JACKSON, MS (Mississippi News Now) -
He took to the speaker's podium for the last time as governor during a joint session Wednesday and when Haley Barbour did so, his target audience was in front of him.
"I want to talk to you, the legislators," Barbour told lawmakers.
Those legislators were all ears as Barbour laid out his thoughts on the new session and what direction he believes the state needs to move in. But it will first take a budget. Barbour gave his own recommendation last month calling for an overall spending reduction of nearly three percent. It's a budget he told lawmakers they should back.
"Trust me, departments and agencies can meet my budget. They can achieve further savings if you required it of them and they can still provide services of the same quality and at the same level," said Barbour.
Barbour even highlighted the state's tax system saying everyone needs to pay their fair share and lawmakers need to look at tax exemptions and whether they're justified.
"Keep taxes and fees as low as possible," Barbour said.
To keep taxes low while generating more revenue, Barbour is asking lawmakers to support a move which would allow states to collect sales tax from Internet sales. It wouldn't be a decision for the legislature, but rather the federal government.
Barbour says the state is losing big money which could be directed to state agencies and possibly give tax breaks to Mississippians.
"If we collected it, from my perspective, we could cut the sales tax or we could cut the income tax," said Barbour.
Newly elected president pro-tem, Sen. Terry Brown says Barbour's leadership put the state on a pathway of growth, even in hard economic times, and what he tells lawmakers should be heavily considered.
"He's the one that helped us get in that direction. He's the one that changed the way we thought in Mississippi," said Brown.
When it comes to spending, Barbour reminded lawmakers of just where the money comes from.
"Government doesn't have any money. Every dollar you vote to spend comes from the earnings of families and businesses," said Barbour.
"He gave us some good advice," said Rep. David Gibbs.
Gibbs says Barbour's advice comes at a time when the state needs to pull together instead of apart.
"We will have to work together in order to have the best place we can have for all of our citizens," said Gibbs.
Barbour's term ends when governor-elect Phil Bryant is sworn in next Tuesday. Barbour says he plans on traveling as a paid speaker, work for a Washington lobbying firm and even write a book on responding to natural disasters.
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