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| Governor Visit |
May, 29, 2007 |
By LaJuan Tallo |
Second look at Mississippi worth taking
“People are taking a second look at Mississippi,” Governor Haley Barbour said at the third annual Tate County Republican banquet on May 29. “After Katrina, the rest of the country liked what they saw in our character and spirit. They saw that we went right to work helping ourselves and helping each other and learned that we are a strong, resilient and self-reliant people.”
He said that in the past, Mississippi had always had a somewhat negative image nationally, but that over the past two years since Katrina thrust the state into the national spotlight, that image had changed. “Nobody was laughing today,” Barbour said, referring to General Electric’s announcement to build a new 200,000-square-foot facility that will specialize in advanced composite engine components in Batesville. “This will be one of the most sophisticated manufacturing plants anywhere in the world. They picked a North Mississippi workforce to do this job,” Barbour said.
Barbour spoke to a capacity crowd at the David M. Haraway Center on the Senatobia campus of Northwest Mississippi Community College. Barbour said he believed that Toyota, who will open their new assembly plant outside of Tupelo in 2010 considered Mississippi partly because of the way Mississippians responded to the disaster, and to the fact that Mississippi had passed comprehensive tort reform, and had a viable work force. “When we were bringing Toyota to the state, we realized that they already had a working relationship with Northwest,” he said referring to the fact that recent graduates of Northwest’s Tool and Die Technology program are successfully employed at the Kentucky Toyota manufacturing plant.
Outlining the past four years of his administration, Barbour stated that he was proud to have worked with the legislature to reduce the $720 million budget shortfall the state faced when he was elected, stating that at the end of the last fiscal year, the state had a $70 million surplus. “I am very proud that we did it the right way- we reduced spending, and did not raise taxes,” Barbour said. He pointed out that the state is getting more revenue and that is how we came up with a surplus. “We have more people working than in any other time in the state’s history. People are making more money than they every have,” he added.
He publicly thanked Rep. Larry Baker, and Senator Nolan Mettetal, who both represent Tate County, for their participation in the legislature helping with budget and tort reform. “They are both easy to work with. They represent your county with dignity,” Barbour said. He stated that he is very dedicated to funding education at all levels, and funding law enforcement.
He also praised former Circuit Court Judge Ann Lamar of Senatobia, who he recently appointed to the state Supreme Court. “ I am extremely proud of being the person who nominated her. You should be proud to have her on the court,” Barbour said.
Members of the National Guard's 155th Separate Armored Brigade from Senatobia were honored with the Otho Givens Award of Excellence for their service to the country in Iraq. Barbour thanked them publicly for representing the state and their country. Tate County Sheriff’s Deputies Kevin Hatton and David Freeman, and Major Walt Vinzant, all veterans of the Iraq war, were recognized at the dinner.
Barbour was introduced by his Chief of Staff, Charlie Williams, a native of Senatobia, who served asTate County’s state representative for several years. Several candidates for state and county offices were present, as well as county officials.
“We are extremely pleased at the turn out, and especially with the number of young people who came out,” said Dale Dunigan, chairman of the Tate County Republicans. Several high school students from Magnolia Heights and Senatobia High School were also at the dinner.
Governor Haley Barbour visits with Chris and LaQwanda Buckley of Coldwater at the Tate County Republican Club Banquet
Governor Haley Barbour with Dale Dunigan, chairman of the Tate County Republicans
Article by LaJuan Tallo
Public Relations Assistant
Ann Yates Whitten Media Center
Northwest Mississippi Community College
4975 Hwy. 51 N.
Senatobia, MS 38668
Phone:(662) 560-5283 Fax: (662) 562-3499
Please visit the Northwest Online Newsroom at www.northwestms.edu/news.html.
You can find Athletic News at www.northwestms.edu/Sports/newsports.htm.
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