JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - Some reaction to Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant’s State of the State speech, which he delivered Wednesday before a joint assembly of the state House and Senate:
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“No nonsense and he told it like he felt it. If you look at his record since he’s been there, I think it’s been outstanding as far as recruiting industry and renewing industry that’s already here,” said Rep. Bill Denny, R-Jackson.
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“I was hoping for a little more detail on education … and economic development in the Delta.” The governor said a new telemedicine initiative will help provide care to diabetics. “How are they going to pay for the telemedicine? That brings us full circle, back around the Medicaid expansion,” said Rep. Bryant Clark, D-Pickens.
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“I think he had a great proposal with the use of telemedicine to link University Medical Center and some other providers,” said Rep. Rep. Toby Barker, R-Hattiesburg.
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“My highlight was when he said he’s in favor of full funding of drug courts,” said Rep. Alyce Clarke, D-Jackson, who has promoted drug courts for years as a way to provide rehabilitation rather than prison time for some people accused of drug offenses.
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“I’m glad to see we’re pushing for getting a trooper school class. And it’s more than just a trooper school. It’s about providing local law enforcement with the resources they need,” said Rep. Scott DeLano, R-Biloxi.
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“We’ve got to be able to cross the aisle and set good public policy. He serves all the people, not just a small segment,” said Sen. Kenny Wayne Jones, D-Canton. Jones said he hopes for bipartisan cooperation for an across-the-board teacher pay raise: “We’re not trying to break the bank.”
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“I think we need an across-the-board teacher pay raise and then possibly look at merit pay. We need to raise teacher pay now,” Rep. Dennis DeBar Jr., R-Leakesville.
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