Jackson Jambalaya

Done deal. Told ya. Will pass House and get signed by Governor.

You can almost hear the litigators chomping at the bit.

I live in Jackson and find this news to be great. Maybe things will improve without the requirement of minorities-only as contractors

They can go ahead and pass the damn bill. It will just get struck down when it goes to court. The congressmen know this, but they go along with it anyway knowing it will cost taxpayer money. Then, they will claim they are fiscally conservative and careful with your tax dollars. Of course, you will buy it because they are conservative, so their word is good as gold. Is it any wonder Mississippi is in the shape it's in?

If Jackson loses it, it should go all Atlas Shrugged and follow Wyatt's example.

Fantastic! Way to go Josh Harkin. This bill makes total sense.
Then after all the court battles which will all the way to the MS Supreme Court we will see a VAST improvement in the Tri-County Airport.Jackson will be able to concentrate of its infrastructure.

It does?

MS Supreme Court?

Try US Supreme Court. A taking without compensation violates the fifth amendment.

As a conservative Republican, I am embarrassed and ashamed by the actions of our Republican controlled state government. They have become power hungry tyrants. If the federal government took over something in Mississippi, they would scream about that. The state should pay off its massive debt and catch up on unfunded pensions. Our state leadership is no better than the socialists in Washington.

House won't pass it. And Supreme Court would rule for Jackson anyway. Why spend the money?

Good. Over the past couple of decades, the leadership of Jackson failed in nearly every respect. Let's get the airport out of their hands before they screw it up too.

Let's get the airport out of their hands? How? It belongs to Jackson, like it or not. The state has no authority to take away a city's property just because a Senator wants to develop then land that is owned by Jackson. Even Harkins admits that the city would still own it. Which one of the many commentators on this site would agree to let property they own be taken away from them and be managed by someone else? Answer - nobody. And the state has no authority to do that anyway. This will never survive the lawsuits that will entail, and the state will only make a bunch of lawyers get a big paycheck that will be paid for by us taxpayers.

7:40 PM Your crystal ball is cracked. You said it wouldn't get to the senate. It Did. You said it wouldn't pass the senate. It did. Try using a Ouiga board next time. It will reach the gov. to sign. When it get to the courts; we'll see.

8:02 PM Good Reply.

The Fifth Amendment says "nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation." I don't think the airport is private property.

This is a slippery slope the Legislature has voted for. It sure does not lead me to trust the State.

Two of the most troublesome provisions remain in the senate passed version of the bill.....the Adjutant General of Mississippi becomes a board member. General Collins is a great and honest guy, but his national guard is also one of the largest tenants/users of the two airports in question. A prime conflict of interest. Secondly the Director of MDA is a board member...great for the metro...but Gulfport, Hancock County, Golden Triangle and the rest of the state can forget ever seeing another aviation economic development project! Guess that's one way to stack the deck!

This only shows the higher level of faith these Republicans place in the ability of big government to overcome market and legal realities. This will become law but the litigation will result in embarrassment for the proponents. See Chatlotte, where the lawyers for the new board can't even get paid.

Every so often the Mississippi legislature takes it upon themselves to remind the nation why Mississippi is regarded as the national armpit. This effort to wrest away municipal property simply because it is no longer in the absolute control of the plantation masters lets everyone know that Mississippi will not change anytime soon.
Now Baker Donaldson and the Rankin County cronies can get their hands back in the till and all will be back to normal. Thanks.

I've always been too scared to fly but I might go ahead and take my first flight if Jackson ain't in charge

The state just about wait a few years and buy it for pennies on the dollar when the city files for bankruptcy - I don't know if a city can file for bankruptcy but if they can Jackson would be close

Taking Kingfish? What are they taking? No one said anything about transferring ownership.

If Jackson brings back the white airport manager, will Phil and Josh stop this takeover?

He wasn't white. He was Swedish. lol.

6:12pm You apparently know nothing about the law . You really think there are no federal laws about airports and the contracts let at airports?
And, for the rest of you who think this is anything other than a power grab, KF is right.
All the yahoos in the Senate have done is guarantee your tax dollars will be spent yet again defending a losing law suit.
This will do nothing but create problems where NONE existed.
Jackson's airport is MUCH better to fly in and out of than many airports in cities of larger size and all the cities of comparable size that I've flown to and from. It's cleaner and the employees are far more helpful. I get my baggage much faster and it's never failed to arrive to my destination, it's always be coming back that my baggage has a problem and that's the fault of the place I flew from coming home!
NONE of the inconveniences and frustrations I've experienced in now 57 years of travelling by air have happen in the Jackson airport!
Losing Southwest and having to fly to Hartsfield and the ticket costs have zero to do with airport management!

"Good. Over the past couple of decades, the leadership of Jackson failed in nearly every respect. Let's get the airport out of their hands before they screw it up too."

Exactly.

just like in Charlotte- the only winners are going to be lawyers who will make a windfall of cash. by the way- Charlotte kept its airport.

and for all those that say the jackson airport would be better served by a regional board--the same argument was used at Charlotte-whose big hub airport is one of this country's most successful.

we don't have 2.7 million in our metro area. airlines are businesses. small market=less competition (higher fares)

Does Gunn have "big enough hands" to bring this up after the shitshow they have had in the House this session?

