Attorney General Jim Hood discusses state issues

HATTIESBURG, MS. - Mississippi's only Democratic leader to hold an office in the state sits with FOX 23 and discusses current state issues.

Attorney General Jim Hood is working with state agencies to stop the opioid epidemic in Mississippi.

“The odd thing about it, is that its supposed to help you" he says. "But opioids are killing more people now than all the other illegal drugs.”

“It is an epidemic that we are not ready for, we do not have the treatment beds, the facilities, for people to go" he says.

"I am doing my best to hold the drug companies accountable. They got out and sold things to doctors as if they were not addictive.”

Attorney General Hood says educating the public is just as important too. “Just information for people to try and prevent it, is the best bang for our buck." "And that’s why we recently just had that summit in Jackson.”

He also discusses current national issues that's affecting the country and Mississippi.

“That flag isn’t doing us any good, it is hard to get businesses here. It is a deterrent.” Recently Governor Phil Bryant declined the Mississippi Legislative Back Caucus requests' to hold a special session on changing the state flag.

He adds, “About half the people in Mississippi at least think that it’s a bad image for the state." Attorney General Hood continues, "It is just not right to have a large group of people in our state who do not agree with that symbolism to have that flow on public property.” He says a flag is supposed to unite people together.

“It is not supposed to divide, it is a symbol for a reason, and we want to show people that Mississippians care and we want businesses to come here.”

According to Attorney General Hood he has contemplated about running for Governor, but ultimately it is a family decision he says.