A federal jury says two Mississippi lawyers committed fraud during asbestos litigation and they should pay Illinois Central Railroad Company $430,000 in damages.
Illinois Central claimed William Guy and Thomas Brock knew their clients lied about being involved in earlier litigation when questioned during the railroad lawsuit filed in 2001.
Court records said Illinois Central settled with plaintiffs Warren Turner Jr. for $120,000 in 2002 and Willie Harried for $90,000 in 2003.
Illinois Central sued Harried and Turner in U.S. District Court in Natchez for alleged fraud and eventually accused the lawyers of it, too.
JACKSON, Miss. – A northern Mississippi school district will not be hosting a high school prom this spring after a lesbian student sought to attend with her girlfriend and wear a tuxedo.
The Itawamba County school district's board decided Wednesday to drop the prom because of what it called recent distractions but without specifically mentioning the girl's request, which was backed by the American Civil Liberties Union.
The student, 18-year-old high school senior Constance McMillen, said the cancellation was retaliation for her efforts to bring her girlfriend, also a student, to the April 2 dance.
"A bunch of kids at school are really going to hate me for this, so in a way it's really retaliation," McMillen told The Clarion-Ledger of Jackson. Calls to McMillen by The Associated Press late Wednesday went unanswered.
School policy requires that senior prom dates be of the opposite sex. The ACLU of Mississippi had given the district until Wednesday to change that policy, arguing that banning same-sex prom dates violated McMillen's constitutional rights.
Washington's biggest lobbying firm is on the verge of getting even bigger. Patton Boggs LLP, which rang up nearly $40 million in lobbying last year, is in negotiations to purchase the Breaux-Lott Leadership Group, according to sources familiar with the talks.
Breaux-Lott -- named for its founders, former U.S. senators John Breaux (D-La.) and Trent Lott (R-Miss.) -- already has a close relationship with the Patton Boggs behemoth, with the two firms operating in a "strategic relationship" for the past two years. Thomas Hale Boggs Jr., the larger firm's chairman, has particularly close ties with Breaux, who left Patton Boggs to partner with Lott.
While Patton Boggs has long held the title as K Street's largest and most influential lobbying firm, Breaux-Lott is a smaller, family-dominated operation that reported just less than $11 million in lobbying in 2009. The firm was formed in January 2008, shortly after Lott left the Senate, and includes both of the founders' sons and a former Lott aide on its payroll.
Angela, We Have Heard on High. Former Fox News analyst Angela McGlowan, one of several Republicans vying to run against Rep. Travis Childers (D-Miss.), has installed her campaign team for her first bid for Congress.
McGlowan has hired Anne Marie Turner to run her campaign and Ginger Whitwell to run her finance team.
Sonny Scott of Rising Tide Media will be her media consultant.
You are going to hear a lot about the Mississippi Department of Employment Security and a Senate unemployment bill that the House killed today.
Know this: Everything would have been fine had Gov. Barbour accepted federal stimulus money to help the unemployed people of Mississippi during this national recession.
Gov. Barbour thought Democratic leaders in the House would fold, walk away and leave the unemployed to fend for themselves. But that’s not what’s happening. Democrats in the House are fighting for our unemployed.
Now that we’ve reached a boiling point, Gov. Barbour is in full spin mode. He’s released a statement saying the House leadership is to blame for what is going on. That couldn’t be further from the truth.
Below, I’ve included a press release from Rep. Rufus Straughter, chairman of the House Labor Committee. Rep. Straughter lays out the facts quite well. Please read it and pass it along.
Then, do me a favor. Call Gov. Barbour and Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant. Tell them you’re tired of their putting politics before people. Tell them to work with the Democratic leadership to forge a true compromise that provides much needed unemployment benefits to our people.
But those legal reforms are necessary. Otherwise, the natural conclusion is the world portrayed in “Kings of Tort,” the recent book by Alan Lange and former federal prosecutor Tom Dawson. The book describes how former tort baron and current federal prisoner Dickie Scruggs sued his way into a fortune and then began purchasing an entire state’s judiciary. Years before he was caught bribing two Mississippi judges, Scruggs had described as “magic jurisdictions” those places where verdict money was used to stack benches and juries.
“[M]agic jurisdiction,” Scruggs said in a brazen public speech, “[is] where the judiciary is elected with verdict money. It’s almost impossible to get a fair trial if you’re a defendant in some of these places. The plaintiff lawyer walks in there and writes the number on the blackboard, and the first juror meets the last one coming out the door with that amount of money.”
With the billions he won in various courts and settlements, Scruggs gained such influence in the judiciary that he proved popular self-governance cannot survive more people like him.
As Obama seeks out the last few votes he needs for the current health care bill, bear in mind that it will prevent a solution to this problem.
Earlier this week, Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann gave the thumbs up to the signatures from the Voter ID ballot initiative. Using the Majority In Mississippi PVI, our friend JackCUDA, came up with some interesting statistical data on where the bulk of the signatures came from.
Probably not too surprising, but 58.1 percent of the total certified signatures came from MIM Republican PVI counties (those that have given the GOP at least 57 percent of the vote in the last four statewide elections). Further, 77.5 percent of all signatures were collected from MIM PVI counties where the GOP average was 50 percent or better.
Chief Deputy Jimmy Edwards has worked in law enforcement for ten years. He started as a patrol officer and went on to work as a criminal investigator and a narcotics investigator. He has brought justice to many victims and safety to many neighborhoods as he has worked hundreds of felony cases including burglaries, armed robberies, murders and drug cases. Five years ago he was promoted to Chief Deputy and continues to be actively involved in investigations. He has received recognition from the State of Tennessee for locating a criminal in 2006 and from Tippah County Sheriff's Office for apprehending an escapee in 2007. He has training in crime scene and narcotic investigations and has been a speaker with the DARE program in local schools. The most impactful moment of Jimmy Edwards's law enforcement career was when he met a terrified three-year old boy, one of seven abused and malnourished children who had been held captive in an abusive home. The boy, who longed to be loved and cared for, was drawn to Jimmy the first day they met and proceeded to climb his way into Jimmy's lap and into his heart. During the year that followed, Jimmy and his wife began to visit the boy on weekends and became foster parents. In April, 2009, they adopted little Edwin. The two people responsible for the abuse, the Bareto's, are currently fugitives; Chief Deputy Edwards, along with other officers in his department, continues to search for the fugitives in partnership with US Marshals and America's Most Wanted to have justice served. Due to his efforts in this case, Jimmy was chosen to receive the TOP COPS Award in 2010; he is one of ten officers across the country who will receive this prestigious award issued by the National Association of Police Organizations for their work in law enforcement.
"This case is significant because it is the first time I am aware of that a jury has found that asbestos plaintiffs' lawyers committed fraud," said Mark Behrens, a Washington, D.C., attorney with Shook, Hardy & Bacon.
