State Sen. Angela Hill, who will begin a third term in January after being re-elected Nov. 5, gave an update on multiple issues affecting Marion County at Catchy Friday on Nov. 22.
The Republican from Picayune started her address by commending Columbia on bringing the Wall that Heals the week prior. In the candlelight ceremony, Hill was one of the individuals who read names of Mississippi soldiers who lost their lives in Vietnam.
“What this community has done to show that we do care and they are not forgotten, they are now honored and not treated like they were when they came home, that we respect them and thank them, we love their families and will honor their memories: That is what means so much not only to them but to those who are still in the service today because they are still sacrificing,” she said.
Hill discussed advances in prosthetics over the last 20 years made due to all the soldiers who have lost limbs fighting in the Middle East. She mentioned how her husband, who lost one of his legs, has benefited from such sacrifice and the advancement that came with the sacrifice.
Speaking of health care, Hill said she is pushing for more care to the rural areas. She said a big part of the problem is more of a turf war among medical providers not wanting competition. She spoke of optometrists who have practices in both Mississippi and Louisiana because in Louisiana an optometrist can do more in their office. In Mississippi only an ophthalmologist can do some of those things, she said.
Hill said health care costs have gone up 27 percent in six years. The more the health care costs go up, the more insurance rates go up and the higher the deductible.
Also, the former Columbia Training School, now known as the Marion County BusinessPlex, has been returned to the county piece by piece. The state still owns 1,700 acres.
“We want it to belong to where it rightfully belongs,” she said.
Marion County is working hard to bring investments, industries and jobs to the county, and Hill said she wants the county to have every advantage it can have. The expansion of the airport is very important, and the fact the federal government is paying for it is a good thing, she said.
One of the factors regarding the airport Hill said is how close the airport is to Camp Shelby. In today’s world it is important to think strategically to protect the country and how to train troops, she said.
“Columbia is becoming more and more the center and being put on the map,” Hill said.
Hill said she and State Rep. Ken Morgan have been in talks with the military about more training being done at the BusinessPlex. She said when it comes to deployment, the Mississippi National Guard troops are asked for by name. The Mississippi National Guard is one of the most highly respected in the country, she said.
Regarding BP money, Hill said they were able to send some money to the John Ford Home to help make it a working plantation. Children need to understand the history and the struggles people have endured, she said.
There is also some BP money coming into the downtown Columbia to help with drainage problems.
Hill also said she has been working on protecting small businesses and not just big corporations. She said the legislature is trying to make sure the small businesses are not at a disadvantage.
“Small businesses are typically the backbone of the economy,” Hill said.
She said she is trying to make life a little cheaper and better in Mississippi.
