Yall Politics Yall Politics:Yall Politics - The Definitive Guide to Politics in Mississippi 2012-02-09T14:49:43Z Copyright (c) 2012, Staff of Y'all Politics ExpressionEngine tag:yallpolitics.com,2012:02:09 BRIAN PERRY - Reeves: ‘We’re not raising taxes’ tag:yallpolitics.com,2012:index.php/yp/post/1.31441 2012-02-09T13:45:07Z 2012-02-09T14:47:08Z Staff of Y'all Politics BRIAN PERRY - Reeves: 'We're not raising taxes'


Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves joked the turn out at the Stennis-Capitol Press Luncheon for his first appearance there as Lieutenant Governor showed a much larger turnout than when he spoke with the group as Treasurer.

I recall one meeting - held I believe at Galloway Methodist Church in downtown Jackson - where Reeves spoke to less than a dozen people, including a couple of print reporters and his staff.

Monday afternoon at the Capital Club in Jackson, the turnout was much different as a packed room of reporters (print, television, etc), lobbyists, elected officials, political operatives and interested members of the public gathered to listen to the new head of the state Senate. Reeves teased he was not as nervous speaking to the press this time as he was recently at the Mississippi Press Association's Roast of Reeves last month, when he had to follow the entertaining anecdotes and ribbing of Sen. Terry Brown of Columbus.


Madison County Journal
2/8/12 ]]> Charlie Mitchell - Media dynamic changing for state government fans tag:yallpolitics.com,2012:index.php/yp/post/1.31440 2012-02-09T13:43:42Z 2012-02-09T14:49:43Z Staff of Y'all Politics Media dynamic changing for state government fans

This may sound like a commercial for a radio network. It's not meant to be.

It's just that how and where state government junkies get information has changed. Jackson-based SuperTalk Mississippi is in the driver's seat. That's worth talking about.

And talk, of course, is what they do.

The nine FM radio stations in the network blanket the state. For those who can't pick up a signal - or who want to see the show in addition to hearing it - SuperTalk is on the Internet.

The talk starts at 6 a.m. with The Gallo Show. Paul Gallo's interview and call-in program wasn't the first in Mississippi, but has been the first to gain traction over the past few years, and it has gained serious traction.

Charlie Mitchell
2/8/12 ]]> CottonMouth - Eyes of beer lovers across Mississippi now on Rep. Jeff Smith (R - Columbus) tag:yallpolitics.com,2012:index.php/yp/post/1.31439 2012-02-09T13:39:06Z 2012-02-09T14:41:07Z Staff of Y'all Politics Eyes of beer lovers across Mississippi now on Rep. Jeff Smith (R - Columbus)

For years, Mississippians have been clamoring for the Legislature to raise the limit on beer's "alcohol by weight" measurement. Mississippi has the lowest limit in the nation, and it prohibits the sale of a large number of craft beers in the state. Craft beers offer a wider range of tastes than the beers produced by the mega breweries like Anheuser-Busch and MillerCoors, and sales related to craft beers are pumping tax dollars into suffering economies across the country. Further, the craft beers have a lower proof than liquor, so it's not as if selling craft beers would effect drunk driving rates.

Past efforts to change the limit have previously died in the Senate Finance committee, which had been chaired by Sen. Dean Kirby (R - Pearl). This year, the battle has moved to the House, where Rep. David Baria (D - Bay St. Louis) has introduced legislation that would raise the limit to 8%. HB 26 has been referred to the Ways & Means committee, which is chaired by Rep. Jeff Smith (R - Columbus). Smith may now kill the legislation all on his own by not calling the bill up for a vote.

...

CottonMouth
2/8/12 ]]> House gives Mississippi Attorney General cold shoulder tag:yallpolitics.com,2012:index.php/yp/post/1.31438 2012-02-09T13:37:45Z 2012-02-09T14:38:46Z Staff of Y'all Politics House gives Mississippi Attorney General cold shoulder

State Atty. Gen. Jim Hood called out House Judiciary Committee leaders Tuesday after he showed up for a hearing, but didn't get to speak, on legislation allowing all statewide elected officials and department heads to use outside lawyers without his approval.

