NATCHEZ – Tax incentives offered to Mississippi Gulf Coast businesses should extend to Southwest Mississippi, as well, said Rep. Sam Mims, R-McComb, at a luncheon meeting Thursday.

Mims, Sen. Bob Dearing, D-Natchez, and Sen. Kelvin Butler, D-Magnolia, were guests at a luncheon at the Carriage House restaurant sponsored by the Natchez-Adams County Chamber of Commerce along with the Natchez Kiwanis Club.

“I’m very concerned about building up the Coast, but I’m also concerned about Southwest Mississippi,” Mims said, adding that Natchez and other communities in the district he represents have suffered monetarily and should get assistance in recouping losses.

“We weren’t devastated like the Gulf Coast, but we could use the tax incentives to attract new businesses to Southwest Mississippi. We have the work force, and people are willing to work. We just need the jobs.”

Legislators will meet for a special session Tuesday, when they expect Gov. Haley Barbour to ask them to consider two items – changing the gaming law to allow Gulf Coast casinos to build on land; and providing economic aid to assist small businesses in Hurricane Katrina recovery.

Dearing said he expects the Legislature will agree to allow Coast casinos to build – perhaps in front of their hotels. He does not think the law will extend to other casinos in the state such as at Natchez, Vicksburg or Tunica.

“It would be ludicrous to move any of the others (besides the Coast casinos),” Dearing said.

Mims is uncertain about changing the gaming law. “I’m uncomfortable about allowing casinos to move inland,” he said. “If we allow them to move inland, say 100 feet, will it give another city the right to challenge that law in the future?”

Butler, responding to a question about how the Natchez area can be more successful with its legislative wish list, said communities must form groups to keep in close touch with the Legislature.

“It’s important for us to know each other. You need to form a coalition from the area. Let us know what’s going on and what’s important to you,” Butler said.

In response to a question about bond bills that could have provided money for projects in Natchez, Mims said the division in the House has created difficulties.

“From the House side, it is truly divided. Of the 122 members, 59 or 60 have a different view from the Speaker as to how things should be run,” Mims said. In the next session, he hopes “we can resolve our differences in a respectful way.”

Mims said the final bond bill contained items he could not support, such as a lake in one county and beaver control in another, both requiring many thousands of dollars.

Dearing said, “At no time did conferees sit down and talk about those two bonding bills (for Natchez.” The governor had given his verbal OK to both – one to provide an archives area for the Historic Natchez Foundation and the other to enhance Forks of the Road historic site.

Dearing suggested the Chamber appoint a committee. “Every time we have something of interest that will come before the Legislature, go meet with the Speaker, with the lieutenant governor and the governor. Form a bond with the legislators you know you’re going to need.”