This week in the Senate we passed legislation that will re-establish the public health laboratory within the Department of Health so it again can be certified, following its loss of credentials last summer.

We had discussions on Senate bill 2095 that would mandate a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole for those convicted of rape or sexual battery of a child. It has been held for further discussion but remains a possibility.

We also passed Senate Bill 2605 that will allow the Mississippi Development Authority to offer $13 million in incentives to Cooper Tire in Tupelo to facilitate their expansion and the retention of 1,200 jobs that pay an average of $45,000 a year.

In choosing to expand its Tupelo operation, Cooper Tire will close its Gainesville, Ga., plant, which could mean a potential gain of up to 500 jobs for Mississippi.

Cooper Tire will be able to borrow $6 million over 10 years with no interest, and the state will retain ownership of a $7 million facility they will build using part of the $13 million. So the state is out of no money, we keep 1,200 jobs that pay well above average wages and the company itself will invest another $25 million into their facility.

The bill was held for further debate, but we feel confident that it will eventually make it to the House of Representatives so that we can retain this valuable business in the midst of a struggling national economy.

Also held was Senate Bill 2606 that seeks a decrease in the amount of taxes paid for certain equipment. This bill will keep farmers from crossing state lines to buy parts and have repairs done on their equipment by dropping from 7-percent, to 1-percent the tax they pay for parts and labor.

We also learned of the governor’s $158 million budget cut that includes a more than $87 million shortfall in funding for public schools, which we had hoped could be avoided.

However, we do understand that, by law, the governor must make a series of cuts in order to balance the budget, considering that state revenues have declined as have others across the country.

After much debate, the Senate also passed Senate Bill 2548, a voter ID bill that would require persons voting in Mississippi to show an approved form of identification before casting a ballot. It was held on a motion to reconsider. If passed it goes to the House of Representatives for a vote.

In committee meetings we have begun to sort through the issues that we will address in coming weeks.

While most state agencies have trimmed their budgets by 5-percent as the governor has asked, during committee meetings we were asked by some agencies to increase funding, which might be unlikely because the governor has said revenues could be $310 million short of projections by June.

Other things being considered in committee include whether to increase weight limits for loggers and certain others who drive heavy trucks across our county roads and interstates. Our Public Health and Welfare Committee is trying to determine how best to increase the tax on tobacco, which is being considered to fill a funding gap left in Medicaid.

Other bills filed this week, that have yet to be brought onto the floor for debate include:

4 Senate Bill 2145, which establishes recall election procedures for local officials by referendum, to include local school board members.

4Senate Bill 2036, which would provide additional Second Amendment rights for citizens.

4Senate Bill 2306, which seeks to allow citizens who possess concealed carry firearms permits, to carry their handguns onto the grounds of parks within the state. It is currently illegal to do so.

Please contact me at 601-359-3244 or e-mail me at kbutler@senate.ms.gov.

Kelvin Butler is a state senator representing a portion of Adams County.