Video: Newcomer And Veteran Lawmaker Look To Upcoming Legislative Session

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TUPELO, MISS. (WCBI) – Next week, state lawmakers head to the capitol for the annual legislative session.
Lawmakers will hammer out a budget, and are expected to tackle a number of issues from education funding, to maintaining roads and bridges.
WCBI’s Allie Martin talked with a longtime lawmaker and a newcomer to get their perspectives.

Shane Aguirre is putting in extra hours at his job with Community ElderCare, because come next week, he will head to Jackson, as the newly elected representative for District 17.

He attended an orientation two weeks ago for freshmen lawmakers.

“It was very informative and a little overwhelming, but I learned a lot,” Aguirre said.

The Republican from Tupelo has been talking to constituents and says he is ready for his first session.

“I’m excited to get down to Jackson to work on some of the issues, we talked about during the campaign, job creation and continuing the economic development for the area,” Aguirre said.

Aguirre and his fellow Republican lawmakers will hold a majority in the House, and a supermajority in the Senate.

For longtime Democratic Representative Steve Holland, the GOP majority may mean a tough session.

“Never in 33 years have I had to muster enough emotional energy just to go to Jackson January the fifth, I still love what I do, I’m honored to be where I am but the fight is getting almost impossible now,” Holland said.

Holland believes the Republican leaders will squelch debate and dissension.

“Number one, it’s not any fun to serve in the legislature, it is a raw boned, fairly crappy job, number two, you got it now, with the people speaking, so one sided, you don’t mind playing some defense, defense is important in a game but you would like to have enough balance that everybody’s position can be heard,” Holland said.

Holland and Aguirre both believe the upcoming session will focus on the budget. They both hope something is done to better maintain roads and bridges in the state, and they also believe a new funding formula for public education will be hammered out. Mississippi’s regular legislative session is scheduled to run through May 8th.