The Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now along with several advocacy groups in the state kicked off the "Jobs and Economic Recovery Now" campaign Thursday in an effort to urge Congress to support President-elect Barack Obama's call for a plan for an economic recovery package. The groups are also urging Governor Haley Barbour to implement a statewide stimulus plan when the Legislature reconvenes in January.

"Mississippi needs it really, really bad," noted Sonya Murphy-Berry, head organizer for ACORN.

Here's some of the major points ACORN and other groups are asking for:

Extension of unemployment insurance

"We are asking that they provide funding to keep extended benefits in place through December 31st, 2009," said Berry.  

Increase in Food Stamps

ACORN is asking for a 20 percent increase in food stamps, a move Berry says would stimulate the economy.

Funding for job creation

ACORN is asking that the Governor create jobs in low-income neighborhoods and use federal money for school repair and maintenance.

Additional rental assistance to the housing voucher program

ACORN and other groups are asking for 400,000 new housing vouchers over the next two years. Berry noted that there will more homeless in the state as renters are being kicked out of homes because owners don't pay their mortgages. She noted: "That's a whole other class of homeless people that the state of Mississippi is going to have to begin to look at. And whoever heard of such a thing of where the Governor would allow federal dollars to go back to the federal government when you have one of the highest population rates here in the state of Mississippi? And more people are becoming homeless due to the foreclosure crisis."

FOX 40 News recently asked Governor Barbour if he would consider an economic stimulus plan for the state, but he said he wanted to wait and see what the federal government was going to do first. Berry said in the future, she will begin to work with lawmakers to draft a bill, which would include funding for job creation and housing vouchers.