Mississippi State Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney, wants security system sales people subject to background checks to ensure that they are not criminals before entering people’s homes.

Chaney, the guest speaker at the Poplarville Rotary last Wednesday, said that he is pushing legislation to get security sales people to have a mandatory background check.

I see no reason why we should be expected to let strangers into our home with the ability to access the systems that are supposed to protect us and have no assurance that they are not themselves criminals, Chaney said.

“Background checks will give us some security in that area.”

Louisiana has performed mandatory background checks for their security sales people for several years now.

Chaney also spoke about the lawsuit he filed on behalf of the state of Mississippi against FEMA.

Chaney told the group that the suit is due to be addressed in court next week, as FEMA’s request to have it dismissed due to his lack of standing was denied.

“The people that were affected first were the people who had their districts redrawn. Residents of Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama are footing the bill for the entire country while the other states are waiting to be remapped,” Chaney said.

“It isn’t fair and you are going to effectively roll up the sidewalks on the Gulf Coast because people will not be able to afford to live there

“We have people in Waveland who started out with $400 to $500 insurance bills that went up to $12,000 in a year. We have seen people turn their keys back in to the bank because they can’t afford their homes.

“In the end, this is not just a Gulf South issue. People who live anywhere near water will be affected. Even those who live inland, near streams or lakes.”

On Obamacare, Chaney told the group that the state was better equipped to operate a health system than the Federal government.

He said that he approved the benefits that were offered, but attempted to keep costs down by denying benefits such as acupuncture and massage.

The commissioner, who also serves as the state fire chief, told the group that he wears a lot of hats in serving his state.

“As the state fire chief, I have had a 52 percent conviction rate on arson charges. You will be hard pressed to get off with an arson crime in this state,” Chaney said.