A spokesperson for Illinois Central said the company will continue aggressively pursue suspected fraud or litigation abuses.
The complaints allege the company would not have been obligated to pay the settlements had it known that Harried joined the mass action, titled Cosey, in 1995 and Turner in 1996.
Harried and Turner both filed suit against Illinois Central in 2001. The complaints say the attorneys knew of the previous lawsuits.
"Guy and Brock did not disclose Turner's prior asbestos claim in Cosey to Illinois Central at any time before Turner's settlement was consummated and the settlement check was accepted and deposited by Guy and Brock," the Turner complaint says.
“Today, House Democrats killed legislation to reauthorize the Mississippi Department of Employment Security, the agency which not only provides critical workforce services to thousands of Mississippians but also pays unemployment benefits to some of our neediest citizens. By refusing to bring up Senate Bill 2404 for a vote, House leaders have jeopardized the continued payments of unemployment benefits and put Mississippi at risk of being noncompliant with a multitude of federal guidelines, which will necessarily result in higher taxes. Some people may be in favor of raising taxes on businesses some $400 million if MDES is not reauthorized, but I’m not one of them. Clearly, in these economic times, the last thing Mississippi should do is increase taxes on the very people who create jobs: our employers.”
Senate Republicans on Wednesday were preparing to send a letter to Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) vowing to raise potentially crippling objections to any portion of a proposed health care reconciliation package that they believe violates the procedure’s narrow guidelines.
The letter, signed by all 41 Senate Republicans and spearheaded by Minority Whip Jon Kyl (Ariz.), is actually directed at House Democrats. To sow discord among House Democrats and derail passage of health care reform in that chamber, Senate Republicans are making it very clear that anything House Democrats agree to could die in the Senate.
“Forty-one of us have signed a letter. It’s in writing. None of us will vote to waive points of order,” Sen. Roger Wicker (Miss.) said Wednesday afternoon during a joint news conference with Senate Republican Policy Committee Chairman John Thune (S.D.) and GOP Sens. Jim DeMint (S.C.) and Tom Coburn (Okla.).
In response, Sen. Thad Cochran said this: “Congress cannot ignore its constitutional responsibilities to approve the allocation of federal funds. I will continue to work with Chairman Inouye to ensure that the bills reported by the Senate Appropriations Committee are prepared in a transparent manner, conform to federal laws and only approve spending that is in the national interest.”
President Obama took his increasingly populist health care overhaul pitch to the political battleground state of Missouri Wednesday, turning up the heat on private health insurers in a speech.
"What we're proposing is a common-sense approach to protecting you from insurance company abuses, and saving you money," said Obama, his shirtsleeves rolled up in the 75-degree heat. "That's the proposal and it's paid for. I believe Congress owes the American people a final up-or-down vote on health care reform."
He added, "The time for talk is over. It's time to vote."
Obama said many of the changes would be paid for by cutting waste in health care, which he said is estimated to have cost taxpayers almost $100 billion last year.
He likened the national debate about proposed changes to the current system to previous debates that swirled around the topic, including the passage of Medicare in 1965, and before.
"We've been debating it for 70 years," he said.
...
Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Mississippi, predicted such a turn of events would be politically catastrophic for the Democrats.
If Senate bill passes, it will be "the paramount issue that will see a lot of [Democrats] going home for good after the November elections," he said.
Childers Praises Senate Passage of Disaster Relief for Southern Farmers
Washington, DC – Today, the Senate passed important provisions introduced by Sen. Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas, as well as Sens. Thad Cochran and Roger Wicker of Mississippi, to provide timely disaster assistance to producers facing severe crop loss from last fall’s heavy rains and floods. Rep. Travis Childers (MS-01) has led the effort to pass disaster assistance in the House, joining with Rep. Marion Berry of Arkansas to introduce companion legislation, leading a crop disaster tour throughout Mississippi’s First District, and sending letters to USDA and Mississippi officials which resulted in disaster area designations for all 24 First District counties.
“This past December, I hosted a crop disaster tour throughout Mississippi’s First Congressional District, and invited USDA Deputy Undersecretary Michael Scuse to join me,” said Childers. “Together, we got a first-hand look at how devastating last fall’s floods were for our farmers and our communities. The Senate’s passage of these important provisions marks a critical victory for farmers in North Mississippi and throughout the South who have suffered tremendously from last season’s crop losses.
“Agriculture is the backbone of the South. The ability of our farmers to recover from staggering profit losses – as well as the ability of our local economies to stay afloat during today’s tough times – depends on this legislation. I have been a champion of disaster relief since the first call for help I received from our local farmers, and I will continue to fight for this legislation until it is on the President’s desk and signed into law.”
The disaster assistance provisions will now move to the House for consideration as part of legislation to extend unemployment benefits through the end of the year.
GOVERNOR BARBOUR ASKS CONGRESS TO STOP EPA REGULATION OF GREENHOUSE GASES
Jackson, Mississippi – Governor Haley Barbour today joined a bipartisan group of governors in asking Congress to stop a plan giving the Environmental Protection Agency the authority to regulate greenhouse gases, a move that would potentially harm the competitiveness of the nation’s economy.
In a letter to Congressional leaders, 20 governors expressed concern over an administrative agency implementing regulations that would have a broad, negative impact on industry and jobs without input from elected officials.
“EPA’s proposal will only result in energy costing more and Americans having fewer energy options,” Governor Barbour said. “We should be trying to create more affordable American energy and avoid actions that will increase the cost of electricity, gasoline, and other goods for families and businesses. The EPA’s proposal is bad for the U.S. economy and should be stopped.”
Bipartisan support exists to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, however heavy-handed regulation will increase the cost of electricity and gasoline prices and manufactured products at a time when state economies are struggling.
“We believe that EPA should offer input regarding complex energy and environmental policy initiatives, like reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but feel that these policies are best developed by elected representatives at the state and national level, not by a single federal agency,” the letter stated.
Mississippi Needs Stronger Law on Data Breaches
March 10, 2010
Contact: Jan Schaefer
Public Information Officer
Jackson, MS--Some recent high profile data breaches beg for stronger
laws in Mississippi, notes Attorney General Jim Hood today.
"Mississippi is one of the few states that does not have a security
breach notification law," said Attorney General Jim Hood. "We currently
have a bill pending, House Bill 583, that would require such."
House Bill 583 would require a business or state agency to notify
individuals if the individual's personal information (i.e social
security number, bank account number) has been improperly acquired.
Recently, Hancock Fabrics announced that some data in eight states may
have been compromised. Other high profile companies such as ChoicePoint,
T.J. Maxx, Marshalls and HomeGoods Stores have also self-reported data
breaches over recent years.
When the issue was first brought to the forefront by the ChoicePoint
breaches in February 2005, California was the only state that had a
security breach notification law. Since then, 45 states, the District of
Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands have enacted legislation
requiring notification of security breaches involving personal
information.
