JACKSON -- House Appropriations Chair Herb Frierson, R-Poplarville, held a meeting Wednesday to educate members of his committee about the budgeting process.

Many of the members are serving on Appropriations for the first time. And for others, a refresher course cannot hurt. Speaker Philip Gunn, R-Clinton attended the meeting.

Attendance made sense for the first-term speaker. He has never served on the Appropriations Committee, but he will serve the upcoming year as chair of the Legislative Budget Committee that has a vital function in the state's budgeting process.

Chair of the Joint Legislative Budget Commitree alternates yearly between the speaker and the lieutenant governor.