@ISSUE

This week the House and Senate took up each other’s bills, and the sparks did fly. School choice and PERS reform appear dead, while presumptive eligibility and mobile sports betting are still alive. And the House and Senate tax reform bills are still on a collision course. Our @ISSUE team looks at these topics and more. We also pay tribute to the late Robert Clark, who served in the House from 1968 to 2004 and was the first Black Mississippi legislator elected since Reconstruction.

Join host Wilson Stribling and analysts Austin Barbour and Brandon Jones for another lively episode of MPB’s @ISSUE. This week, Senate Republicans pass their tax cut bill and now defend it from both the right and left. Ten Senate districts are redrawn after a successful NAACP lawsuit. Casinos may see a tax increase, and a Jackson casino bill dies. Legislators push for hemp product regulation. A Mississippi-Israel caucus is announced. And House Democrats demand to have their voices heard.

This week we look at a wide range of bills, dealing with everything from tax cuts and parental leave to hemp product regulation and wine and liquor sales. Wilson Stribling interviews Speaker of the House Jason White about his chamber’s most important legislation. And our roundtable team, Austin Barbour and Brandon Jones have a spirited debate on House Bill 859, legislation that would allow advanced practice nurses, nurse practitioners, and nurse anesthetists to provide services without the supervision of a collaborating physician.

This week we talk about the Senate’s newly unveiled tax cut proposal, the apparent failure of the House’s school choice bill, passage of the Domestic Violence Fatality Review bill, controversy over the Senate’s Early Voting bill, the death of the ballot initiative measure, and much more.

This week we look at the House’s school choice legislation; two anti-Diversity, Equity and Inclusion bills; a constitutional amendment restoring certain felons’ voting rights; a bill creating a domestic violence review board, and more. Host Wilson Stribling and analysts Austin Barbour and Brandon Jones discuss the new ballot initiative proposal and a bill that would protect agricultural pesticide manufacturers from lawsuits. Our featured interview is with Senator Jeremy England of Vancleave, the chairman of the Senate Elections Committee. Wilson talks with Senator England about his early voting bill, campaign finance transparency, and legislation that would allow Mississippians to order wine by mail.

This week the team discusses Governor Tate Reeve’s annual State of the State address, and his emphasis on Mississippi’s economic growth, energy production, and tax cuts. Our featured interview is with Rep. Rob Roberson (R-Starkville), chair of the House Education Committee.

This week we look at new legislation for a ballot initiative, more school choice ideas, a new version of last year’s Medicaid presumptive eligibility bill, and a few very unusual bills. The roundtable team also talks about the MAGA influence in Mississippi politics.

*Updated 1/18/2024 with additional content*The @ISSUE team discusses House Bill #1, a major reform to Mississippi's tax system, medicare expansion, and various options for School Choice.

The 2025 Mississippi legislative session is currently in progress! Tune in every Friday for an insider’s view of the legislative session, featuring interviews with key players and diverse perspectives from both political parties. Hosted by Wilson Stribling and joined by commentators Austin Barbour (R) and Brandon Jones (D) each week they will dissect the latest happenings at the state Capitol.