U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., spoke at Jones County Junior College Monday afternoon as part of several appearances throughout southeast Mississippi. Wicker was appointed by Gov. Haley Barbour nearly two months ago to replace U.S. Sen. Trent Lott, who retired late last year.

The appointment moved Wicker from the U.S. House of Representatives, where he had served as a Congressman 13 years before the appointment.

“I’ve always met with people from all over the state when they’ve come to Washington,” Wicker said, “even though I only represented one-fourth of the state. I felt it was necessary to meet with everybody; it didn’t matter if they were from the Coast, Jones County or northwest Mississippi. I’m familiar with the needs because I’ve always met with the delegation.”

Wicker voted for an economic stimulus package which will give taxpayers a check from the U.S. government in about two months.

“It’s going to put some extra money into the pockets of people and hopefully they will spend it, and give the economy a little bit of a boost,” he said. “The important thing about the package is that it will provide stimulus for job creation by small business. We hope that as a result small business will create more jobs.”

Wicker supports U.S. Sen. John McCain for president, saying he will provide strong leadership for the country.

Wicker was on Lott’s Fifth Congressional District from 1980-82. He served in the Mississippi Senate for seven years and was elected to the U.S. House in 1994.