Ronnie Musgrove in State of Mississippi Archives
On Principles & Values:
1999: elected by state House vote, after plurality win
Imagine a scenario where Hood garners 48% of the vote and Reeves gets 47%. In that scenario, the election for governor could be decided by the 122 members of the Mississippi House of Representatives. Mississippi's 1880s Constitution [requires that a]
candidate for governor or for the other seven statewide offices garners a majority vote, and also requires the winning candidate to win a majority of the 122 House districts in order to capture the seat.After the 1999 election, one of the most
memorable votes in the history of the House occurred when Republican Mike Parker--who lost the popular vote--refused to concede to Musgrove in the race for governor. Musgrove won a plurality of the votes and amazingly both candidates won 61 of the
state's 122 House districts. By a vote of 86 to 36 the Democratic-controlled House elected fellow Democrat Musgrove. Most argued that it only made sense that the person who won the most votes should win the Governor's Mansion.
Source: Biloxi Sun-Herald on 2019 Mississippi Gubernatorial race
Feb 4, 2019
On Health Care:
Protect Mississippi’s Health Care Trust Fund
We’re attacking the problems faced by rural citizens in keeping access to health care open & available. We must ensure our dedicated state employees have the quality health insurance they deserve. And, we must protect one of Mississippi’s best investment
- the Health Care Trust Fund. Mississippi is one of only five states to remain committed to using the tobacco settlement for the Health Care needs of our people. Many states have used their tobacco settlement to fund deficits in their general budget.
Source: Mississippi State of the State Address, 2002
Jan 16, 2002
On Health Care:
Enrolled 50,000 in the Children’s Health Insurance Program
Medicaid is so much more than another government agency. It means health insurance for our children, elderly and disabled. The success of Medicaid is evidenced by the enrollment of 87,000 new recipients in the past year.
In January of 2000, less than 600 children were enrolled in the Children’s Health Insurance Program. Today, that number is nearly 50,000.
Source: Mississippi State of the State Address, 2002
Jan 16, 2002
On Homeland Security:
Favors death penalty for terrorists
In order to protect our state, we must adopt the recommendations of the Governor’s Summit on Domestic Preparedness. We must also send a message to the terrorists--if you commit acts of terrorism on
Mississippi soil, you will face the death penalty. I am preparing legislation to ensure just that.
Source: Mississippi State of the State Address, 2002
Jan 16, 2002
On Budget & Economy:
Attract new businesses; develop existing ones
We have a bold, new plan for economic growth in all 82 counties: rural and urban, agricultural and industrial. - The impact of the Advantage Mississippi Initiative has already been measured by the success of attracting Nissan.
-
The Advantage Mississippi Initiative established a rural development office responsible for targeting smaller communities and manufacturers.
- With the new Capital Access Program, more Mississippi entrepreneurs than ever will have access
to the resources they need to start small businesses across our state.
- By maximizing specific capabilities and assets, the On-TARGET Community Certification Program can assist local communities recruit, retain and grow businesses tailored to their
communities.
- But don’t forget, we have a commitment to businesses that are already here in Mississippi, and we are just as committed to helping them thrive and prosper.
Source: 2001 State of the State Address to Mississippi legislature
Jan 4, 2001
On Crime:
Teach prisoners skills by building senior housing
Mississippi’s prison population is growing rapidly. Building our way out of this crisis is not an option even in the most prosperous times. We can’t just change prisons; we have to change lives. We have a unique opportunity to address two
seemingly unrelated needs. We believe we have found a way to offer older Mississippians smaller, affordable homes of their own while driving down the number of offenders returning to our prisons by helping them change careers.
Inmates can learn advanced carpentry, wiring, and roofing skills inside the penitentiary fences by building low-cost, energy-efficient, quality homes designed with elderly Mississippians in mind for purchase and placement on their property
anywhere in Mississippi. Building homes for our parents and grandparents builds real opportunity for offenders and expands the pool of skilled workers for the future.
Source: 2001 State of the State Address to Mississippi legislature
Jan 4, 2001
On Education:
Remove the 5% cap on teacher pay
Our children won’t learn without qualified, inspired teachers in the classroom. Mississippi’s teachers continue to outshine teachers in other states. Our national board certification numbers are a resounding testament to their commitment to teaching.
Removing the 5% revenue growth condition on pay increases would be a strong testament to our commitment to Mississippi’s teachers. Nothing less than fully funding adequate education, the critical teacher shortage act, and our teacher pay plan will do.
Source: 2001 State of the State Address to Mississippi legislature
Jan 4, 2001
On Education:
Universities: settle the Ayers Case
We are asking our community colleges and universities to take a greater role in economic development from recruiting industries, to research and development. If we are going to utilize our Universities to the fullest, then the Ayers Case must be settled.
Twenty-five years is long enough. It is time to move on.
Source: 2001 State of the State Address to Mississippi legislature
Jan 4, 2001
On Health Care:
Medical Education Scholarships for rural doctors
The creation last year of Medical Education Scholarship Programs provides full scholarships for up to twenty new recipients each year provided they agree to serve ten years in family medicine in a critical needs area of our state. In tandem with
licensing physicians’ assistants we will begin to see the expansion of access to health care particularly in rural areas. Continuing the effort to recruit doctors and other health care providers to rural Mississippi remains a top priority.
Source: 2001 State of the State Address to Mississippi legislature
Jan 4, 2001
On Health Care:
Invest in state employees’ health plan, despite budget
Mississippi’s package of health benefits for state employees may be better than some states across our nation, but it’s not good enough. As with private plans, deductibles continue to increase while coverage seems to shrink every year. We must
not use the budget as an excuse to avoid tackling the difficult issues in health care. We may not solve all the problems with health insurance costs quickly, but we can begin with a sound investment in the health insurance we offer our state employees.
Source: 2001 State of the State Address to Mississippi legislature
Jan 4, 2001
On Civil Rights:
Ban gay couples from adopting
Mississippi on Wednesday became the third state to ban gay couples from adopting children, although the plan is likely to be challenged in court. Democratic Gov. Ronnie Musgrove signed the bill after it easily cleared the Legislature in the final days
of the recently concluded 2000 session. Florida and Utah have similar laws.
Mississippi’s law takes effect July 1. Its supporters said it was spurred in part by Vermont’s new law giving gay couples nearly all of the benefits of marriage.
Source: CBS News, “Mississippi Bans Gay Adoptions”
May 3, 2000
Page last updated: Oct 13, 2021