This is the blog of Mississippi Rep. Erik Fleming, D-72nd District, Hinds, Madison. Fleming, 40 and a graduate of Jackson State University, is running for the seat of U.S. Sen. Trent Lott this year. He has been in the Legislature since 1999.
Mantra
"A politician thinks of the next election. A statesman thinks of the next generation." — James Freeman Clarke
First, my new job at the Mississippi Immigrants Rights Alliance has been exciting to say the least. Working with good friends on a good cause makes the transition from public servant to activist relaxing and rewarding. The timing could not have been better as I have had a chance to help organize and participate fully in our second annual Black-Brown Unity Conference in Canton, MS. I have been given the opportunity to travel across the country, talking with other activists in the struggle. More importantly, I have seen the battle first hand with the new immigrants' quest to become a positive permanent fixture in this state and nation, especially during a political year. It has been an experience with mixed emotions.
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It could be very easy for me to walk away from everything political. I could very well be frustrated enough with the fickleness of the process to take my marbles and go home. However, if I did that, it would go against the very principles that got me into politics in the first place: serving mankind.
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Well, it was a good run. I would like to thank my supporters for their votes and efforts as we sought to receive a third term in the Mississippi House of Representatives. Falling 490 votes short, it is now time to express gratitude for the opportunity to serve and look forward to the next chapter of my life.
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State Representative Erik R. Fleming, D-Clinton, has set a hearing for June 20, 2007 to discuss future legislation concerning NSF (or Insufficient Funds) fees. The hearing will take place at the State Capitol in Room 113, starting at 10:00 am.
This was the announcement made on Thursday, April 19, 2007 officially kicking off the campaign for my re-election to the Mississippi House of Representatives. As an aside, the kickoff party went real well at George Street Grocery, with a little over 50 people in attendance.
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> Fully funded the Mississippi Adequate Education Program for the 2007-08 school term, and awarded teachers a 3-percent across-the-board pay raise and set the minimum pay for teacher assistants at $12,500 per year. $190 million more than for the current year.
> Provided state universities with $85 million additional funding and community colleges with $35 million more for the next fiscal year. Enhanced salaries at both.
> Provided state employees with a pay increase of at least $1,500. State troopers awarded $2,500 pay increase and budgeted for new "trooper school." Nursing professors to draw $6,000 pay raise to help ease nursing shortage.
The announcement that Japanese auto giant Toyota will build a manufacturing plant in Northeast Mississippi clearly dominated talk in the State Capitol during the ninth week of the 2007 Legislature.
Once the announcement was made that we had secured the plant, the Legislature went to work on the incentives package. After consideration by the House Ways and Means Committee, the full House and Senate then voted on Friday to approve the $293.9 million package. This means that work on the plant site will begin almost immediately.
The new plant, to be located just northwest of Tupelo where Lee, Pontotoc and Union counties join on the industrial site known as Wellspring, will have the capacity to build 150,000 vehicles annually of Toyota’s popular Highlander sport utility vehicle. Production is scheduled to begin by 2010. The new plant represents a $1.3 billion investment by Toyota and is expected to create approximately 2,000 new jobs for the region and indirectly create work for many more. Operations at the plant will include stamping, body weld, plastics, paint, and assembly.
Toyota is pressing General Motors to become the world's largest automaker.
Toyota manufacturing Executive Vice President Ray Tanguay pointed out several factors that led to Toyota’s site selection decision. “On my visits to Northern Mississippi, I have talked with area companies and observed their workforce,” said Tanguay. “What I observed were people who are educated, ethical and friendly with a strong work ethic -- a perfect match for the Toyota Way.” He added that the area’s existing companies had high praise for the workforce. “They were definitely the best sales people.”
Speaker of the House Billy McCoy, who attended the announcement in Tupelo, called Tuesday, Feb. 27 "a great day in Mississippi. I wish all of you could have heard the way the Toyota leaders talked about the things that the Legislature has worked hard for over the last 25 years, like education, economic development and transportation. They talked well of the region and the entire state."
Outline of Toyota Mississippi
Location: Blue Springs, Mississippi (outside of Tupelo)
Plant overview: Vehicle production (stamping, body weld, plastics, paint and assembly)
Product: Toyota Highlander
Production capacity: 150,000 units/year
Site area: 1,700 acres
Investment: $1.3 billion
Start of production: By 2010
Employment: 2,000
Toyota (NYSE:TM) established operations in North America in 1957. In 2009, Toyota will have the annual capacity to build approximately 2.16 million cars and trucks, 1.45 million engines and 600,000 automatic transmissions in 15 plants across North America. There are more than 1,700 Toyota, Lexus and Scion dealerships in North America, which sell more than 2.8 million vehicles a year. Toyota directly employs more than 41,000 people in North America. With the announcement, Toyota's investment in North America is valued at nearly $19 billion.
