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Mississippi lags in a lot of areas, particularly in statistics regarding poverty, literacy and educational achievement, but one area where it lags and can easily do something about it is its car insurance law.

According to USA TODAY, 13.8 percent of Americans are driving without liability insurance. But in Mississippi, where it’s mandatory by law, some 28 percent are flouting the law.

Of 22 states requiring insurance, it’s particularly bad here because the Legislature has failed to require proof of insurance when registering a vehicle, state Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney was quoted as saying.

This past session, House Bill 620 would have allowed tax assessors and tax collectors to deny car tags to motorists who aren’t insured. But it died in the House after being so watered down as to be worthless.

When the 2000 Legislature OK’d the law, it looked tough. Those without an insurance card face up to a $1,000 fine and a 1-year driving suspension. But if it’s not enforced, it’s worthless.

Computerized records could streamline record-keeping.

“The Legislature has never had the fortitude or the backbone to do it,” Chaney told USA TODAY. He’s right about that.

- The Clarion-Ledger

Choctaws need strong leadership

The election of Phyliss J. Anderson as chief of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians is a historic step for the tribe, but also a crucial decision on leadership.

Anderson defeated Miko Beasley Denson, who had served as miko (the Choctaw word for chief) since 2007. She prevailed through three elections. She fell a few votes short of a clear majority in the first and had appeared to win the runoff. That election was thrown out by the Tribal Council with Denson voting to break a

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