http://yallpolitics.com/index.php/yp/post/ Yall Politics - The Definitive Guide to Politics in Mississippi en staff@yallpolitics.com Copyright 2012 2012-02-10T15:27:22+00:00 http://yallpolitics.com/index.php/yp/post/sunshine_bill_temporarily_derailed_by_house_democrats_backing_hood_-_will_b/ http://yallpolitics.com/index.php/yp/post/sunshine_bill_temporarily_derailed_by_house_democrats_backing_hood_-_will_b/#When:14:27:22Z Bill limiting AG's power dies A bill to limit Attorney General Jim Hood's power died Thursday after it was found to violate parliamentary rules in the Mississippi House. But Hood is not in the clear yet. House Speaker Philip Gunn, R-Clinton, said he had no choice but to kill his own bill, after experts found that it was written in a way that broke rules. Gunn said he will refile a corrected bill and that the Judiciary A Committee is likely to consider the new version Monday. Rep. Cecil Brown, D-Jackson, raised the objection that killed House Bill 122, after Democrats spent nearly two hours questioning House Judiciary A Chairman Mark Baker, R-Brandon. "My desire is to follow the rules and the point of order was taken, even though it was my bill," Gunn said after the ruling. Clarion Ledger 2/10/12 2011 Election, Headlines, Legislature, Scruggs Scandal 2012-02-10T14:27:22+00:00 http://yallpolitics.com/index.php/yp/post/clarion_ledger_sides_with_former_governor_barbour_over_jim_hood_on_constitu/ http://yallpolitics.com/index.php/yp/post/clarion_ledger_sides_with_former_governor_barbour_over_jim_hood_on_constitu/#When:14:24:06Z Pardons: Governor's power is issue Despite the offensiveness of Barbour's actions, to undermine the executive authority would be more offensive. The people of Mississippi might disagree with Barbour, and it is safe to say most do, but the constitution gave him that clear authority. If the people want to change it in a constitutional amendment, that is another issue. But it is important to look past the bad decisions of one governor to the need for power of a governor, any governor, to grant clemency without court overview. The Supreme Court should not undermine that authority. Clarion Ledger Editorial 2/10/12 Metro, 2011 Election, Headlines, ElectedOfficials, Scruggs Scandal 2012-02-10T14:24:06+00:00 http://yallpolitics.com/index.php/yp/post/kingfish_has_the_full_videos_of_the_mssc_arguments_over_the_barbour_pardons/ http://yallpolitics.com/index.php/yp/post/kingfish_has_the_full_videos_of_the_mssc_arguments_over_the_barbour_pardons/#When:14:21:18Z EDITORS NOTE - Big "ups" to Kingfish and it is awesome that he did this. The news (print and TV) could learn a thing or two from just making the info available like he did. Go to the page and check out all 6 videos. We have included one here. Metro, Headlines, ElectedOfficials, Muscadines, Scruggs Scandal 2012-02-10T14:21:18+00:00 http://yallpolitics.com/index.php/yp/post/clarion_ledger_opines_that_sunshine_law_a_waste_of_time/ http://yallpolitics.com/index.php/yp/post/clarion_ledger_opines_that_sunshine_law_a_waste_of_time/#When:13:46:16Z Clarion Ledger opines that Sunshine law a waste of time ... 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. In other words, it is a tremendous waste of legislative time and effort. The bill most likely is unconstitutional, but even if not, allowing each agency to hire its own politically favored law firm will be costly and will tend to create the problem GOP lawmakers say they are trying to solve. It will be costly and fraught with political favoritism. Payback may be sweet to GOP lawmakers, but taxpayers expect a more serious agenda. Political chest-beating is best left to the campaigns, not the serious business of the House of Representatives. Clarion Ledger 2/8/12 Headlines, ElectedOfficials, Legislature, Scruggs Scandal 2012-02-10T13:46:16+00:00 http://yallpolitics.com/index.php/yp/post/state_supreme_court_hears_pardon_arguments/ http://yallpolitics.com/index.php/yp/post/state_supreme_court_hears_pardon_arguments/#When:13:41:03Z State Supreme Court hears pardon arguments Feuding attorneys asked the Mississippi Supreme Court on Thursday to determine the validity of pardons that Haley Barbour gave to convicted killers and other convicts during his final days as governor. Chief Justice Bill Waller Jr. said the court would not rule the same day, but he didn't say when a decision would come. "We want them to take enough time to do it right," said Randy Walker, who objects to the pardons. Walker was shot in the head in 1993 by one of the men Barbour set free last month. That former inmate, David Gatlin, also fatally shot his own estranged wife as she held the couple's baby. AP 2/9/12 2011 Election, 2012 Election, Headlines, DC, HaleyWatch, ElectedOfficials, Legislature 2012-02-10T13:41:03+00:00 http://yallpolitics.com/index.php/yp/post/disputed_bill_stalks_child_predators/ http://yallpolitics.com/index.php/yp/post/disputed_bill_stalks_child_predators/#When:13:33:48Z But foes say it's badly written, risks unintended consequencesDisputed bill stalks child predators Ryan Pettit was in eighth grade when he confided to a camp counselor