Hood, the state's highest elected Democratic official, said the legislation would violate the state Constitution, which he said gives the attorney general sole authority to appoint outside lawyers.

Freshman state Rep. Trey Lamar, R-Senatobia and one of the bill's three sponsors, did not return phone calls for comment on Hood's comments.

Commercial Appeal
2/8/12 ]]> John Arthur Eaves Jr. to sue cruise ship owner over wreck in Italy tag:yallpolitics.com,2012:index.php/yp/post/1.31437 2012-02-09T13:31:46Z 2012-02-09T14:33:47Z Staff of Y'all Politics John Arthur Eaves Jr. to sue cruise ship owner over wreck in Italy

ROME (AP) - A U.S. lawyer for compensation-seeking survivors of the Costa Concordia capsizing said Wednesday he will push for changes in maritime laws and technology to make the cruise ship industry safer.

John Arthur Eaves Jr. said that in about two weeks he will file lawsuits against Miami-based Carnival Corp., the parent company of Costa Crociere, SpA., the Italian cruise line whose ship rammed a reef off a Tuscan island on Jan. 13 and capsized. At least 17 people were killed and 15 remain unaccounted for.

The lawyer said his 70 clients want to sue Carnival, including ones from the United States, Italy, Germany, Britain, Russia and Switzerland. He did not identify them by name.

Eaves, who lost an election for governor of Mississippi in 2007, was among the lawyers who obtained settlements of nearly $2 million apiece in 2000 for families of 20 people killed in Italy when a U.S. Marine jet clipped a ski gondola's cable two years earlier.

AP
2/8/12 ]]> Miss. Health Dept. seeks $6 million increase in funding as it spends down reserve accounts tag:yallpolitics.com,2012:index.php/yp/post/1.31436 2012-02-09T13:28:06Z 2012-02-09T14:30:07Z Staff of Y'all Politics Miss. Health Dept. seeks $6 million increase in funding as it spends down reserve accounts

The Mississippi Health Department told lawmakers Wednesday that it needs more money in the coming budget year or it may have to close clinics and reduce AIDS drug purchases.

Dr. Mary Currier, the state health officer, told the House Appropriations Committee that the department has been draining internal reserves to stay afloat last year and this year. She said the Health Department is spending about $4 million from reserves this year and said accounts will be almost empty when the current budget year ends June 30.

"For the past several years, we have spent down cash reserves to keep our doors open," Currier said.

The department needs $32.5 million in state money, she said, well above the $26.5 million it's getting now. Legislative budgeters recommend $20.7 million for the coming year, while Gov. Phil Bryant recommended about $25 million.

AP
2/8/12 ]]> Miss. Democrats vent displeasure over 2011 campaign tactics tag:yallpolitics.com,2012:index.php/yp/post/1.31435 2012-02-09T13:24:38Z 2012-02-09T14:42:39Z Staff of Y'all Politics Miss. Democrats vent displeasure over GOP tax claims

Democratic bitterness over Republican campaign tactics in last year's Mississippi legislative elections erupted Wednesday in a debate over an otherwise routine local bill.

Several Democrats said opponents sent mailers claiming they voted for a large number of tax increases, unfairly counting times they voted to raise or renew taxes requested by individual cities and counties.

"The very first mailer showed me in a little red convertible and talked about how many times I voted for taxes, and I could not figure out what it was talking about," said Sherra Lane, D-Waynesboro, at times fighting back tears.

