Yall Politics

Cochran and Wicker vote to preserve future earmark powers

2012-02-03T13:09:26Z

Cochran and Wicker vote to preserve future earmark power

Senators voted down a bipartisan proposal to permanently ban earmarks as well as an amendment to require lawmakers and senior staff to divest of stocks or put their stock holdings in blind trusts.

The amendment sponsored by Sens. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) and Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) to permanently ban earmarks failed by a vote of 40-59.

A solid block of Republicans, including Sens. Lamar Alexander (Tenn.), Roy Blunt (Mo.), Thad Cochran (Miss.), Susan Collins (Maine), John Hoeven (N.D.), Kay Bailey Hutchison (Texas), James Inhofe (Okla.), Dick Lugar (Ind.), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), Pat Roberts (Kan.), Jeff Sessions (Ala.), Richard Shelby (Ala.) and Roger Wicker (Miss.), voted to preserve Congress’s future power to earmark federal funds.

The Hill
1/2/12

Bill Minor attacks Gunn’s committee appointments, says legislature more partisan

2012-02-03T12:57:56Z

Bill Minor attacks Gunn's committee appointments, says legislature more partisan

House Speaker Philip Gunn in his committee appointments may have exacted sweet revenge against the Billy McCoy Democratic reign. But at what cost in loss of institutional knowledge of how state services function?

It’s quite obvious the Gunn appointments were calculated to wipe out all the key McCoy committee chairs, chief among them such veterans as Cecil Brown, Steve Holland, Johnny Stringer and Percy Watson. In one fell swoop some 90 years of expertise in particular legislative fields was wiped out.

Although the GOP now holds only a slight majority of House seats, Gunn is enforcing a fruit basket turnover in legislative leadership. The impact has much greater consequences than a Mississippi version of the adage that “to the victor goes the spoils.”

What’s happening in the state legislative chambers in terms of partisanship divide is something totally unseen before in Mississippi. Never before has the partisan structure of the U.S. Congress -- with emphasis on the House -- been imposed as a model down in this Deep South state. Our legislative chambers, though tacitly regarded as one-party Democratic, have traditionally operated under a laissez faire system regarding party identity.

Sun Herald
1/2/12

AP - Gov. Phil Bryant aims to stretch Medicaid by payment changes

2012-02-03T12:52:13Z

Bryant aims to stretch Medicaid by payment changes

Gov. Phil Bryant wants to perform a magic trick of sorts: reform Mississippi's Medicaid program so that it doesn't cost any more state money next year. Program officials were expecting costs to increase by 16 percent.

The essence of making funds stretch is changing how the state pays hospitals to care for Medicaid patients. That group is mostly poor children, but includes some parents, disabled adults, and senior citizens.

Medicaid will cost Mississippi $763 million this year. Bryant, in releasing his budget Tuesday, called it "the elephant in the phone booth."

Democratic lawmakers are questioning whether Bryant is just camouflaging cost cutting, which could mean less care for patients or less money for hospitals.

"It's smoke and mirrors for cuts," said Rep. Steve Holland, D-Plantersville. "That's all it is."

AP
1/3/12

House passes protection act for children

2012-02-03T12:49:58Z

House passes protection act for children

The House wrangled for hours Thursday before passing the “Child Protection Act and Child Rape Protection Act,” which would enact stricter, mandatory reporting by people charged with overseeing children any abuse of a minor.

The heated debate and vote was also the first test of new Republican Speaker Philip Gunn’s control over the 122-member House, on a bill he authored. He managed to fend off efforts by the Democratic leadership to alter the bill, with 10-12 of the House’s 57 Democrats voting with Republicans to thwart amendments.

“A lot of people talk about protecting children, but here today, in this chamber, we have the opportunity to do something about it,” said Judiciary Committee Chairman J. Andrew Gipson, R-Braxton.

Sun Herald
2/2/12

Diamondhead to celebrate incorporation

2012-02-03T12:47:06Z

Diamondhead to celebrate incorporation

The new city of Diamondhead in Hancock County plans a community-wide celebration Monday.

Officials tell the Sea Coast Echo that Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann will issue Diamondhead's city charter at a public ceremony at 10 a.m. at the Diamondhead Country Club.