A City in Mississippi is clearly a creature the legislature.No mention in the constitution. The state lawmakers can change what it created. Sure there will be a suit filed but Jackson will lose.

Much of the argument against the current airport seems to stem from a misplaced sense of geography. I fly in and out of JAN each week. I flew back from Charlotte this week, on a 50-seat jet with maybe 25 pax on board. What makes the Southwest-lovers think their favorite airline would want to fly 757s into this city? The Jackson metro area is not Memphis, New Orleans, or Birmingham. It is a small city, with a small airport, serving a small market. People seem to want all the trappings of a large city without actually living in one.

What makes the Southwest-lovers think their favorite airline would want to fly 757s into this city?

757s? Really? You want to be taken seriously?

From what I understand the state isn't taking over ownership of the airport. The state is only taking over the board. The state will now pick the board members. That is all I can see that changes.
Jackson will no longer get to reward their friends with board membership which should be a good thing. Just look at the city of Jackson. Anything the state can do to limit Jackson in any way will be an improvement.

Bill transfers JMAA assets to the new authority. Jackson gets to keep the land.

(5) (a) The Jackson Municipal Airport Authority is abolished on July 1, 2016, and all powers and duties, airport equipment, buildings, facilities, inventories, records, personnel, resources and all other property real or personal, tangible or intangible, including any pertaining to or generated from revenues of the airport are transferred to the Jackson Metropolitan Area Airport Authority.

Hey, you Einsteins who think that everything should be taken out of Jackson's control, please suggest to the GUV and his cronies that they might take control of Jackson's public works and help fix the streets and water pipes they use when the legislature is in session. After all, they're just trying to help. (Yeh, like we all would like to help fix the plumbing in Fort Knox.) B.S. Go Mississippi.

How is the City of Jackson damaged by not having the airport under their name? How much money does the City of Jackson pay to or receive from the airport?

10:45, maybe if the control of Jackson was taken out of Jackson's control there wouldn't be a problem with the water or the streets. For too many years the elected officials of Jackson have been stuffing every penny they can in their own pockets.
The best thing for Jackson would be for the control to be taken over by anyone.

The state should consider taking over Jackson entirely.

10:45 - I would be for that, if such a bill was proposed. I don't trust the leadership of Jackson to do anything right.

Pretty strong accusation, 11:25 - "For too many years the elected officials of Jackson have been stuffing every penny they can in their own pockets." Have any facts to back that up or just running your mouth?

8:55 - get your facts straight next time before you run your piehole. I never said it would not pass the Senate. I said it would not pass the legislature. I realize you probably didn't study civics in HS, probably past the level you made. But MS has two bodies in the legislature - the Senate is only one.

As with much legislation, it is designed for show and not for the prize. Never any question that Harkins couldn't get his buddies to pass this bill for his place with his Rankin County developers. But, the House isn't going to get the state embroilled in this legal quagmire. And if they open the door over there, many other airports might be brought in to show the racism of those that think "only Jackson" should be subjected to the Republican takeover.

Jackson DOES NOT OWN THE AIRPORT NOW!!! JMAA does. The airport is in the annexed city of Jackson, therefore they get the sales tax from sales there. Big difference. The city does not list the airport as an asset in their federal audits like the senator stated yesterday from the floor of the senate. They will continue to. BTW the state has put almost twice as much money in the airport as the city. If you knuckle draggers would have listened and paid attention to the debate you would have learned it. Jackson keeps saying it is their asset and they paid for it, both which have been thoroughly destroyed by the senator.

What is interesting to me was right after the debate on the airport there was a bill from the CITY OF JACKSON essentially asking the state to take over maintenance of downtown Jackson. How rich of them. Don't touch the airport that we will lose no revenue over in the bill, but take care of half of downtown Jackson for us.

10:45,

Funny you suggest that, because right after the Senate "took" the airport they passed JOHN HORHN'S bill that essentially hands off part of the city to the state and is Tony Yarber's number 1 priority.

City is trying to give several roads to State such as North State street that need much repair. DOT required that roads be put in good shape before can accept them, that means ownership will stay with Jackson since no ability to fix a road.

March 4, 2016 at 2:24 PM, there is logic in the City asking the State to help with maintenance, as there are so many State buildings and agencies that do not pay tax to the City.

5:28....How is that 'logic'? Just because you can wrap both situations in one sentence does not mean it's logical.

If the city council had not allowed Harvey Johnson to successfully ban dildos and porn tapes at the sex shop under the stack, Jackson would have plenty of revenue. Now we have to drive all the way to Columbus. That's a lot of tax dollars lost.

With all this faith that the State government is a savior, you'd think this place is run by Democrats.

DOT required that roads be put in good shape before can accept them, that means ownership will stay with Jackson since no ability to fix a road.

Good shape is a relative term. DOT will fix them.

8:22 Very well defined standards to accept a highway by DOT.

Jackson will soon be the only capital city that has gravel roads.
Anyone ever watched the highway dept. patch potholes? They drive a truck down the with a couple of men with shovels who throw a little asphalt at the pot holes. Most of the time missing the pot hole. What that does make it to the pot hole is knocked out by the next car to come along.
I watched on worker patching pot holes a few weeks ago. He pulled up to an area with many potholes. Got out and filled two small pot holes then went to a convenience store for some snacks and cold drinks. After a break he left. Two pot holes patched that were back in the same shape the next day.

7:40 You're illogical.