Clarion Ledger
2/8/12 ]]> Steve Holland introduces bill to rename Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America tag:yallpolitics.com,2012:index.php/yp/post/1.31433 2012-02-09T13:18:24Z 2012-02-09T14:42:25Z Staff of Y'all Politics Steve Holland introduces bill to rename Gulf of Mexico

Riding upon a chariot of Hummers driven by bald eagles, Mississippi Rep. Steve Holland filed a guns blazing cowboy steak of a bill, proudly waving our nation's red, white and God-fearing blue to protect our American coastal waters. This week, Holland introduced H.B. 150 to Mississippi's House of Representatives Marine Resources Committee — a bill that, in summary, would "for all official purposes" rename the Gulf of Mexico (or "body of water south of Mississippi") the "Gulf of America."

For all official purposes within the State of Mississippi, the body of water that is located directly south of Hancock, Harrison and Jackson Counties shall be known as the "Gulf of America." ... This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2012.


Best of New Orleans
2/9/12 ]]> FEMA prepares to mail Katrina disaster aid waivers tag:yallpolitics.com,2012:index.php/yp/post/1.31432 2012-02-09T13:13:29Z 2012-02-09T14:14:30Z Staff of Y'all Politics FEMA prepares to mail Katrina disaster aid waivers

The Federal Emergency Management Agency plans to mail letters next week to 90,000 individuals and households letting them know that it will waive repayment of disaster assistance funds that FEMA erroneously distributed after Hurricane Katrina.

Residents could qualify for the waiver -- if they earn less than $90,000 a year and were paid the funds due to FEMA error -- under a provision that Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., pushed to include in a federal spending bill in December. The office of Sen. Thad Cochran, R-Miss., announced this morning that FEMA has since developed a plan for repayment waivers.

Residents must respond to FEMA within 60 days, certifying that they meet the waiver qualifications and appropriately spent the disaster funds.

Sun Herald
2/8/12 ]]> Austin Barbour gets another national mention speaking for Mitt Romney to the press tag:yallpolitics.com,2012:index.php/yp/post/1.31431 2012-02-09T13:12:02Z 2012-02-09T14:14:03Z Staff of Y'all Politics Romney Brushes Off Tuesday Losses

Southern states were Mr. Romney’s Achilles’ heal in 2008, and Wednesday afternoon he took to Mr. Gingrich’s home turf of Georgia for a campaign stop.

Austin Barbour, a Mississippi resident who sits on Mr. Romney’s national fund-raising team and is aiming to rally support for Mr. Romney down South, said voters there will come around to whoever wins the nomination.

“Voters in those states are going to pivot to vote against Barack Obama and support our nominee,” said Mr. Barbour, the nephew of former Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour.

But of the prior night’s performance, he added, “[I’m] certainly disappointed that we lost Colorado, I think surprised that we lost Colorado.”


Wall Street Journal Washington Wire
2/9/12 ]]> Clarion Ledger editorial attempts to set up Jim Hood to be a martyr over outside counsel bill tag:yallpolitics.com,2012:index.php/yp/post/1.31430 2012-02-09T13:05:45Z 2012-02-09T14:06:46Z Staff of Y'all Politics AG: GOP 'payback' a waste of effort


At issue for Republicans is Hood's practice of hiring outside counsel, trail lawyers who have reaped large attorney fees from the lawsuits. GOP critics say Hood's outside counsel system awards friends and should be more open with fees and awards subject to legislative approval. On the political side, trial lawyers have been major Democratic contributors, which GOP leaders would like to cut off.

Hood contends the process is open with all contracts public. He says fees are less than standard, are awarded by the courts and don't cost taxpayers anything. On the political side, by accepting campaign contributions from those lawyers Hood has left himself open to attacks as this bill.

Taxpayers should understand that this is purely a partisan political fight with little, if any, substance policywise. With the GOP in control, Hood is getting a spanking.


Clarion Ledger Editorial
2/9/12 ]]> Mississippi Matters tag:yallpolitics.com,2012:index.php/yp/post/1.31427 2012-02-09T10:57:54Z 2012-02-09T14:13:55Z Frank Corder
That is not the case in this year's Republican Presidential Primary. Mississippi matters.