"Right now, Mississippi is completely dependant upon companies to
self-report," said Attorney General Hood. "Fortunately most do, but we
need this law in place to make reporting mandatory."
The Senate amended the original version of the bill, which is now back
in the House where the House will either concur or invite conference.
Mississippi residents are urged to contact their lawmakers immediately
and encourage them to vote for the original measure of House Bill 583
proposed by the Attorney General.
There was a $210,000 punitive verdict on top of the $210,000 actual damages verdict in the Natchez asbestos fraud trial discussed in the prior post.
That's a good verdict for Natchez. I got my clock cleaned there this time last year by Carl Hagwood and Michael Phillips. But they have a nice courtroom and Judge Bramlette is a great judge.
There was a plaintiff’s verdict yesterday in federal court in Natchez in favor of Ill. Central RR against McComb lawyers William Guy and Thomas Brock. The trial involved the claims in two cases. Here are the Amended Complaints in the Turner case and the Harried case. Ill. Central sued the lawyers and their clients, but the clients obtained a defense verdict at trial.
The Complaints alleged that the individual defendants were plaintiffs in the big Cosey Jefferson County asbestos case that was filed in 1995 in which there was a massive plaintiff verdict around ten years ago. It was one of the verdicts that led to tort reform in Mississippi.
The defendants sued Ill. Central in 2001 in Jefferson County asserting an FELA claim related to exposure to asbestos. The defendants failed to disclose to Ill. Central that they were plaintiffs in the Cosey case and settled their claims with Ill. Central for $90,000 and $120,000 respectively. The individual defendants testified that the lawyers (Guy and Brock) were aware of their prior asbestos claims in Cosey.
COCHRAN SALUTES 45th ANNIVERSARY OF VOLUNTEER PROGRAM
VISTA Engages Volunteers Across Mississippi & Nation to Combat Poverty
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) is the original cosponsor of Senate resolution that highlights the 45th anniversary of VISTA, the Volunteers In Service to America program created in 1965 to foster grassroots activities aimed at fighting poverty.
Cochran and U.S. Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) introduced S.Res.425 to commemorate the VISTA anniversary. VISTA, which was incorporated in 1993 into AmeriCorps, remains active in Mississippi with nearly 1,000 volunteers at 21 program sites today.
“VISTA has been hard at work in the fight against poverty for 45 years. Today, the VISTA program is stronger than ever, placing 6,500 full-time volunteers at 1,200 nonprofit organizations and public agencies every year,” Cochran said.
“I commend the program’s work in Mississippi, the sacrifices that are being made by so many young volunteers and the important impact they are making in our communities,” he said. “The grassroots community service aspect of the VISTA program is what has made it an effective component in our state’s ongoing struggle to overcome poverty.”
The Rockefeller-Cochran resolution has been referred to the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. The measure reviews the history and accomplishments of the program, including its ability to harness funding and in-kind services to address poverty by “fighting illiteracy, improving health services, reducing unemployment, increasing housing opportunities, reducing crime and recidivism, and expanding access to technology.”
The resolution resolves that the Senate “recognizes VISTA members for leveraging human, financial, and material resources to increase the ability of thousands of low-income areas across the country to address challenges and improve their communities; and encourages the continued commitment of VISTA members to creating and expanding programs designed to bring individuals and communities out of poverty.”
The U.S. House of Representatives created a new House ethics system in early 2008 - adding the quasi-independent Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) - to the existing House Ethics Committee as part of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's pledge to "drain the swamp" of Capitol Hill corruption.
But the results of that effort have been somewhat shy of that mark. Suffice it to say that the swamp remains intact.
One matter that finally drew the attention of the House Ethics Committee was travel by House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Bolton, and four other Democratic congressmen to attend conferences in the tropical island of St. Maarten in the Caribbean in 2007 and 2008.
The House Ethics Committee released a report Friday clearing Thompson and four other members of the Congressional Black Caucus who were accused of taking corporate-sponsored trips to the Caribbean in 2007 and 2008 of intentional wrongdoing. The ethics panel did, however, say the representatives would have to pay the costs.
Last week, millions of Americans began losing unemployment insurance benefits, access to COBRA health insurance, and even federal flood insurance due to a partisan block in the Senate on legislation to extend provisions initially implemented under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. In addition, doctors servicing both Medicare and TRICARE beneficiaries began facing reimbursement rate cuts that threaten seniors’ and veterans’ access to critical health care services.
I called on Congress to end partisan tactics and restore important benefits that North Mississippians depend on in today’s difficult economic climate. Thankfully, the Senate was ultimately able to pass this legislation, and it was signed into law later last week.
If we weren’t able to extend these benefits, more than 38,000 Mississippians would have lost state and federal unemployment relief over the next two months. I am pleased that the Senate was able to remedy the situation and will do everything I can to ensure that hard-working North Mississippi families quickly receive the benefits they so badly need.
Mississippians are also being threatened by some in Congress who plan to resurrect Social Security privatization, a policy that was soundly rejected by the American people during the previous administration. I have responded strongly in defense of Social Security and have called on all Members to reject a plan that would gamble the financial security of millions of hard-working Americans in our volatile stock market.
Americans want both parties to work together, but they don’t want to return to the failed policies of the past. Our seniors have worked hard throughout their lives and have made important contributions to our society. They deserve to know that their retirement is stable and secure without worrying whether their savings are being risked in the hands of Wall Street’s big bankers.
Everyday, I fight to hold Wall Street accountable for the irresponsible decision making that led our recent economic meltdown, and I will continue standing up to Wall Street to ensure that North Mississippi families and seniors receive the benefits they’ve earned and deserve.
As always, please continue to keep me informed about your opinions and concerns by phone at (202) 225-4306 or by visiting my website at http://www.childers.house.gov.
Sincerely,
Congressman Travis W. Childers
First District, Mississippi
The Hill's survey of House Democrats' positions on healthcare reform legislation.
UPDATED: 3/9/10 at 6:51 p.m.
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WHIP COUNT: House Dems' positions on the healthcare reform bill
By The Hill staff - 03/09/10 12:56 PM ET
The Hill's survey of House Democrats' positions on healthcare reform legislation.
UPDATED: 3/9/10 at 6:51 p.m.
Firm No
Gene Taylor (Miss.) * Has been a firm no all Congress
No comment
Travis Childers (Miss.) * In tossup reelection race
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is not accustomed to the word she’s been hearing far more frequently in recent days: “no.”
Over the past two weeks, Pelosi has faced a series of subtle but significant challenges to her authority — revolts from Democrats on the Ways and Means Committee, the Congressional Black Caucus, the Blue Dog Coalition and politically vulnerable first- and second-term members.
The dynamic stems from an “every man for himself” attitude developing in the Democratic Caucus rather than a loss of respect for Pelosi, according to a senior Democratic aide. But it’s making Pelosi’s life — and efforts to maintain Democratic unity — harder.
