep the ideas coming.

How to Contact Me

If you have any questions or concerns, I invite you to call me on my cell phone at 228-326-7649 or e-mail me at bjones@house.ms.gov. Please feel free to forward this report to folks in our district and let me know if I need to add someone to my list.

I will also be posting my updates and House related news on my campaign website at www.electbrandonjones.com.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve.

Brandon