MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1999 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Senator(s) Dearing, Rayborn, Little, Minor, Nunnelee, Burton, Woodfield, Jackson, Furniss, Gollott, Gordon, Posey, Stogner, Moffatt, Hewes, Turner, Huggins, Farris, Ross, Robertson, White (29th), Bryan, Johnson (19th), Simmons, Scoper, Harden, Horhn, Lee, Kirby, White (5th), Carter, Mettetal, Browning, Hamilton, Cuevas, Blackmon, Johnson (38th), Walls, Thames

A RESOLUTION TO COMMEND SENATOR JAMES L. (JIM) BEAN FOR HIS DISTINGUISHED SERVICE IN THE MISSISSIPPI SENATE.

WHEREAS, Senator James L. (Jim) Bean is retiring from the Mississippi Senate after serving 12 years in office; and

WHEREAS, Senator Jim Bean is a man of integrity and hard work, and there is an acknowledged respect for the public and private life of our esteemed and beloved colleague, who is a role model for all members of the Mississippi Senate; and

WHEREAS, Jim has served as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Health and Welfare for the past four years and prior to this term served as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Insurance; and

WHEREAS, as Chairman of Public Health and Welfare, Jim was widely known and admired for handling the most difficult issues to come before the Legislature with skillful organization and credibility, including such issues as Medicaid, welfare reform, nursing home care for the elderly, child residential care, managed health care, child support and foster child care; and

WHEREAS, due to his keen interest in Senate rules and the practice of law, Jim was made an honorary attorney-at-law by the Senate in 1995 based upon a longstanding tradition in southern states that members of the State Senate were automatically admitted to the bar; and

WHEREAS, his "truckdriver" explanation of complex issues will be missed, and his record as Chairman is fully recognized by all responsible citizens and public officials who attest to the tremendous progress made in public health and human service programs while he served:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we hereby commend and recognize Senator Jim Bean, whose long and outstanding service enriched everyone with whom he was associated, and we wish Jim, his wife, Peggy, and Jim's family much success in their future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be presented to Senator Jim Bean.