Video: Local Lawmakers Talk Two Types of Reform

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JACKSON, Miss. (WCBI) — Many topics were on the minds of our local lawmakers Tuesday as session opened.

Although they all have their own goals, many are concerned about two types of reform.

Mississippi lawmakers are loud and clear, education in the state needs some changes..For one it needs to be paid for.

“We want to fully fund, there’s no doubt about that, but we want to do it in a way that it’s spent wisely. We see a lot of times where it’s not spent wisely, and the teachers aren’t getting it and the students aren’t getting it,” says Senator Chuck Younger.

Some lawmakers also believe changing the way county school district are run will increase efficiency.

“I think we’ll finally do appointed superintendents, Mississippi is one of 3 states that has elected superintendents,” says Representative Gary Chism.

Consolidating more school districts and raising teacher pay are also possible this session.

The other type of reform lawmakers are looking at is criminal justice reform.

“Making sure ex cons don’t have to walk around with that scarlett letter on their chest for the rest of their life, making sure they have opportunities, ” says Representative Kabir Karriem.

It’s a change 38th district representative Tyronne Ellis says will benefit everyone.

” We need rehabilitation methods instead of just return to incarceration over and over again. It’s killer the taxpayers, it’s killing our budget, ad we need to correct it.”

All the local lawmakers we spoke to are ready to work together to make sure these changes get tackled.

Repairing roads, making a change to the state flag and building jobs were are also goals many local lawmakers hope to accomplish in the next four months.