And it’s noteworthy, in part, because Pelosi’s signature strength has been a firmer hand than past Democratic leaders — an aptitude for wielding raw power in a consensus-minded caucus.
But her inability — or unwillingness — to dictate when Rep. Charles Rangel would resign his Ways and Means Committee chairmanship and who would replace him is one sign that she is commanding the caucus with less authority.
When health care reform passed the House in November, the vote was 220-215. Since that time, three Democrats who voted “yes” are no longer in the House (two resigned, one died). Also, the sole Republican voting “yes” has announced he will vote “no” when the Senate bill is brought to the House. One Democrat who voted "no" -- Rep. Eric Massa, N.Y. -- has announced he will resign.
Moreover, as many as a dozen Democrats who voted “yes” on the House version say they will vote “no” on the Senate version because it lacks language to prevent taxpayer subsidies for abortion coverage. Included in this group are Reps. Bart Stupak (Mich.), Jim Oberstar (Minn.), Marion Berry (Ark.) and Dan Lipinksi (Ill.).
If this math is correct, then Democrats have only about 205 votes to pass health care reform. With four empty House seats, they will need 216.
Democratic leaders will be working furiously to twist the arms of the 39 Democrats who voted “no” last time. Their names are listed below.
LAKE CORMORANT - Gail Giaramita, a Mid-South health care professional and a former Republican Party candidate for Mississippi state Representative, has filed qualifying papers to run as a Constitution Party candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives.
"I believe America is at a crossroads," Giaramita said. "The situation in our country has really deteriorated. I believe we were founded on Judeo-Christian principles. I believe we need to return to our Judeo-Christian foundation."
Giaramita formerly ran against incumbent State Rep. John Mayo as a Republican Party candidate.
However, she said she no longer embraces many views now held by the Republican Party establishment.
Giaramita, of Lake Cormorant, said the Constitution Party, which calls for limited government and an adherence to the founding document of the nation's laws and system of government, is a perfect fit for her candidacy.
She filed qualifying papers earlier this week as a Constitution Party candidate.
Giaramita said the nation is ill and the two mainstream parties don't have the cure for what ails it.
"As a nurse, I view America as a body with cancer," Giaramita said. "You can treat the symptoms but you have to address the cancer. We have turned away from our holy God."
"I am happy, quite frankly, to be a blessing to that party," Giaramita said.
Mississippi officials expressed both disappointment and disgust with a Pentagon process that prompted Northrop Grumman Corp. to drop out of the competition for an Air Force refueling tanker contract.
The Northrop proposal had set off a celebration along the Mississippi Gulf Coast and the Mobile, Ala., area, where some 2,000 jobs would be created to help build the aircraft.
But the large design of the Northrop tanker fell out of favor over the past two years as rival Boeing Co. kept up the pressure for its own smaller model. The Defense Department redid the contract's specifications and Northrop Grumman announced Monday that it won't compete, leaving Boeing the lone bidder.
Northrop CEO Wes Bush said the new guideline "clearly favors Boeing's smaller refueling tanker."
According to sources from the Coast, Rep. Gene Taylor accused Republican challenger Joe Tegerdine’s campaign of tampering with the Congressman’s website at the dedication of the new University of Southern Mississippi Trent Lott National Center for Excellence in Economic Development and Entrepreneurship on Friday.
They states that when Tegerdine approached Taylor to shake his hand, the Blue Dog Democrat and 20-year incumbent immediately dismissed any pleasantries to accuse Tegerdine’scampaign of tampering with his website. Taylor threatened it was a federal offense and that there is an investigation underway to determine the source of the cyber-attack.
Tegerdine openly denied the allegations to Taylor and seemed taken aback by the Congressman’s choice of venue and words. Sources said that Tegerdine informed Taylor that if it was discovered that anyone related to his campaign had participated in such actions they would be immediately asked to disassociate themselves from future campaign efforts.
In a statement made after the incident, Tegerdine is reported to have said, “I am really disappointed by Congressman Taylor’s behavior. I think we expect a higher level of professionalism and decorum from our elected officials. It confirms again to me why I am in this race, we deserve better.”
We've been trying to get members of Congress on the record on whether they support Rep. Ryan's plan to privatize Social Security and phase out Medicare. And while it's pretty clear a lot of them like Ryan's budget plan, it's awfully difficult getting many Republicans to say one way or another whether they support it. But you can't say that about Angela McGlowan, Republican candidate in Mississippi's 1st congressional district.
She's running to "fulfill President Bush's vision for Social Security."
State Sen. Alan Nunnelee of Tupelo knows his way around the political chicken yard.
Monday morning, he hosted a news conference about how he feels about the Obama health care plan.
He doesn’t like it. I would have been more surprised if the GOPer had said otherwise.
Least shocking was his statement that he “could never support Nancy Pelosi as speaker,” apparently because she “does not nor will she ever represent the views of North Mississippi.”
Let’s look at that paragraph a little closer and ask ourselves if the usually smart Nunnelee is trying to play a little joke:
1. Nunnelee is a Republican. Pelosi is a Democrat. I can’t say for sure, but it certainly would be a weird moment for a Republican to vote for a Democrat for this highly political office in the House.
Travis Childers has taken a good bit of political heat for his Pelosi vote. Childers has a rational answer: What do you think GOPer John Boehner would have done for me if I’d voted for him, as a Democrat.
“The discussion on healthcare is a perfect example of what is wrong with Washington DC.”
“Our Congressman has been unwilling to tell us where he stands on the Senate version of Obamacare. The citizens of this district deserve to know where their elected officials stand on issues and what they are doing to impact the outcome of legislation.”
“Obamacare increases government spending at a time when we have record deficits,
it raises taxes on families and small businesses,
it destroys jobs at a time of record unemployment,
it cuts Medicare funding for seniors,
it allows tax payer funding of abortions
and “it forces Mississippian’s to abandon health coverage they like in favor of government-approved coverage.”
During the past several days, speculation among pundits and others has intensified over who will be the likely Republican nominee to face President Obama in the 2012 presidential election. Newt Gingrich has been on the speaker’s circuit for months, and he has been appearing regularly on Fox News for over two years. Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney has of late become much more active in his media appearances and in his public pronouncements; and Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty is clearly running for president. Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee has his own TV show, while former Governor Sarah Palin has been a contributor on Fox News and recently appeared on Jay Leno’s late-night show, where she gave a stand-up monologue, prompting speculation that she would launch a TV show of her own.
A recent article in the WALL STREET JOURNAL speculated that conservative Texas Governor Rick Perry, fresh from an impressive primary victory in his race for re-election over Texas Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, will surely be called upon to consider a presidential run in 2012 if he wins re-election in November. And this weekend, Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah opined that Governor Mitch Daniels of Indiana and Haley Barbour, the term-limited Governor of Mississippi and Chairman of the Republican Governor’s Association, would make “great vice-presidential candidates”.
