The Mississippi Legislature has wrapped up business for the 2011 Regular Session. As predicted, the most contentious legislative battles revolved around redistricting and the budget. In the final weeks of the session, the legislature was able to agree to a budget of $5.5 billion for Fiscal Year 2012, which begins July 1, 2011.

Legislative redistricting, however, remains unresolved. The House and Senate were unable to reach an agreement on new legislative districts prior to the end of the regular session, and at this point, it is unclear whether candidates will be running in their old districts or newly drawn districts in November. The deadline to qualify for legislative elections is June 1.

In Washington, the differences between the Republican-controlled House and the Democratic-controlled Senate have resulted in a slower pace for approving legislation and enacting laws as compared to the last Congress. So far this year, Congress has devoted much of its attention to funding the federal government for the remainder of the current fiscal year and drafting a budget for the upcoming fiscal year that begins in October.

Our Government Relations Group works diligently to keep our clients informed of the key policy issues developing in the legislative arena, and we are committed to helping our clients meet their strategic goals. Our group also assists clients through management of business development efforts. Look for more information on ways we can help with business development in the pages of this newsletter. We hope that you find The Capitol Voice an informative portal for state and federal government issues.