City officials including six council members and Mayor Chuck Ingraham will be sworn in by Chancery Court Judge Sandy Steckler.

Hattiesburg American
1/2/12

PSC issuing rural water subpoenas

2012-02-03T12:44:26Z

PSC issuing rural water subpoenas

Northern District Mississippi Public Service Commissioner Brandon Presley this week began issuing subpoenas for rural water associations to give him their bylaws.

And in a twist, Presley’s biggest foe on the matter is telling those associations to comply.

In a Jan. 27 memo obtained by the Daily Journal, Mississippi Rural Water Association Chief Executive Officer Kirby Mayfield advised members to comply with any subpoena they get from the PSC.

djournal.com
1/2/12

DeSoto County makes ozone case in Washington next week

2012-02-03T12:38:50Z

DeSoto County makes ozone case in Washington next week

DeSoto County officials hope meetings planned next week in Washington with the county's congressional delegation and Environmental Protection Agency staff will help clear the air and avert inclusion on the agency's ozone "nonattainment" list.

"We want our lawmakers to understand not only our scientific case against this proposed listing but also the adverse economic impact it would have," County Administrator Michael Garriga said Thursday.

Slated to meet next Wednesday with U.S. Rep. Alan Nunnelee and Sens. Thad Cochran and Roger Wicker are Garriga, Supervisor Mark Gardner, Interim Planning Director Gina Tynan and Jim Flanagan, president and chief executive of the DeSoto Economic Development Council.

Also going are Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality staff, led by executive director Trudy Fisher, who are arranging EPA sessions.

Commercial Appeal
1/2/12

Petition to oust Greg Davis as Mayor of Southaven begins to circulate online

2012-02-02T21:25:34Z

To view the petition, click here.

WMC
2/1/12

YP - A proud member of the 1%

2012-02-02T21:08:33Z

This past weekend in Oakland, the "occupy" folks - you know, the "99%ers" - had themselves just a regular ole American get together.

First, they broke into city hall and trashed the joint.

Then they hauled a flag out of city hall and burned it.

Of course, these "99%ers" aren't brainsurgeons. If they were, they'd have jobs. It took them a couple of tries to actually light the flag ablaze.

If looking like urban terrorists, breaking into city hall and burning flags makes you part of the grand "99%", count me as a proud member of the 1% crowd.

YP - Austin Barbour’s name is being mentioned a lot in the ‘Mitt Romney for President’ effort

2012-02-02T18:51:44Z

Mississippi lobbyist Austin Barbour has been extremely involved in the Mitt Romney campaign serving as one of his National Finance Chairmen. Now we are starting to see how much.

Today, Open Secrets had an article listing him as one of the top fundraisers in the 4th quarter for Romney's campaign. A lot of that haul came from a big fundraising event that Austin spearheaded in Jackson, which is not exactly the hotbed of Presidential political finance - even in an election year.

Then Austin actually got two mentions in the New York Times this week. First, he was mentioned again in the fundraising context. And last Friday, he actually got a quote on behalf of the Romney campaign after Romney's debate win over Gingrich in Florida.

The Romney campaign went after Mr. Gingrich once before, in Iowa, when Mr. Gingrich experienced a brief surge, but not so aggressively. Though Mr. Romney and his campaign have also been pressing their case against President Obama, they plan to keep the pressure on Mr. Gingrich.

“We lost (in South Carolina), and when you get back on your heels, you start to re-evaluate and say, ‘We need to pivot and we need to get on the offense,’ and we got on the offense against Newt,” said Austin Barbour, a national finance chairman for Mr. Romney. “If we win on Tuesday, we put him in a really difficult situation. He doesn’t have some huge staff, and you’re really putting a heavy burden on a slimmed down campaign to be able to run effectively in all those states.”

Governor Phil Byrant appoints State Aid Engineer

2012-02-02T16:10:35Z

Gov. Phil Bryant has named Carey Webb as State Aid Engineer. Webb was promoted to State Aid Engineer after serving as Assistant State Aid Engineer since May 2002. Webb assumed duties effective Feb. 1, 2012.

“I am pleased that Carey accepted this appointment,” Bryant said. “He has extensive engineering experience and has served Mississippi well for many years. I am confident that he will provide great leadership in managing our infrastructure.”