In truth, it is probable that Perry, Daniels, and Barbour have all contracted some form of “Potomac Fever”, and none of the three would care to evoke the memory of President Calvin (“silent Cal”) Coolidge in the 1920s who, when asked if he would be a candidate for a second term, said:
On February 25, Angela McGlowan spoke to Paul Gallo on his morning radio program. Among other issues, McGlowan answered questions about her controversial gun control comments made on her last program appearance. She also spoke briefly of her opponents, declaring that she would support Henry Ross should he win the June 1st primary. McGlowan denounced fellow Republican Alan Nunnelee; however, stating that she would not support him should he win the primary.
To date, Angela McGlowan continues to impress District 1 voters while alarming others with her comments and ideology. She will appear on the District 1 congressional Republican primary ballot along with Ross and Nunnelee; the winner will face incumbant, Travis Childers, in the November general election.
While Washington Republicans are running from plans to privatize Social Security, one GOP House candidate in the south loves the idea and goes a step further - calling on her primary rival to unite behind George W. Bush.
We've been tracking where House Republicans stand on Rep. Paul Ryan's budget "roadmap" and noticed at Republican candidate Angela McGlowan has been talking about it in Mississippi's 1st Congressional district. Last week TPMDC wrote about that snaring the GOP's preferred candidate, state Sen. Alan Nunnelee on camera as he dodged a question about where he stands on the Ryan plan.
McGlowan, a former Fox News commentator, is taking it a step farther. She's challenging Nunnelee to join her in support of privatization. In a release Nunnelee said she was fully embracing Bush's 2005-era plan to "save Social Security."
"As Mississippi's next member of Congress, I pledge to pick up the mantle of President George W. Bush's battle to save Social Security - a program upon which so many of our elderly neighbors in Mississippi depend," she said in a statement.
Petitioners gathered more than enough signatures to put a voter ID initiative on Mississippi's November 2011 ballot that will include candidates for governor and other offices, the state's top elections official said Monday.
Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann said his office had determined that 131,678 signatures of registered voters were collected. That's significantly more than the minimum 89,285 needed.
Republican organizers, led by Sen. Joey Fillingane of Petal, spent about a year collecting signatures and submitted them last month. The secretary of state's office spent weeks double-checking the numbers.
Job creation and education in Mississippi are “inextricably linked,” Clarksdale attorney and businessman Bill Luckett recently told the Voters League of Itta Bena.
Luckett is seeking the Democratic nomination for governor in 2011. Term limits prevent Republican Gov. Haley Barbour from seeking a third term.
Mississippi Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant and businessman Dave Dennis, a former member of the Federal Reserve Board in New Orleans, have said they’ll seek the Republican nomination for governor. No other prominent Democrats have publicly said they’ll run.
“In Mississippi, we can do anything we set our minds to, and we should aim higher,” Luckett said Thursday.
“Production of renewable fuels, improvement of roads and bridges, enhanced promotion of tourism, better-funded law enforcement, increased and innovative manufacturing efforts, and standing firmly behind our farmers means that we can — and we will — move forward.”
Luckett praised the Voters League for its upcoming voter registration rally, scheduled for March 13.
In an earlier election notebook, I referenced an article where Alan Nunnelee said he would not directly respond to Angela McGlowan, saying he needs to exert his energy on the “giant roaming in the valley” rather than “family fights.”
Nunnelee expanded upon that statement in his campaign blog, when he added this:
The lesson I learned from this (1 Samuel 17:28) is that we must remain focused on the “Giant in the Valley”. If we choose not to do so, we can expend all of our energy fighting within our own family. While we are engaging in family fights, the Giant continues to roam. In 2010, the giant we face is the liberal agenda unleashed on our country by Nancy Pelosi. Our own Congressman has empowered her to advance this agenda, and she must be stopped. I’m confident in my conservative credentials and therefore I feel it is best to ignore the taunts of others within our own family and focus on our mission.
The long debate over voter ID could be placed in the hands of those casting the ballots.
Mississippians are expected to learn Monday whether a Republican-led petition gathered enough signatures to place a voter identification measure on the 2011 general election ballot. That would require at least 100,000 certified John Hancocks.
Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann is expected to announce whether the petition met its goal in his office in the state capitol Monday afternoon.
Governor Haley Barbour was among those who signed the petition. Republicans pushed hard over the past six months to gather signatures, kicking off a nine-city statewide tour in August.
According to supporters, the Magnolia state needs voter ID to stop election fraud.
Mississippi made Page 1 in The New York Times the other day, and it wasn't about some racial episode or the state's obesity. No, it complimented the state on its plan to use $43 million federal stimulus money intended for welfare to subsidize new jobs for six months with expectancy those jobs will be permanent.
Called STEPS, the plan seeks to create 3,500 jobs under the stimulus money that expires next March. A bill in Congress to extend it another year reportedly has backing by the state's congressional delegation. Because of the drumbeat by Republicans and the Tea Party movement against President Obama's stimulus program, STEPS was unknown to most Mississippians until attention was recently focused on it.
The idea was hatched in September by Stan McMorris of the state Department of Employment Security. While Gov. Haley Barbour publicly criticizes Obama's stimulus plan, STEPS won his approval. The feds were slow to clear reallocation of the welfare funds, but it came at a good time: Mississippi had a 10.6 percent unemployment rate in December.
Barbara Hicks, director of the WIN jobs centers at the state Employment service, said STEPS will provide a variety of full-time jobs. The plan subsidizes jobs 100 percent the first two months, 75 percent the third month, dropping to 25 percent the sixth month. Businesses must commit to keep the jobs permanent. The hire must not replace anyone previously employed (preference is given to businesses with no more than 25 workers, but some larger companies are eligible.)
BRATTLEBORO -- Responding to an allegation raised by Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood, Entergy fired back, accusing him of conducting "a fishing expedition" into activities he has no business investigating.
On Feb. 26, Hood sent a letter to Vermont Attorney General William Sorrell, in which he claimed Entergy had "wrongfully transferred" $1.3 billion from its regulated utilities to its "troubled nuclear program."
"He has a history of making allegations against Entergy," said Michael Burns, senior communications specialist. "The attorney general frequently issues press releases with facts that are taken out of context, on which he bases scurrilous allegations against us."
In December 2008, Hood filed a lawsuit against Entergy accusing the company of fraud, unjust enrichment, anti-trust violations and other illegal conduct.
In the suit, Hood alleged that Entergy Mississippi is buying gas at an inflated cost from the other Entergy companies and driving prices up for Mississippi consumers.
That lawsuit is pending.
School officials say furloughing teachers could help districts save money without cutting jobs.
But for teachers in a state that ranks near the bottom in pay, the proposal is disconcerting.
Richland teacher Bonnie Crapps called it a "slippery slope."
"Once you start furloughing, there's no telling where it will go," Crapps said. "This is people's livelihood. Some of these teachers have been teaching a long time.