that a relative had sexually abused him. "Most adults can't even come forward and talk about that," said Ryan's mother, Mimi Pettit of Verona. "It took so much strength on his part." The abuse led to 18 years behind bars for Buddy Prince, Ryan Pettit's uncle by marriage - a popular Tupelo High School teacher and coach. But Mimi Pettit believes it also led to her son's suicide in 2010. Clarion Ledger 2/9/12 2011 Election, Headlines, ElectedOfficials, Legislature 2012-02-10T13:33:48+00:00 http://yallpolitics.com/index.php/yp/post/steve_hollands_bill_to_change_gulf_of_mexico_to_gulf_of_america_makes_inter/ http://yallpolitics.com/index.php/yp/post/steve_hollands_bill_to_change_gulf_of_mexico_to_gulf_of_america_makes_inter/#When:13:24:55Z Daily Mail - Gulf of Mexico? That's the Gulf of America, to you! Mississippi legislator pokes at opponents with bill proposing name change Mississippi state Rep Steve Holland wants to reclaim the Gulf of Mexico from the Mexicans. A better name, he says, is the Gulf of America. Sound ridiculous? Holland, a Democrat, says it's no more ridiculous than the political agenda of the Republicans who recently took control the state legislature. The funeral home director from a small town outside Tupelo submitted a bill that would change the name of the the gulf 'for all official purposes within the state of Mississippi.' 2/9/12 AP - Miss. lawmaker: ‘Gulf of America’ bill was a joke All the people outraged about the Mississippi bill to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America’’ have missed its satirical intent, the sponsor said Thursday. State Rep. Steve Holland, a populist Democrat known for over-the-top gestures, said he was tickled that his provocation had rocketed across the Internet. Holland says the measure is meant to mock other bills that would crack down on illegal immigration. At least six such bills have already been assigned for committee consideration in the state’s current legislative session, and more could be on the way. AP 2/9/12 Headlines, DC, ElectedOfficials, Legislature, Muscadines 2012-02-10T13:24:55+00:00 http://yallpolitics.com/index.php/yp/post/miss._biz_journal_-_miss._beer_legislation_supporters_are_being_cautiously_/ http://yallpolitics.com/index.php/yp/post/miss._biz_journal_-_miss._beer_legislation_supporters_are_being_cautiously_/#When:13:21:48Z Miss. Biz Journal - Miss. beer legislation supporters are being cautiously optimistic Lawmakers and grassroots organizers who have unsuccessfully pushed for legislation to modernize Mississippi's beer and brewing laws are optimistic their efforts stand a better chance of paying off this session. As he has the past few sessions, Rep. David Baria, D-Bay St. Louis, has filed bills that would increase the state's alcohol-by-weight limit in beer, and potentially pave the way for the state's lone brewer to expand while encouraging new breweries to open. One bill would raise the state's current cap — the lowest in the U.S. — of 5 percent ABW in beer made and sold in the state to 8 percent. The other two bills would allow Hancock County's Lazy Magnolia Brewing Co. to offer certain samples to folks who tour the brewery, and to brew beer whose ABW is above 5 percent as long as it's shipped and sold out of state. The last would legalize homebrewing. Mississippi Business Journal 2/9/12 Headlines, ElectedOfficials, Legislature 2012-02-10T13:21:48+00:00 http://yallpolitics.com/index.php/yp/post/governor_phil_bryant_evideo_update_-_winchester_plant_in_oxford/ http://yallpolitics.com/index.php/yp/post/governor_phil_bryant_evideo_update_-_winchester_plant_in_oxford/#When:13:19:54Z 2011 Election, Headlines, ElectedOfficials 2012-02-10T13:19:54+00:00 http://yallpolitics.com/index.php/yp/post/ap_-_gunn_plans_to_re-file_bill_limiting_ag_jim_hoods_power/ http://yallpolitics.com/index.php/yp/post/ap_-_gunn_plans_to_re-file_bill_limiting_ag_jim_hoods_power/#When:13:17:46Z AP - Bill limiting AG Jim Hood's power dies for breaking rules A bill to limit Attorney General Jim Hood's power died Thursday after it was found to violate parliamentary rules in the Mississippi House. But Hood isn't in the clear yet. House Speaker Philip Gunn, R-Clinton, said he had no choice but to kill his own bill, after experts found that it was written in a way that broke rules. Rep. Cecil Brown, D-Jackson, raised the objection that killed the bill, after Democrats spent nearly two hours questioning House Judiciary A Chairman Mark Baker, R-Brandon. "My desire is to follow the rules and the point of order was taken, even though it was my bill," Gunn said after the ruling. The bill would have let statewide elected officials and agency heads hire their own lawyers when they found that the attorney general couldn't adequately represent them. It would have required legal contracts worth $100,000 or more to be posted on the Internet. Bills to limit Hood's powers also have been filed in the Senate. Republicans have been trying for years to limit the power of Hood, now the lone statewide elected Democrat. AP 2/9/12 2011 Election, Headlines, DC, ElectedOfficials, Scruggs Scandal 2012-02-10T13:17:46+00:00