Toyota also has pledged to donate $50 million to public schools in Pontotoc, Lee and Union counties over 10 years to help ensure a long-term viable workforce
The House of Representatives passed a bill in 2006 to provide state matching funds to help purchase the Wellspring industrial site. However, the bill failed in the Senate.
Other than the Toyota deal, we in the House of Representatives worked mostly during the week on general bills that had originated in the Senate. We met a deadline of Feb. 27 for our committees to report on those measures and then we began considering them in the full House. On many of those bills, we performed what is known as a “strike-all amendment,” meaning we inserted language that the House had passed in an earlier bill.
Included among the bills we passed on the House floor this week were:
> SB 2323 to give teachers a 3 percent pay raise, and teacher assistants a $1,000 raise this year and a $500 raise next year.
> SB 3036 making it easier for victims of domestic violence to get a protective court order.
> SB 2863 setting up a task force to examine the state’s trauma care emergency program.
> SB 2962 requiring the Diamondhead Water and Sewer District in Hancock County to request approval of any rate or fee charges to be approved by the state Public Service Commission before going into effect. The group has met criticism recently with its extremely high water “tapping fees.”
> SB 2760 providing legal due process for city law enforcement officers who are given notice of suspension or termination from their position.
> SB 2337 providing a state income tax credit for buying private insurance to cover long-term care insurance.
> SB 2764 reorganizing the State Board of Health, with a nine-member board to be appointed. This issue will be decided in conference committee negotiations between the House and Senate, as will many of the issues that we have faced during the session.
The House and the Senate passed resolutions to suspend the rules to consider legislation to help facilitate the Toyota plant in Union County. The House Ways and Means Committee will meet at 6am tomorrow. I am glad the Governor saw the error of his ways and decided to trust the process.
TO: All Mississippi Media
FROM: State Representative Erik R. Fleming, 6014739067
DATE: February 28, 2007
RE: Fleming says Governor’s ego to cost taxpayers
JACKSON, MS---State Representative Erik R. Fleming, D-Clinton, today introduced a suspension resolution to suspend the rules concerning legislation to facilitate the creation of a Toyota automotive plant in Union County. The procedure is normal when legislation is needed for items that occur after the deadline for bills being introduced has past. Governor Barbour has said that he wants to call a special session during the regular session, at a cost of $33,000 a day, to address the same concerns.
Aug 10, 07 | 12:50 pm Time to turn the page LambdaRisen: Well said Erik.
Thanks for all you did and all you're going to do, because I know you're not done.
Call up the local news channels Erik! They need some new blood for...
Aug 10, 07 | 11:40 am Time to turn the page L.W.: Once again, great post. I look forward to getting your opinions on what's going on in the legislature, etc....
Jun 13, 07 | 6:59 am Fleming sets hearing on NSF fees Rep. Erik Fleming: That is the rate set by most national banks throughout the U.S. That is why this trend of banks posting multiple checks, then taking out the largest check first, is so alarming. If the banks would process the smallest checks first, then it would not...
Jun 12, 07 | 8:06 pm Fleming sets hearing on NSF fees L.W.: Why is the current NSF limit $40? That seems a little steep to me considering that MS is the po'est state in the Union....
Apr 03, 07 | 8:38 am Summary of 2007 session Rep. Erik Fleming: Kingfish: You are correct in your historical analysis. I did not have the privilege of being a member of the Legislature at that time, but I probably would have sided with Rep. Flaggs and not supported the override, and would have caught hell from...
Apr 02, 07 | 9:12 pm Summary of 2007 session L.W.: Don't we have a facility in Greenville that everyone used to go to? What happened to it, outside of being defunded.
It's shut down. Burn victims have to be flown out of state for treatment now....
Apr 02, 07 | 8:48 am Summary of 2007 session Ironghost: Don't we have a facility in Greenville that everyone used to go to? What happened to it, outside of being defunded.
...
Apr 02, 07 | 8:21 am Summary of 2007 session Kingfish: Mr Fleming:
WIth all due respect, because I do respect that you come on these forums and engage the voters, unlike alot of politicians who can't be bothered by their subjects ;-) , I didn't see alot of you supporters pushing the tax swap raising...
Apr 02, 07 | 4:37 am Summary of 2007 session Rep. Erik Fleming: A change in the leadership of the Senate and at the Governor's mansion, quite simply. I blame the Governor for the demise of the tobacco/grocery tax swap and Sens. Nunnlee and Gordon for the demise of the Burn Center....
Mar 31, 07 | 9:27 pm Summary of 2007 session L.W.: > HB 247 to raise the tax on cigarettes and to reduce the sales tax on groceries died in a Senate committee, despite repeated outcries by the public and media to enact. House of Representatives easily passed tax measures.
> Several bills...
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