"This is our career. Whether people believe it or not, a lot of money is tied up in our education."
The state Senate on Wednesday passed a bill that would allow schools to furlough teachers up to five days over three years, including this fiscal year.
The state has tripled spending on prisons in the last 15 years while doubling the amount spent on school children, according to a document circulated at the Capitol.
The figures were highlighted in the budget battle that concluded last week with the passing of an $82 million patch-up plan for fiscal 2010.
The weeks-long showdown that preceded the vote was cast as a fight between quality education and public safety.
And it could very well foreshadow what's ahead for lawmakers as they develop a 2011 fiscal budget on dwindling resources.
"When education's not the priority in Mississippi, we lose," said Rep. George Flaggs, D-Vicksburg.
Currently, lawmakers are considering legislation to furlough teachers and shorten the school year.
CLINTON, MS (WLBT) - A Clinton man announces his candidacy to run against Bennie Thompson in the Second Congressional District.
George Bailey is a Republican who says he is strong about his faith. Bailey is a former veteran who also worked in law enforcement. If elected, he says he wants to reform the corrections system, work with academic institutions and civil organizations.
Bennie Thompson, a Democrat, has served eight years in Congress.
The simplest idea might be the right one
by Alan Lange
As someone who admittedly likes to stir the pot, I have watched with some amusement at the "Admiral Ackbar" movement by students at Ole Miss to replace Colonel Reb. It's drawn a lot of ink partially because of its so far fetched. I have an idea how to fix this mess, but let's look at how we got here.
The administration decided that Colonel Reb was evocative of imagery that didn't serve the highest and best interests of the University of Mississippi. They made the call to do away with Colonel Reb, which is certainly within their province. The problem was that a lot of diehard Ole Miss fans weren't really on board with the decision and felt it was "crammed down" upon them. The administration then embarked on a course to let the students choose the replacement for a mascot many weren't that disenchanted with in the first place. Then, under the category of the worst thing you can give someone is exactly what they ask for, a group of students chose an obscure Star Wars character that looks like a cross between a lizard and a catfish to replace Colonel Reb. It seems to be a stare down of sorts, but it has netted Ole Miss even worse press than probably leaving the original decision alone. In fact, this week, the University has hired a Jackson-based marketing firm to navigate the strong currents of sentiment to help the students make this replacement.
Though I am sure LucasFilm might be thrilled at the thoughts of the royalties generated off of the cartoon character as the mascot of a D1 program, it's really just an artful way for students to tell the administration to go stick it in their eye. Ackbar's famous line "It's a trap!" has been championed by students in thoughtful protest and it is even the basis for the site of the non-Rebel rebellion at http://www.notatrap.org. Now that that's been done, where do we go from here?
So, here's my idea.
What about having no mascot at all? Why not just be Ole Miss?
Bear with me here.
I know we have heard of post-partisan in the political context (though admittedly, that ain't working out how most people "hoped"). Why not be post-mascot? Look at the schools in the SEC. Most mascots were chosen decades if not over a century ago. We have all sorts in the SEC. From barnyard animals (Hogs and Gamecocks) to an old warrior (Commodore) to dogs of various sorts (Bulldogs and hounds for the Volunteers) to various cats of prey (Tigers and Wildcats) and a swamp critter (Gators). I mean, I think it's been a long time since an SEC team had to choose a new one. I could make an argument that just about every SEC mascot carries some brand-related baggage. Why does Ole Miss need a mascot in the first place? Losing Colonel Reb hasn't been bad luck or anything. Since Colonel Reb has left the sidelines, Ole Miss has won two cotton bowls and scored a presidential debate. I actually think that it'd be a pretty cool thing for Ole Miss to be able to be the only major college program in the country that doesn't have a mascot.
Between chants of "We are . . . Ole Miss" and "Hotty Toddy" at various sporting events, I think Ole Miss could come to the realization that "Ole Miss" is the brand to promote and build brand equity around and not some cartoon caricature. And the good thing about "Ole Miss" is that it can connote the really good things about the University. People can take what they want from it. For it seems that all Ole Miss fans, regardless of race or background, can generally agree on one thing . . . they like "Ole Miss".
Mississippi state Sen. Jack Gordon, a longtime lawmaker who once chaired the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, was hospitalized in critical condition Sunday with an undisclosed ailment, officials said.
Patrice Guilfoyle, a spokeswoman for the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, said the only information she could release was Gordon's condition, which she said was critical on Sunday.
State Sen. Doug Davis, Gordon's friend and colleague at the Mississippi Capitol, told The Associated Press that Gordon was taken early Sunday to the UMC.
Davis, who was at the hospital with Gordon's family, said doctors were running tests to determine what's wrong with the 66-year-old Democrat from Okolona.
The Gin has been empty for close to 10 years but was purchased recently. Workers began tearing down the patio late last week. That kept the flames from reaching Frank and Marlee’s, which was evacuated by firefighters.
Witnesses say the fire flared up quickly, engulfing the abandoned building within minutes. Firefighters fought to keep the fire from spreading to other nearby businesses.
The fire is under investigation. No one was hurt.
See Monday’s EAGLE for more information. (March 6, 2010)
See more pictures here
Update: Farm Bureau sent a second cease and desist letter, if it is Farm Bureau, of course. Apparently Mr. Waide himself is behind this one: "The previous letter you received and this letter are authentic, authorized by Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation President." In other words, Mr. Waide himself is probably behind this one. It ended: "If you refuse to remove the FARM BUREAU® mark from the blog, you will be subject to legal action under state and federal law." My response was the same as written below and included state law. Copy of letter
Well, what do you know, I got someone's attention. Someone purporting to be Mississippi Farm Bureau sent me a Cease and Desist Letter last night. I say purporting because it was not signed nor was any name such as an attorney listed. The letter states:
"It has come to our attention that you are using the FARM BUREAU® logo on your
website (http://kingfish1935.blogspot.com/) without our express written permission.
Please note that we allow use of our logo only if we have granted express written
permission; see http://msfbins.com/disclaimer.asp. Such unauthorized use constitutes
trademark infringement and unfair competition under both federal and state laws. It
misleads consumers into believing that some association exists between you and Farm
Bureau; and it weakens the ability of the FARM BUREAU® mark and name to identify a
single source, namely, Farm Bureau." Letter
Oh really? It does? Lets look at some law first. Federal law states:
"the fair use of a copyrighted work, including such use by reproduction in copies or phonorecords or by any other means specified by that section, for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship, or research, is not an infringement of copyright." 17 U.S.C. 107 link
David Waide, President
Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation
Mississippi Farm Bureau has taken quite a bit of criticism for opposing legislation which would make cruelty to dogs and cats a first offense felony. Farm Bureau is adamantly opposed to the cruelty, abuse, or mistreatment of any animals.
