Lincoln County lawmakers received some influential committeeassignments when panel appointments were announced last week in theSenate and House.

On Friday, Dist. 39 Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith was named chairwomanof the Senate Agriculture committee. She became the first woman inthe history of the Senate to lead the panel that deals with thestate’s largest industry.

“I’m pretty fired up about it,” said Hyde-Smith.

The Senate Agriculture committee chairmanship was open afterprevious chairman Sen. Joe Stogner was defeated in his re-electionbid, Hyde-Smith said. The senator said she had several ideas inmind for her new committee and was looking forward to working withstate Agriculture Commissioner Lester Spell and House AgricultureCommittee Chairman Blaine Eaton.

“There’s a lot of fertile ground out there,” Hyde-Smith said.”Just about any issue you want to dig into, you can withagriculture.”

Hyde-Smith discussed the importance of developing value-addedproducts and better marketing efforts. She mentioned pursuinggreater production of mushrooms, which has been studied for anumber of years at Mississippi State University.

“I’m ready to capitalize on the research that we’ve already putmoney into,” Hyde-Smith said.

She also cited a need to help the state’s dairy industryimprove. She referred to projections that the southeastern U.S.would account for less than 3 percent of the dairies by 2020.

Hyde-Smith’s other committee assignments includedAppropriations; Constitution; Corrections; Forestry; Public Healthand Welfare; Veterans and Military Affairs; and Wildlife, Fisheriesand Parks.

In the House, Dist. 53 Rep. Bobby Moak said his committeeassignments were the “best thing Santa Claus could have deliveredto anybody.”

“I think I got some great committee assignments,” said Moak,whose committees included Ways and Means, Insurance, Judiciary Aand others.

Moak was named chairman of the new Gaming committee, one of sixnew panels created under new Speaker of the House Billy McCoy.

“It was among the most requested committees among themembership,” Moak said.

Moak expects the 15-member panel to become a panel committee inthe House. He said the state’s gaming industry contributes $325million a year in tax revenue, excluding additional revenue relatedto employment.

“We’re going to get to work pretty quick,” Moak said.

Moak said the panel’s charge is pretty broad, overseeing gamingtaxes, casino roads, administration and also dealings with thestate Gaming Commission. He said gaming may be unpopular, but it isa reality now for Mississippi.

“Whatever position you have, it’s here in Mississippi,” Moaksaid about gaming. “We’re going to deal with it and deal with it ina positive manner.”

Moak said his panel will also look at bingo parlors.

“That’s a huge number of dollars that are dealt with every weekin the state,” Moak said.

The House Public Health and Human Services committee is the onlyone where Moak and Dist. 92 Rep. Dr. Jim Barnett’s services willoverlap. Barnett was named secretary of that panel.

Barnett said he was pleased with his appointments. He wasappreciative of McCoy’s naming him vice-chairman of the new Ports,Harbors and Airports committee.

“He knows of my interest in aviation,” Barnett said.

Barnett was also named secretary of the powerful Appropriationscommittee and of the University and Colleges committee. He said hewas glad to be in those positions that will allow him a chance tohelp steer legislation to favorable outcomes.

Barnett was looking forward to starting committee work.

“There have been no committee meetings, but we’ll start thisweek,” said Barnett, who was also named to the Military Affairs andPublic Property committees.

Moak applauded McCoy’s work in assigning committeemembership.

“The whole House has a brand new look,” said Moak, expectingthat House activities will affect ordinary citizens more so nowthan they have in the past 60 years. “I don’t think it will be in anegative way, but in a positive way.”

Moak expected proceedings now would rely less on whatlegislators are told by lobbyists and would be more focused onhelping everyday citizens with their problems.

“I think it’s way past time that we do that,” Moak said.