The Extra Mile Podcast: Legislative Session
State Senator Rita Potts Parks

(Paul) Welcome into another edition of The Extra Mile Podcast: Legislative Session, presented by The Mississippi Department of Transportation. I’m MDOT Deputy Director of Public Affairs Paul Katool, and I’m riding solo today. My co-host Will Craft will be back soon enough with us. Because the session moves fast, I do want to note that today’s episode is being recorded on March 21.

And really excited about today’s guest - another first-time guest! We have State Senator Rita Potts Parks. She took office in 2012 and represents district four, which is Alcorn and Tippah counties. Senator Parks, thank you so much for coming in and speaking with us today.

(Sen. Parks) Thank you so much for having me. I’m excited that I am a first-timer, so take it easy on me.

(Paul) Absolutely. Absolutely. So, it’s always fascinating to kind of see how people’s careers develop and, you know, where they come from where they end up. So, kind of tell us a little bit about yourself and why you decided to run for public office.

(Sen. Parks) Certainly. Um, my Dad was a community politico. I guess that would be the best place for me to start. So, very young, we had some community, uh, stores. That was what the trend was in the rural Mississippi is – it serviced the communities. So, I grew up in that environment and just heard politics from the time I could walk, probably and talk.

So, as I grew older, it just didn’t seem like a perfect time in my life, but then there came a time, as I excelled in my career and had children, and as my husband and I decided that financially, and, and it was a time that he could take over. So, it was time for me to get into politics. And so, I ran for state senator. I guess I skipped all the lower levels and went to the top level. But at that time, there was a, you know, an open, and so I took that opportunity.

(Paul) That’s awesome. That’s awesome. So, I understand you also have a little bit of a business background. So, can you talk about that and kind of maybe how that helps you as a state senator?

(Sen. Parks) Certainly. I come from a business background, and what you will find in the senate, there are lots of attorneys. And I say, we work, you know, probably about 70% of the year doing attorney bills. And I do that with tongue-in-cheek if there was an attorney sitting here beside me. That is just a running joke in the, in the Senate.

But from a business perspective, and another reason that I ran, that is I thought that I could bring that piece to the Senate. Uh, it’s a different perspective and different lens that you look at things. You look at the financials a little differently. You look at why you’re doing it and what the future, what, what impact that’s going to have on the future, usually from a business perspective. So, I feel like that is what I bring and where I’m coming from in the background.

I’ve been in the pharmaceutical industry - I’m about to tell my age - a little over 30 years: started in the manufacturing and then, um, on to distribution. So, currently, today, I’m a partner in a business that we have 19 locations around the U.S. that distribute pharmaceutical goods. We 3PL.

(Paul) Wow. I am amazed. That is a lot going on, in addition to the public service, business. That’s a lot. Um, let’s talk about the 2023 legislative session. Will likes to say things move very fastly - wide open. So, where are we right now in the session?

(Sen. Parks) You know, this is a part of the session that you either love or hate. And that is we’re in the, probably the last, final two weeks, so the bills that you want to, we wanted to stay alive may be dead, but then there are those that you want to keep alive. And so, bills are going to conference. So, you’re working with the House on those two bills. The two sides are now working to come to an agreement. We’ll do that for the next couple of days. We’re meeting deadlines, as well, on revenue bills, also on property bills. It’s deadlines after deadlines is what we’ve been meeting for the last two weeks. Um, so, it is the critical time of the session where we work as a team to come out with what’s best for the citizens of Mississippi on what’s left alive, as we say.

But also, we are working on appropriations. I am chairman of Universities and Colleges, so I also serve as the Appropriations Chair for that, as well. So, I’ve been working on those with the chairman of the committee, as well.

(Paul) Awesome. Absolutely. As we really - I know everyone’s really excited over there to kind of sprint towards the finish line and sine die, get things over with. Lots of good work that’s going on across the street. Let’s take things back to transportation a little bit. You are a part of two kind of big committees that deal with transportation. Of course, the Senate Highways and Transportation Committee and Appropriation. So, what’s kind of going on with transportation infrastructure in the 2023 legislative session?