We are working diligently toward a solution to this problem. We did offer a compromise bill in both the House and Senate and supported that bill, but the bill did not make it through the legislative process. We did have the support of several other influential animal welfare groups. We will continue to work toward a solution to this problem as we move through the next session of the Legislature.
Animal activist spokespeople declare that the legislation that Farm Bureau was concerned about this year dealt only with cruelty to dogs and cats. Farm Bureau’s concern is that this type legislation will be used as a vehicle to open avenues for activists to extend their reach and push other, more extreme agendas.
The risk of their causing the discontinuation of practices that have proven to be humane and efficient methods for raising livestock on our farms is quite real. It has happened in at least four states across the country where this type legislation has already been enacted. In those states, livestock farmers are being driven out of business because of misconceptions by the public due to allegations levied by animal activist groups.
It is critical to our membership that our nation’s consumers continue to have an affordable, abundant supply of safe, domestically-produced food. Not all of us are agricultural producers, but everyone consumes agricultural products.
Outrage over a 20-foot, anatomically correct stallion outside a strip club in rural northern Mississippi could lead to a new law allowing counties to regulate such establishments.
The Senate on Friday sent Gov. Haley Barbour a bill that would give Mississippi's 82 counties the option to write rules and regulations for strip clubs that try to open in rural, unincorporated areas.
The bill was filed in response to a strip club called The Pony that opened about three years ago in Lowndes County, bringing with it the shiny silver stallion that locals say is wearing a pink bikini.
The Pony sits just off U.S. 45 outside West Point -- a highway frequently used by sports fans traveling from Tupelo down to Mississippi State University games in Starkville.
Rep. Gary Chism, R-Columbus, said he'd receive numerous complaints from residents about The Pony's horse.
"Since I've filed the bill, I've gotten a lot of telephone calls and encouragement from pastors and others. But really what started it all was that bikini on that stallion," Chism said.
You could call it the revenge of the ugly white guys. After electing a handsome sleek, biracial - and untested - man as President last time, Americans may well be ready for something entirely different in 2012.
Remember that you heard it here first: make way for the short, pudgy, balding white fellow who's been there and got the scars - and the results - to prove it.
...
Haley Barbour has more hair than Daniels but isn't much taller and if elected would be the most portly president since William Howard Taft, who occupied the White House from 1909 to 1913.
The Mississippi governor has a certain rumpled panache and Southern charm. I first bumped into him in a casino in his home state - where he later came to personify executive competence as he dealt masterfully with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina while neighbouring Louisiana lurched towards catastrophe.
Barbour - who has a political brain second to none - has always been dismissed as a possible presidential contender. That's partly because he has the perfect face for radio but also because he was a big-time lobbyist in Washington whose firm represented the tobacco industry.
But while Obama sanctimoniously instituted grand new rules to ban lobbyists from his administration and then immediately granted himself exceptions, at least with Barbour is up front about things. So could he really have a tilt at the White House? The door is ajar. "If you see me losing 40 pounds that means I'm either running or have cancer," he quipped a fortnight ago..
Senator Alan Nunnelee to deliver Policy Statement on Healthcare
Senator Alan Nunnelee will deliver a policy statement on healthcare at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, March 8, 2010 at Nunnelee for Congress Campaign Headquarters located at 438 East Main Street above Papa V’s Convenience Store. Please use the steps at the back of the building to enter the office.
It is time to vault the divide between the administration and the Ole Miss community. That’s why we have decided to connect with you via this blog. We are calling it “Ole Miss Point of View,” and it represents the point of view held by the administration of The University of Mississippi. That said, however, it is not an effort to persuade or convince; neither will it argue or criticize. In fact, it is the opposite: We hope it will break down communication barriers, foster a sense of community among the stakeholders of our university and create a more open dialogue about a range of topics.
We begin with the subject of the mascot and will follow up with our plan to phase out the use of Colonel Reb on licensed merchandise.
The Mascot
Last fall, a group of student leaders expressed an interest in leading an effort to propose a new on-field mascot that represents the spirit and energy of today’s Ole Miss Rebels. A vote was undertaken by the student body on a referendum by the Associated Student Body (ASB) to determine interest in students leading an effort to propose a new mascot. Students voted with a resounding YES! The vote was 2,510 in favor with 856 opposed. We are fully supporting this student-led process with the guidance of creative professionals and administrators. We will use private funds to pay the Ramey Agency, a marketing and advertising agency in Jackson, Miss. to advise student leaders and university administrators on how best to move forward. A team of people—led by our students—-will listen to a wide range of opinions from our university community. We all hope to have a new on-field mascot for the start of our 2010-11 football season.
Let us hear your comments…
Coming soon: The Colonel Reb Merchandise Phaseout Plan.
For previous 2009 Legislative Reports and to find out more about Senator Kelvin Butler go to http://www.kelvinbutler.com/
Senator Kelvin Butler is Chairman of the Local & Private committee. He also serves on the Business & Financial Institutions; Finance; Judiciary, Division A; Municipalities; State Library; Highways & Transportation and Tourism committee.
This week we approved changes to Senate Bill 2495 that restored $82 million to state agencies for the current fiscal year, including $37 million to K-12 education and $2 million that ensures National Board Certified teachers receive their $6,000 annual stipend.
The bill also provides $16 million to the Department of Corrections to prevent mass layoffs, $1.49 million to district attorneys so they can continue to prosecute cases and $4 million to the Department of Mental Health. Another $4 million will be given to community and junior colleges.
We also approved House Bill 1170 that will allow school districts at their own discretion, to furlough personnel across the board for up to five non-instructional days. It gives districts the choice of reducing from 180 to 175, the number of school days, as a budgetary option in light of continually declining state revenues, which have caused the Governor to trim $458.5 million from the budget.
Passage of House Bill 607 will extend to six years the time in which timber theft can be prosecuted because distant property owners sometimes don’t discover they have been victimized until years later.
House Bill 1157 seeks an additional $100 fee charged to convicted sex offenders to help offset the cost of maintaining a DNA database. It will establish an additional $300 fee to be charged to persons convicted of felonies or enrolled in pretrial intervention programs in which the state Crime Lab provided laboratory analysis or forensic services.
Other bills passed included:
* House Bill 1456 will require any pathologist performing autopsies to be certified by the American Board of Pathology and deemed qualified by the Department of Public Safety.
* House Bill 1070 will allow the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks to issue a special hunting permit to children under the age of 18, who are suffering life threatening illnesses.
* House Bill 1047 will create a task force to seek solutions to teacher shortages.
* House Bill 113 seeks to have governmental agencies charge only actual costs for reproduction of public records requested by citizens. It also seeks to reduce from 14 working days to seven, the waiting period for such information.
* House Bill 1057 would create a Transit Task Force to study the statewide transportation system and infrastructure. The committee will look at current and future needs.
* House Bill 170 will give county Boards of Supervisors the authority to regulate strip clubs.
