House speaker makes history

By Staff
from staff and wire reports
Jan. 16, 2004
JACKSON House Speaker Billy McCoy made history Thursday by naming the first black lawmaker in modern times to chair one of two money committees in the 122-member body.
State Rep. Percy Watson, D-Hattiesburg, will chair the House Ways and Means Committee a panel that drafts, revises and debates all tax and finance proposals before they head to the full House for a vote.
Watson's appointment to the Ways and Means Committee was announced when McCoy, D-Rienzi, unveiled his choices to serve on and chair the 35 state House committees for the next four years.
Much of the work in the Legislature takes place in House and Senate committees. Members hold formal hearings on major issues; they also shape and revise legislation that the full House eventually will consider.
Besides Watson's appointment, McCoy named three House members from East Mississippi as chairmen of high-profile committees.
State Rep. Bobby Moody, D-Louisville, will chair Forestry; state Rep. Charles Young, D-Meridian, will chair Universities and Colleges; and state Rep. Eric Robinson, R-Quitman, will chair Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks.
McCoy also named state Rep. Johnny Stringer, D-Montrose, as chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. Stringer's committee is charged with crafting the state's annual budget.
We're going to turn over every leaf and rock and we're going to look at every budget closely, whatever it takes to balance the budget,'' said Stringer, a 24-year lawmaker said.
McCoy said he chose chairmen for House committees based on geography, experience, political diversity, racial diversity and other factors. McCoy also assigned all 121 of his House colleagues as rank-and-file members of committees.
I am solely and finally responsible alone for each assignment to each member. They have been made after prayerful consideration,'' McCoy said.
Each assignment has been made with the goal that this body, this House, move in a most progressive manner that will truly make a difference for good affecting all the citizens of Mississippi.''
Lawmakers sat silently as House Clerk Don Richardson spent more than 30 minutes reading committee assignments aloud.
Business interests and doctors have been pushing for changes to the civil justice system to limit how much should be paid out in lawsuit awards.
Such bills traditionally go through the House Judiciary A Committee now chaired by state Rep. Ed Blackmon, D-Canton.
Blackmon is a high-profile trial lawyer who has opposed many civil justice changes. He said he will not automatically block civil justice bills if McCoy sends them through his committee.
I've been chairman of one of the Judiciary Committees for 12 years and we gave every thing, every idea, consideration and we'll look at everything that comes through Jud A the same way,'' Blackmon said.
Blackmon had been chairman of the House Judiciary B Committee, which handles most criminal justice bills.