Republican Presidential candidates Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum, Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul are all still seeking front runner status. Just when one of them seems to have the edge, another swoops in and steals the thunder.

Some say SuperPACs are the reason for the numerous momentum changes. I disagree.

Conservative, Republican voters are simply not overwhelmingly enamored with any of the final four, meaning as the vetting process continues down the stretch, voter sympathy is shifting as they attempt to find that right candidate. Voters are trying to balance their values with defeating Obama.

The problem with that is these four are attacking each other so ferociously that President Obama can simply sit back and watch the circus. The longer the Republican Primary season drags on without a clear front runner, the easier it will be for Obama to control the narrative; Republicans are fueling Obama's general election fire.

Here in Mississippi, Romney has received a slew of endorsements from a variety of state and legislative officials. Such endorsements are curious in that Romney has been routinely questioned on his conservative credentials. If Mississippi truly is the most conservative state in the union, what do these endorsements say to Mississippi voters?

The average conservative does seem to have a question about Romney's allegiance to the conservative cause. It is not all media hype. People do not seem content to concede that Romney is the best Republicans can do.

There are two schools of thought in this vein. One, often expressed by former Gov. Haley Barbour, is that purity is a loser. The other says that compromising our principles has gotten us in this mess; continuing to do so is not an option.

For Mississippi conservative voters, the decision on March 13th comes down to this: Santorum vs. Romney, Gingrich vs. Romney, or Paul vs. Romney. Once we get past that, voters will have to reconcile who can best challenge Obama's liberal policies and outline a vision for America that supports our core conservative principles, those of limited government, a strong national defense, traditional family values, and fiscal sanity.

Santorum looks to be the candidate that best aligns with a majority of Mississippi's conservative voters, but the jury's still out. Gingrich seems to be the smartest candidate but he just can't convert his big ideas into votes. As for Paul, well, he's Ron Paul.

Mississippi may very well turn out for Mitt Romney, but if they do I seriously doubt it will be because they believe him to be the candidate best aligned with their conservatives values. If Mississippi goes for Romney, it's because people are fed up with Obama and see Mitt as the best shot to make the Democrat a one termer.

Either way, Mississippi matters March 13th.
]]> Governor Phil Bryant decides not to grant clemency for Edwin Hart Turner tag:yallpolitics.com,2012:index.php/yp/post/1.31429 2012-02-08T19:34:11Z 2012-02-08T20:35:12Z Staff of Y'all Politics
“After reviewing the facts associated with Mr. Edwin Hart Turner’s case, I have decided not to grant clemency for his violent acts. Mr. Turner has been convicted by a jury of his peers and I see no reason to delay this execution.”

Governor Phil Bryant Press Release
2/8/12 ]]> MS State Senate approves bill to consolidate failing Sunflower County School Districts tag:yallpolitics.com,2012:index.php/yp/post/1.31428 2012-02-08T18:31:51Z 2012-02-08T19:32:52Z Staff of Y'all Politics
Legislation to consolidate administrations of three Sunflower County school districts passed the Mississippi Senate today, Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves announced. The measure is the first item from Lt. Gov. Reeves’ legislative agenda to be considered by the Senate.

Senate Bill 2330 combines the administrations of Drew, Sunflower and Indianola school districts, which are currently under conservatorship at the state Department of Education, and requires an appointed superintendent to lead the new district. The bill heads to the Mississippi House for consideration.

“By combining these failing school districts into one, we can give students in Sunflower County an opportunity for a better education,” Lt. Gov. Reeves said. “By eliminating duplicative functions, this new school district could be able to spend more than $1 million more on classroom needs.”


Lt. Governor Tate Reeves Press Release
2/8/12 ]]> MS GOP posts information about their caucus and county conventions tag:yallpolitics.com,2012:index.php/yp/post/1.31426 2012-02-08T14:52:36Z 2012-02-08T15:53:38Z Staff of Y'all Politics MS GOP Precinct Caucuses and County Convention ]]>