With new leadership in the House of Representatives and a newgovernor, Lincoln County lawmakers are taking a wait-and-seeapproach as they begin a new legislative session Tuesday.

Dist. 53 Rep. Bobby Moak predicted “big changes” as Rep. BillyMcCoy becomes the new speaker and Haley Barbour takes office asgovernor.

“It’s not going to be business as usual, but it’s going to befine,” Moak said.

Dist. 92 Rep. Dr. Jim Barnett said he was impressed with newlegislators coming in and with the new governor. Barnett said hebelieves the legislature will be able to work with Barbour,although he added that they won’t always agree on issues.

“I’m sure we’re going to have some differences of opinion,”Barnett said.

Moak expressed similar sentiments. He said the House and Senatewill not allow the governor’s office to “steam roll” theirchambers, but “I think it will be a fine relationship.”

“We’ll just have to wait and see how the new governor wants toaddress the budget and issues he wants to push,” Moak said.

Moak was optimistic that leadership changes would produce moreopenness for constituents. He expected leadership would listen moreto the people who would be affected by legislation instead of lobbygroups.

“It’s going to be good for working families,” Moak said,mentioning more of an “open door” policy for constituents. “Bigbusiness will stand, toe-to-toe, with the guy and his wife doingeverything they can to make a living.”

With new House leadership also comes the potential for a lot ofchanges in committee chairmanships. Moak said he is waiting to seewhat will come his way.

“I haven’t asked for anything in particular,” said Moak, whoserves on Ways and Means, Judiciary A and several othercommittees.

In the Senate, Dist. 39 Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith’s name has beenmentioned as the new chairman of the Agriculture Committee.

“We don’t know that yet,” Hyde-Smith said.

Hyde-Smith said the chairmanship is open following Sen. JoeStogner’s defeat in last year’s election. The senator said shewould welcome the chairmanship if it is offered to her, but so farthat there has been nothing definite on that possibility.