As the process of rebuilding Mississippi’s coast begins with the sounds of chainsaws and hammers in counties along the gulf, it is also under way in the state Legislature this week.

At a special session opened with an impassioned speech from Gov. Haley Barbour Tuesday, lawmakers were charged with looking at a list of specific goals aimed at helping the southern part of the state get back on its feet.

The governor’s call includes a proposal for a loan program for small businesses and a line of credit of $200 million to help local governments, among about two dozen other projects to help the areas hardest hit by Katrina.

But the proposal getting the most attention &045; but perhaps not the most action by lawmakers yet &045; is one that would allow coastal casinos in Harrison and Hancock counties to move up to 1,500 feet on shore, as long as they still have facilities touching water.

We understand the great passions stirred up by the idea of inland gaming &045; or gaming in any case &045; but this is a proposal that makes sense, especially when you consider the massive damage that coastal casinos suffered during Katrina.

It wasn’t just the buildings that were destroyed, it was the jobs of honest, hard-working people who need to get back to work and get back to feeding their families and rebuilding their homes.

Barbour &045; who has put himself on the line politically even by proposing the move &045; said it best: A few feet isn’t going to make much difference. The proposal only includes the two counties on the coast, and would not affect Adams County or any place else in Mississippi.

We need to help the coast get back to normal, so our entire state can get back to normal, too.