MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2003 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Little, Browning, Burton, Carmichael, Chamberlin, Chaney, Dawkins, Dearing, Farris, Frazier, Furniss, Gollott, Hamilton, Harden, Harvey, Horhn, Huggins, Hyde-Smith, Jackson, Jordan, Kirby, Mettetal, Michel, Minor, Nunnelee, Posey, Simmons, Smith, Stogner, Tollison, Walden, White, Williamson
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING STATE TREASURER MARSHALL BENNETT FOR HIS OUTSTANDING RECORD AND DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI.
WHEREAS, Marshall G. Bennett, first elected as Mississippi's 51st State Treasurer in 1987, is completing his fourth term in office, and is viewed by colleagues around America with a measure of respect for his ability; and
WHEREAS, Bennett has earned more than $1 Billion of interest for the State of Mississippi, investing the state's funds through professional methods. He has saved over $40 Million in debt payment by refinancing state bonds for lower interest rates. He has helped Mississippi families by creating the MPACT and MACS College Savings Programs which will pay over $100 Million in college tuition payments for Mississippi students. Bennett has worked to make the state's financial management safe and secure. Mississippi's credit rating has been upgraded to AA, the first upgrade since 1974. He has recently set up a statewide Collateral Pool to protect all public funds invested and deposited in banks under a more efficient centralized system; and
WHEREAS, as Trustee for Mississippi's Public Employees' Retirement System, he has helped accumulate $17 Billion of retirement benefits for 154,000 families. Bennett created the Mississippi Women's Money Conference to help inform women and families of ways to save, invest, reduce debt and become financially secure. As Chairman of the Health Care Trust Fund, Bennett invested the $700 Million tobacco settlement fund, which has improved health care for all citizens. As a Director of the Mississippi Business Finance Corporation, the Mississippi Development Bank, Bennett helped provide funding for low interest business loans for business jobs, create and improve clean water and sewer facilities for Mississippi cities and towns. Bennett has located over $25 Million in unclaimed property and lost bank accounts and returned over $10 Million to Mississippi's owners or their heirs; and
WHEREAS, as an active, financial leader of our state, Marshall Bennett has been elected President of the National Treasurers Association, President of the National State Auditors, Comptrollers & Treasurers Association and Chairman of the National College Savings Association. In 1998, Bennett received the Nation's Most Outstanding State Treasurers Award; and
WHEREAS, Marshall Bennett was born in Lexington, Mississippi, the son of a small town merchant. He obtained his BA and Juris Doctor degrees from the University of Mississippi and practiced law in Jackson, served as Assistant District Attorney, Director of the State Consumer Protection Division and Assistant Attorney General, Legislative Assistant to Governor William Winter and Chairman of the Workers' Compensation Commission. He is the father of three children, and resides in Jackson. Bennett has been active as the President of the Mississippi Prevent Blindness Association, Administrative Board of Christ United Methodist Church and the Advisory Board of the Mississippi Commission on International Cultural Exchange, which has brought to Mississippi the acclaimed Art exhibits of the Palaces of St. Petersburg, the Splendors of Versailles and the Majesty of Spain, seen by over 1.4 million visitors who came to Mississippi; he is a Lead Sponsor for Habitat for Humanity, a member of the American Legion, Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership, Board of Directors of the State YMCA and is State Law Day Chairman for the Mississippi Bar Association; he has received the Jesse Unruh National Award and the Most Outstanding Treasurers Award; he is a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity, and is a member of the Mississippi and American Bar Associations; he was a Captain, U.S. Army Reserve, a Distinguished Military Graduate ROTC and served two years' active duty in the Judge Advocate General Corps (JAG) Army Intelligence Corps; and
WHEREAS, Marshall Bennett has provided firm, effective and constructive leadership, coupled with a keen understanding of the issues facing Mississippi, and he has indicated that he will retire at the expiration of his present term in order to spend time with his family and to resume the practice of law; and
WHEREAS, the members of this Legislature wish to express sincere appreciation to Marshall Bennett for his many outstanding accomplishments and record of dedicated public service:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend State Treasurer Marshall Bennett for his outstanding record of financial stewardship and his unmatched contributions to the people of the State of Mississippi, and extend to him the best wishes of the Legislature in his future endeavors.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Marshall Bennett and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.