(Sen. Parks) You know, for the last two years, we’ve tried to - number one, we have turned over the budget to MDOT so we don’t line item. And that is, to me, that is huge for the MDOT group. They can then strategically attack what the needs are versus “my pet”. Now, I’d love to go with “my pet” - believe me, I’ve got a list of them, and we all love to do that - but, I think we’ve seen more improvement and more progress by doing that. So, I am happy to be a part of that over the last couple of years, and that’s the intent again this year.

And then, of course, some of you all may have heard about the bill that the governor proposed, um, regarding the capitol expense program, and that’s the $500 million planned. I think, you know, that that – now that number varies whether you’re from the House or the Senate - but, we’re very hopeful that we do get this passed. This will be another big, uh, you know, accomplishment for infrastructure.

From my understanding, we’re going to take the three-year plan, and we’re going to attack those projects that are shovel-ready. Now the exciting part for that, for me, is that I have one of those projects, and that’s highway 15. And, you know, I’ve been a senator for the past 12 years and been a huge advocate for highway 15. So, if we can get this across the finish line, this is going to be one of the biggest victories for north Mississippi.

And what most people don’t understand: highway 15 in 1996 was put into a bill. We always think of highway 55 being our north and south exit, however, and especially during the times of a hurricane for the south. Um, so, highway 15 could also be that alternative and that alternate; however, that’s a two-lane road. And in Tippah County, just a piece that is in Tippah County, just to let everyone know, it’s 2.5 times the death rate, if you would, for accidents, based on the section of mileage and the section of where it is at currently today. So, we are shovel-ready. We’re excited that, you know, the funding – that we do come to a decision on the House and the Senate. And that that funding is set aside, and we can move forward.

(Paul) Right on. So, that’s a great explainer of what’s going on with, uh, transportation infrastructure over in the capitol right now. And it’s really, it’s really nice to, um, you know, that’s kind of at the forefront of the conversation right now, for sure. And, of course, you are part of other committees. You chair up the, uh, Universities and Colleges Committee. So, what’s, what’s going on over there?

(Sen. Parks) Certainly. I think one of the biggest things that we’ve accomplished this session is the Hospital Nurse Long Retention Program that is going to, we’re going to utilize ARPA funding. During the pandemic, we had a shortage of nurses, and that’s continued throughout the state. So, this has, uh, been designed to, uh, help in that manner. So, what will, how this bill works, it, it was waiting the governor’s signature today - we’re hopeful that that will happen.

You will go to work. You have to be employed in a hospital in the state of Mississippi. For each year, up to three years, that you’re employed in a hospital in the state of Mississippi as an RN, you will receive $2,000 toward your loan retention payment up, and that will equal out to $6,000 at the end. So, hopefully, that’s going to help, you know, retain some nurses here in the area, in the state of Mississippi, whether that’s in the middle or the south or the north. So, kind of excited about that. Glad that the House and the Senate could agree upon language on that, and we did get it passed this session, just, like, as I said, it’s waiting the governor’s signature.

The other two bills that was really strategic was the redesign of HELP and MTAG. That has not been approached in over 30 years. So, it was important. There were nine meetings across, over the summer, with a nine-member delegation from both community college, junior college, and from the work force area, as well.

So, it was an opportunity to - and I’ll tell you what was probably most important about that was the MTAG part, and we were converting - Currently today, MTAG is used by those students coming out of high school and can be used within the first two years of their graduation. So, there’s nothing that addresses a student that wants to return that’s been out for four or five years. So, it, through this passage of this bill and this redesign of that, it would then open the door for those wanting to return. And that’s a huge impact.

And it, also today, it doesn’t currently allow for certifications or technical career, where it would moving forward. It would allow for that. And that’s so critical in our state today because our, we’re needing that technical career path. We’re needing the plumbers. We’re needing the welders. We’re needing those that work the CMC, so, machines. So, that’s the important part of that. So, it’s in conference, and we’re waiting, um, you know, as we work through it this week.

(Paul) That’s awesome. Sounds like a lot of good, pragmatic legislation going through that committee. Talked about transportation. We talked about colleges and universities. Any other legislation that you’re, uh, there keeping an eye on?

(Sen. Parks) No. Those are probably my, uh, most critical at this time. We’ve already passed a lot of the controversial, which was, you know, which was really pertaining to the city of Jackson. So, that’s behind us. So, we’re excited about that. We can move forward now.