As State Aid Engineer, Webb will direct the Office of State Aid Road Construction. The office administers Mississippi’s State Aid Road Program, which assists counties with the construction and maintenance of roads and bridges. The office also helps local jurisdictions maintain the safety and integrity of non state-owned bridges through the Local System Bridge Replacement and Rehabilitation Program.

“I have worked with Mississippi counties for many years and am proud to have such a great opportunity to help local jurisdictions improve their roads and bridges,” Webb said.

Webb has held county, municipal and private-sector engineering positions. He also served as District Engineer at the Office of State Aid Road Construction from 1989 to 2002.

Webb holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Mississippi State University and also holds the designation of Professional Engineer.

Governor Phil Bryant Press Release
2/2/12

Statement from Secretary Hosemann on Proposed Congressional Redistricting Map

2012-02-02T14:58:55Z

Statement from Secretary Hosemann on Proposed Congressional Redistricting Map

“The Congressional redistricting plan proposed by the Federal Panel will allow us to proceed with the 2012 Elections without preclearance from the Department of Justice. The Federal Panel has decreased the number of split counties from eight to four, did not split any precincts, and generally followed county lines existing for Congress. The Secretary of State will not file an objection to the Plan.”

Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann
2/2/12

Hood sees his shadow

2012-02-02T13:17:19Z

Mississippi Democratic Attorney General Jim Hood woke up this morning, let out a big yawn, stretched high to the sky, stepped out of his house and... you guessed it - he saw his shadow.

We'll have six more weeks of pardons.

On Wednesday, the Mississippi Supreme Court agreed to take up the challenge to former Governor Haley Barbour's pardons. Barbour issued these in the waning hours of his expiring term, drawing ire from both sides of the aisle.

Democrats, now in the minority at every level of state government for the first time in 140 years, have sought to slap these pardons across the backs of the new Republican majority while many Republicans have distanced themselves from the legendary ex-Governor.

There was to be a hearing at the lower court level this Friday, but with the Supreme Court stepping in, that hearing will not take place. Now, a hearing before the High Court has been set for February 9th with the Court noting that it would try to rule quickly.

I would expect the Supreme Court to explore just who knew what and when. Barbour will not be the only one interrogated; Hood's office will have to account for their actions as well.

From a purely political standpoint, this has to deflate Hood's sails just a bit. The longer he was able to keep these pardons in the news, the better it was for him and his political future. With the Supreme Court now in the mix and seeking to issue a ruling in short order, Hood's political play clock is running out.

With the new Republican majority in the Legislature, the pardons have been a nice distraction for Hood and the Democrats. But soon, the magnifying glass will once again descend onto Hood as conservative legislators take on the Attorney General's friendly contract practices, something Hood has made headlines for even in the national media.

Hood better make the most of this saga for the next six weeks; after then, he will be under the spotlight himself as he seeks to defend these questionable contract practices.

Oh, in case you're wondering, Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow, too. What does that mean here in Mississippi? Not much. Winter never really set in and spring has seemingly sprung.

And no, Punxsutawney Phil wasn't hiding in Donald Trump or Jim Hood's healthy heads of hair.

Clarion Ledger (not surprisingly) thinks Gov. Phil Bryant’s budget won’t fly

2012-02-02T13:13:53Z

Clarion Ledger - Bryant's budget won't fly

Gov. Phil Bryant's plans to sell one of the state's planes might save the state a little money, but when it comes to a serious budget plan to fund state government, his Executive Budget Recommendation just won't fly .

Bryant's FY 2013 budget recommendation calls for cuts to state agency budgets of 5.53 percent and cutting K-12 schools by 3 percent.

He also called for suspending Personnel Board rules, which would allow agency heads to more easily fire state workers.

Clarion Ledger Editorial
2/1/12

Commercial Appeal - Reeves backs charter schools

2012-02-02T13:11:10Z

Reeves backs charter schools

If the latest pronouncements from Gov. Phil Bryant and Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves are any indication, more charter schools soon will be cropping up across Mississippi.

Expanding charter schools is one of the top items on Reeves' legislative agenda that was outlined Wednesday.

Under the Reeves plan, charter school legislation would expand dramatically across the state as parental groups seek to establish the new schools as an alternative to traditional schools that are failing.

1/2/12