Lobbying continues before special session

By Staff
From staff and wire reports
Sept. 3, 2002
JACKSON Gov. Ronnie Musgrove's staff is trying to rally support for his proposals before a Thursday special legislative session.
But House Speaker Tim Ford says it's hard to predict how events will play out. Ford, D-Baldwyn, said he isn't counting votes in advance, as he often does on hot-button issues.
Musgrove wants legislators to approve a new private prison spending bill. If they do, he said he'll let them consider a medical malpractice insurance plan and general changes to the civil justice system.
Some lawmakers are itching to vote on tort reform, while others would rather not vote at all, Ford said.
Business and medical groups say multimillion dollar verdicts hurt Mississippi; they want limits on jury awards. Trial lawyers say the civil justice system works fine and capping awards hurt people.
If there is a vote on the civil justice system, Ford predicts significant changes will be approved.
But first things first. Ford, Lt. Gov. Amy Tuck and other legislative leaders have criticized Musgrove for the three-tiered approach to the special session and making tort reform contingent on prison funding.
Some lawmakers have called Musgrove's approach to the special session "extortion." All issues should be on the table at the same time, they said, and civil justice reform should not be held hostage.
Musgrove has defended his approach to the session, saying he wants lawmakers to take care of important state business.
During a July 30 special session, the House rejected a plan to retool funding for private prisons. Musgrove has renegotiated contracts and plans to close Delta Correctional Facility in Leflore County.
The governor also wants to establish a malpractice insurance pool that would be sponsored by the state but paid for by doctors.
Physicians around the state are having trouble renewing policies because some insurers have pulled out of Mississippi, while others have raised rates dramatically.
Only a governor can call a special session, and only he can set the agenda.
Some lawmakers are asking Musgrove to let them consider other topics. Rep. Chuck Espy, D-Clarksdale, says lawmakers should set aside money to pay for statewide mosquito spraying to fight West Nile Virus.
But Ford says he doesn't know where the money would come from because Mississippi has a tight state budget. Musgrove is asking the federal government for $8.1 million to fight West Nile.
Espy last week said the governor's staff was pressuring him to flip his vote on the prison funding bill in exchange for the governor possibly allowing lawmakers to vote on West Nile funding.
Espy voted against the prison bill during a July 30 special session and said he'll do so again.
Ford said it's not unusual for the governor's staff or others in the Capitol to try to change lawmakers' minds on issues.