(Paul) Absolutely. Absolutely. You, uh, and you did talk about a project. Any other projects kind of going on in your district that you want to touch on?

(Sen. Parks) Sure. You know, I’m, as I said, I feel like it’s been a huge improvement with us giving the money to transportation and trusting them to disperse it as it should be across the state of Mississippi. As a result of that, highway 72 through Corinth was overlaid. They were just completing that. Also looking at highway 15, portions of that through Ripley, as well. So, those are exciting things happening in my district. Again, we talked a little bit about if we do get the capitol expense program up and going and the alignment that we’re looking for, then we would see highway 15, you know, completed through Tippah County. So, excited about that, as well.

(Paul) That’s awesome. That’s awesome. Getting things rolling. So, Will Craft, you know, my co-host, isn’t here, of course, but he came up with this question. It’s really fun. It’s a favorite question. My mom’s favorite question. So, I’m sure you travel around the state a lot. I know you come down from up north to Jackson. So, when you’re out there on Mississippi highways, where, uh, what’s your favorite place to eat?

(Sen. Parks) Well, my favorite place is actually here in Jackson. It’s Walker’s. I’m sorry. You know, that’s my, when I come up for session that’s, you know, when we’re asked where we want to have dinner, that’s one of my first places to have dinner. So, um, but you know, there’s a lot from my hometown in north Mississippi that, uh, I would recommend anybody across the state. You know, you’ve got to come to north Mississippi and try the slugburger.

(Paul) Absolutely. What is - tell us about the slugburger. What is it?

(Sen. Parks) Well, it’s not made of snails or anything like that, so let’s clear that up. You know, it’s a combination of cereals and beef. Uh, it was developed during the depression, and the reason that it became named as a slugburger was because a nickel was equivalent to a “slug”, and thus, you have the “slugburger”. But it was all based on monetary, not the ingredients.

So, you know, it’s, uh, it definitely, it's a must-try if you come to the North. There are several establishments on 72 highway. That’s where you’ll find most of them. And the White Trolley is probably the most famous, that’s most known, widely known, throughout the state. Uh, it’s been there all of my life, and I won’t tell you how many years that’s been, but it’s past my life, too. At least plus fifty, about that.

(Paul) There we go. Love it. Uh, we definitely need to get up there and get a slugburger sometime. And I will ask you one more question. There’s a slugburger festival, I believe. Is that a thing?

(Sen. Parks) There is.

(Paul) What’s that?

(Sen. Parks) Well, it’s a time that we acknowledge that slugburger. We, um, it’s always held the first weekend in July - always hot - so prepare yourself if you’re going to come to that. There’s always great, uh, music. It’s about a three-day festival. There’s plenty of slugburgers being cooked throughout the area. Along with the festival, it’ll also be the crafts and things of that nature, as well. The fair - there’ll be a short, you know, a little small carnival. So, it’s a big activity - lasts about three days. And, you know, we always get excited about that, and we have a lot of visitors. So, we look forward to that again this year.

(Paul) Amazing. So, in between the next time we talk with you, bring you on the show, we’ll all get a slugburger and report back, if that works for you.

(Sen. Parks) Great. That’s exciting.

(Paul) Awesome. Alright. Well, Senator Potts Parks, we covered a lot of ground today. Thank you so much for coming in and speaking with us.

(Sen. Parks) Thank you for having me. It’s been a great experience, and I look forward to the next opportunity.

(Paul) Absolutely. And just real quick. Any contact information if anyone wants to get in contact with you?

(Sen. Parks) Certainly. Um, you can always email me at my Senate address, but you can also reach me on my phone at (662) 415-4793. I’m not afraid to give that number out. And I encourage, if you have suggestions for me or, you know, if there’s something that I can be of help to you, please don’t hesitate.

(Paul) Perfect. Perfect. Again, Senator Potts Parks, thank you so much for, uh, jumping in with us today. And we’ll go ahead and wrap things up there. Thank you to all our listeners for tuning in to The Extra Mile podcast. You can watch and listen to episodes by visiting GoMDOT.com/theextramile. Follow us on social media - @MississippiDOT is the handle there. We have our producer Katey Hornsby and our editor Drew Hall. We want to give them a shout out. They do a lot of hard work behind the scenes. And without further ado, remember to drive smart out there on Mississippi highways.