Haley Barbour in State of Mississippi Archives
On Abortion:
We made MS the safest state for an unborn child
I am proud of Mississippi [on abortion issues]: in 2004, my first year, after we worked together to enact comprehensive pro-life legislation,
Americans United for Life, a national right-to-life organization, named Mississippi "the safest state in America for an unborn child."
Source: 2011 Mississippi State of the State Address
Jan 11, 2011
On Civil Rights:
Proud of MS's highest vote in US for traditional marriage
I am proud that Mississippi cast the highest percentage of its vote of any state in favor of the
Defense of Marriage Act, defining marriage as a union between one man and one woman;
Source: 2011 Mississippi State of the State Address
Jan 11, 2011
On Crime:
$7.3M for state trooper school
To keep law enforcement where we want it, I'm announcing tonight that I will dedicate $7.3 million of the governor's discretionary funds to hold a troopers' school this calendar year. If you will join me in moving motor carrier enforcement from
MDOT to the Department of Public Safety, freeing up 40 current highway patrolmen, that would mean nearly 100 more state troopers on the road.
Source: 2011 Mississippi State of the State Address
Jan 11, 2011
On Drugs:
Fight the scourge of illegal narcotics with a vengeance
In law enforcement, we have fought the scourge of illegal narcotics with a vengeance. In 2005 you passed laws to reduce the production and use of crystal methamphetamine. When the criminals learned how to get around those laws, you made the necessary
changes, and they are working. In the first six months of this fiscal year--July 1 to December 31, 2010--68 percent fewer meth labs have been reported; meth arrests are down 62 percent; the number of drug-endangered children has fallen 76 percent.
Source: 2011 Mississippi State of the State Address
Jan 11, 2011
On Education:
Expand charter schools; expand dual enrollment
Eighty-nine percent of our state's kids go to public schools. To have the kind of workforce to succeed in the 21st century, we start in K-12. Our schools are getting better. Our last NAEP scores were up more than the national average, and the dropout
rate is going down. But that improvement is not enough. We need to make dual enrollment easier and more common. The students can learn more, and their parents will save money as college credits are earned while in high school.
In constrained budget times we must put more resources into the classroom and reduce what is spent on administration. We must continue to focus on improving the quality of teachers coming out of our colleges of education,
while simultaneously using technology more in teaching our kids. Finally, because competition is good in every sphere, I urge you to reform Charter School law so more children can benefit.
Source: 2011 Mississippi State of the State Address
Jan 11, 2011
On Tax Reform:
Cut budget by $700M, instead of raising taxes
As Governor I have cut the budget by a total of about $700 million in just the last two years. Just as our constituents have cut back, they expect state government to cut back. They know the alternative is raising taxes, because government has no money
except what it takes from taxpayers. The people of Mississippi deserve to keep more of what they earn, and we owe it to the people of Mississippi not to raise taxes and to control spending.Not only do I urge you not to consider tax increases this year
I implore you to keep spending at a level this year that protects more of our reserves for next year. That is the way to stop any tax increases in 2012.
Remember, what we have accomplished in controlling spending over seven years can be lost in only one year. Our first year you passed and I signed the most comprehensive tort reform law in the country, and it worked.
Source: 2011 Mississippi State of the State Address
Jan 11, 2011
On Abortion:
Prohibit ObamaCare insurance exchange coverage for abortion
SB3214: Health care exchange plans; prohibit use of federal funds to pay for elective abortions in Mississippi.Summary by Center for Reproductive Rights [a pro-choice group]: Mississippi responded to [ObamaCare] by passing a bill
(SB 3214) that bars any insurer from offering insurance coverage for abortion in the state exchange, except when the woman's life is endangered by "a physical disorder, physical illness or physical injury" or in cases of rape or incest.
The legislature was so eager to pass this bill that it circumvented its own bill introduction deadlines and procedural rules to do so.
Legislative outcome: Passed House 75-32-15, Apr/24/10; Passed Senate 47-0-5, Apr/23/10; Signed by Governor Haley Barbour May/25/10
Source: CRR on Mississippi legislative voting record SB3214
May 25, 2010
On Gun Control:
Concealed carry for retired cops, even in public parks
SB2862: Carrying a concealed weapon; revise qualification for retired law enforcement officers and delete prohibition in parks.Summary by National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action [a pro-gun-rights group]:
Senate Bill 2862 allowed retired law enforcement officers to qualify for the ability to carry a concealed firearm without a permit under federal law by gaining certification from the Mississippi Association of Chiefs of Police.
Repeals the current state ban on the possession of firearms in public parks by Mississippi Right-To-Carry permit holders. This change in state law will allow Mississippi permit holders to carry in state parks.
Legislative outcome: Passed House 117-3-2, Mar/3/10; Passed Senate 52-0-0, Mar/23/10; Signed by Governor Haley Barbour Apr/1/10
Source: NRA-ILA on Mississippi legislative voting record SB2862
Apr 1, 2010
On Education:
Opposed restoring budget cuts to Adequate Education Program
SB2688: An act to direct the state fiscal officer to transfer certain sums to the budget contingency fund for the purpose of providing funds to restore a portion of the budget cuts made to certain agencies during fiscal year 2010.Summary by
Jackson Free Press (4/21/10) SB 2688 increased funding for the Mississippi Adequate Education Program formula while Gov. Haley Barbour sought to cut the entire state budget by $79 million, including MAEP.
Veto message from Governor
Haley Barbour: "Senate Bill 2688 virtually guarantees tax increases by future legislatures. Spending now and taxing later is bad fiscal management, and unfair to taxpayers. SB2688 also fails to adequately restore funding for the Department of
Corrections [who] will be forced to release thousands of prisoners to balance its budget."
Legislative outcome:Passed House 106-14-2, 2/11/2010; Passed Senate 26-22-3, 2/18/10; Vetoed by Gov. Barbour 2/24/10.
Source: Jackson Free Press on Mississippi voting record SB2688
Feb 24, 2010
Page last updated: Oct 13, 2021