Two state legislators, one a Republican and one a Democrat, agreed heartily on one thing: the 2007 legislative session so far has been a cordial one.

“We started off for the first time in the history of the Legislature without a budget,” said Sen. Bob M. Dearing, D-Natchez.

“The Senate and House had not been able to agree on the budget proposals. But since then it has worked very smoothly and there have not been many differences between the two houses.”

Rep. Sam Mims, R-McComb, agreed. “Especially the last few weeks have run very smoothly, and it has been a non-controversial session,” he said.

How much of that has to do with the fact that it is an election year was a question both legislators posed wryly.

Still, there were disappointments and challenges for members of the delegation who represent different parts of Adams County.

Sen. Kelvin Butler, D-Magnolia, is disappointed that the bill that would have eliminated taxes on groceries and increased taxes on cigarettes has not passed.

He has not given up.

“It is still possible. The lieutenant governor (Amy Tuck) can bring it up,” Butler said. “There are several things she can do to bring it to the floor.”

Rep. Robert Johnson, D-Natchez, ran into an unexpected controversy over a local and private bill, he said.

“I innocently introduced a bill that would help the prison project along,” he said, referring to the county’s negotiations with two companies interested in building prisons in Natchez.

“It will allow Natchez Water Works to provide sewer lines to the property on U.S. 84, but there was a fear at first that Natchez Water Works was going to infringe on the business of the Adams County Water Association,” Johnson said.

He amended the bill to insert language that ensures that Natchez Water Works is not “enlarging its franchise by this project,” he said.

Natchez Water Works will run the sewer lines because the county does not have a sewer system in place. “This was the most efficient way to get it done, and we want to be prepared to go forward with this project,” Johnson said.

Johnson said several historic preservation projects are in bond bills and it is a wait-and-see situation at present.

Some of the projects are renovations at the African-American museum on Main Street, improvements at the Natchez Institute to create archival space, enlargement of exhibits at Forks of the Road and preservation of unspecified historic city-owned property.

Dearing was pleased at the signing into law of his bill to provide long-term health care insurance coverage options to state employees and state tax credits up to $500 for any resident of Mississippi who has long-term health care insurance.