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Charlie Ross was elected to the House of Representatives in 1997 and has served in the Senate since 1998. As Chairman of the Judiciary A Committee in the Senate, Ross was instrumental in the passage of civil justice reform last year. A native of Eupora, Ross received his degree in Economics from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1978. After a stint in the Air Force, he graduated magna cum laud from Harvard Law School in 1988. Ross practices law at the firm Wise Carter in Jackson where he frequently defends religious institutions involved in First Amendment and civil justice issues.
Yes I would. Many have encouraged me to run for higher office. I am flattered by their confidence in me. But the more fundamental reason I would consider such a run is that I believe in public service. I believe it is important to give back to Mississippi, because Mississippi has been so good to my family and me. It is for this reason I am serving in the State Senate. Public service was also my motivation in attending the U.S. Air Force Academy, serving as a fighter pilot in the Air Force, and serving as a cargo pilot with the Mississippi Air National Guard during Desert Storm.
The three institutions that influenced me most growing up were my family, the church, and school. My parents taught me the value of hard work and integrity by the examples they set and their expectations of me. Through both family and church, I came to know Christ as my Savior and Lord. My family always expressed the importance of education, and I had dedicated, inspiring, and exacting teachers at the public schools in Eupora where I grew up. (My mother taught me 8th grade math, so you know I had to be prepared in her class.) I learned both at home and at school that learning is a rewarding and continual process. As part of the education process, I also learned how to compete successfully through high school athletics. Taken together, the values of family, hard work, integrity, faith, continuous learning, and having self-confidence are the fundamentals upon which I base my life today.
In my judgment, we largely fixed the tort reform problem in 2004. When I became Judiciary “A” Chairman in the Senate in January 2004, Mississippi was known as a center for “jackpot justice.” Our legal system had lost credibility, the rule of law was under serious attack, and as a result, doctors and businesses were avoiding or leaving the state. In 2004, though, the legislature passed comprehensive tort reform legislation that many across the country are calling a model for the nation. Mississippi is now a model to emulate, rather than an object of ridicule. In the Senate, I wrote the bill that became the substantive basis for the new law, and as the Judiciary Chairman, I was privileged to be on the forefront of the fight to enact the bill into law. In my judgment, the legislation is comprehensive and fair. There will always be needed changes to tort law, but we corrected the fundamental problems in the 2004 legislation. I also believe the united and coordinated effort used to pass the tort reform bill is the key to making other needed changes in crucial areas such as education and the state budget.
Most emphatically, yes! Provided we are honest about the cause of the problems, and we have the courage to make the right choices. The budget “crisis” facing state government is largely self-imposed. Over several years we spent more than our recurring revenue (even though recurring revenue has increased almost each year), and made up the difference by using one time money from various special funds. In other words, we have a spending problem, not a revenue problem. We have acted like a household that uses saving accounts to make ends meet rather than adjusting our lifestyle to reflect our income. Now those special accounts are empty so we are finally being forced to face reality. In my judgment, we should have addressed the problem much earlier. Now, though, we have no choice. I actually view the “crisis” as an opportunity to get our financial house in order. Raising taxes is NOT the way to solve the problem. Prioritizing and controlling spending is the answer. I am committed to this latter approach, and so are a large number of my fellow legislators. Most fortunately, Governor Barbour is also committed to reducing spending rather than raising taxes. This is a crucial watershed year from a budget standpoint. If we can make the hard, but right choices, we will not have to raise taxes. It is not going to be an easy fight, but it is one that is so important to the future of our state.
I am a conservative. I believe in limited government. I do not believe government is the answer to all problems. In many cases, government action, though well intended, just makes things worse due to unintended consequences. Government, unchecked, becomes a threat to economic and personal freedom. At the same time, I believe government does have a crucial role in many areas such as law enforcement, public education and building roads. It is also government’s role to protect those (such as the unborn fetus and the vulnerable elderly) who cannot protect themselves. I believe in being straight forward. When asked about an issue, I always try to say where I stand, and explain why. I may be for it, against it, or I may not know because I have not decided. Regardless, people are entitled to know where you are on the issues. Finally, I strive to be accessible. I feel strongly that representative democracy works best when the people can make known their needs and views to their elected officials.
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Would you consider running for higher office?