Hatch pointed principally to Romney's record overseeing the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics in 2004, where he turned around the struggling winter games and managed what were widely seen as a successful Olympics.
"That's what he'd do if he was president," Hatch said. "There are some other good people, too."
Hatch also floated some names of candidates he said would make great running mates for the Republican nominee in 2012: Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour (R) and Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels (R).
"And somebody said, 'Well, who should be vice president?'" he said. "And one of the best would be Haley Barbour, Mitch Daniels in Indiana -- they're very solid guys doing great jobs in their very difficult states."
In order to get a reconciliation bill with the fixes they demand to the Senate floor, Stupak and his pro-life colleagues must first vote to pass the original Senate health care bill -- including the abortion language they oppose. Only after this bill is passed in the House can the chamber then take up a reconciliation bill and send it to the Senate for its approval.
That’s where the “Byrd rule” comes in. Designed to protect the rights of the minority, the Byrd rule allows any Senator to raise a point of order demanding that “extraneous” (non-budgetary) provisions be removed. According to former Senate parliamentarian Bob Dove, “If a ‘Byrd Rule’ point of order against a provision is sustained, the provision is stricken from the bill….Appealing the rule of the chair requires 3/5 vote of duly elected and sworn Senators (60 votes).” (This process is known colloquially in the Senate as a “Byrd bath” and the dropped provisions are known as “Byrd droppings.”)
Republicans intend to raise points of order against the reconciliation package. They believe it is virtually certain that the Senate parliamentarian would find any abortion deal Pelosi makes with pro-life House Democrats to be “extraneous” (there is no reasonable way to argue the provision is primarily budgetary). So any abortion deal with Stupak and his allies would be struck from the bill.
That might only be the beginning of the bill’s unraveling. To pass health care, Pelosi will have to cut all sorts of deals in a reconciliation bill to bring along conservative “blue dog” Democrats. Using the Byrd rule, Republicans will proceed to pick apart every element of these deals Pelosi makes, piece by piece. It is unclear which provisions would survive scrutiny under the Byrd rule. But each time a point of order is sustained, it requires 60 votes to overturn that ruling -- which means Senate Republicans have the votes necessary block key elements of the reconciliation package.
If this happens, the amended reconciliation bill would go back to the House , where Stupak and others would then likely oppose it. Reconciliation would be dead.
For Immediate Release: March 5, 2010
MCGLOWAN PLEDGES SUPPORT FOR GEORGE W. BUSH’S PLAN TO SAVE SOCIAL SECURITY
Challenges Nunnelee to Find His Voice and Vow to Do the Same on Behalf of Hard Working Mississippians
Oxford, MS - Former Fox News political analyst and TEA Party speaker Angela McGlowan, the pro-life, pro-gun, anti-tax, anti-wasteful government spending conservative Republican running to represent Mississippians in the 1st congressional district, today pledged her support for President George W. Bush’s plan to save social security and challenged her opponent, Alan Nunnelee to find his voice and do the same.
Last month, 16-year incumbent State Senator Alan Nunnelee was caught on tape refusing to directly answer a question posed by a Mississippian as to whether, or not, he supported a Republican House Budget Committee proposal that would give individuals a choice to stay in the current Social Security system or invest a portion of their payroll taxes in government managed funds.
“As Mississippi’s next member of Congress, I pledge to pick up the mantle of President George W. Bush's battle to save Social Security - a program upon which so many of our elderly neighbors in Mississippi depend,” McGlowan stated. “I share President Bush's moral commitment to saving Social Security and, as such, refuse to stand silent while the good people of Mississippi contribute their hard earned money into a system that will soon be bankrupt.
“To this end, I would encourage Senator Nunnelee to join me and vow his unequivocal support of the individual retirement accounts that were an integral part of the President’s vision and would protect and preserve Social Security for generations of hard working Mississippians to come.
"Together, Senator Nunnelee and I can send a powerful message to liberal House Speaker Nancy Pelosi: one of us is coming to Congress to fulfill President Bush's vision for Social Security, so get ready to deal with it Nancy."
# # #
Paid for by McGlowan for Congress
Mississippi students could be sitting in the classroom five fewer days for 2011-12 school years if the Mississippi House of Representatives agrees to the state senate's proposal.
"It's not perfect. To be honest, I hate that I even have to be talking about something like this with you," said Senator Videt Carmichael, Chairman of the Senate Education Committee.
Teachers could also see furloughs to save the state and individual school districts money.
House education chairman Cecil Brown said the House will strongly consider the furloughs but will probably bypass cutting days.
"I think it's unfortunate that something like this has to happen. It's inevitable, but I think it's better to be furloughed than lose your job," said Rep. Brown.
A Democratic congressman from Mississippi introduced bipartisan legislation Thursday that would provide for the withdrawal of the United States from the North American Free Trade Agreement, or NAFTA.
Rep. Gene Taylor, who also serves on the House Armed Services Committee, called the 29 percent loss of jobs in US manufacturing since 1993 a matter of national defense and pointed to a number of companies who have moved their production to Mexico as cause for concern.
The agreement was signed by the governments of the United States, Canada and Mexico and implemented in 1994, and was designed to promote free trade between the three North American countries.
Twenty-six members of Congress have already signed onto the plan to abandon NAFTA, including Michigan Democratic Rep. Bart Stupak.
"The trade deficit with Mexico and Canada has quadrupled since NAFTA went into effect," he said.
Indeed, lawmakers came armed with numbers to support their argument -- figures that showed the U.S. enjoyed a $1.7 billion dollar trade surplus with Mexico in 1993, before NAFTA, compared to a $47.5 billion dollar trade deficit with Mexico in 2009.
President Obama criticized NAFTA during the 2008 presidential election, insisting, "trade policies are not sustainable if they favor the few, rather than the many."
The Mississippi Supreme Court has permanently removed former Hinds County Circuit Judge Bobby DeLaughter, ensuring he can never again seek judicial office in Mississippi.
In July, DeLaughter pleaded guilty in federal court to obstruction of justice for lying to an FBI agent investigating disbarred attorney Dickie Scruggs. He then resigned his judgeship.
But before he pleaded guilty, DeLaughter was placed on interim suspension by the Commission on Judicial Performance because of two complaints filed against him.
Thursday's 7-2 ruling is the result of the commission's attempt to remove the suspension following DeLaughter's plea. It had agreed to do so in exchange for DeLaughter's guilty plea.
First Lady Michelle Obama's comment Wednesday about Gov. Haley Barbour getting healthier has some people sounding off.
Mississippi, the fattest state in the nation, has been trying to shed the unhealthy image by encouraging an active lifestyle -- a result of the Let's Go Walking Mississippi campaign initiated by the Barbour administration.
While some praise the governor for implementing healthy programs such as this one, others said the governor should set a better example.
"If I want to talk to you about going to work out, then I should be working out, too," said Mississippi resident Mary Moorehead. "So then, governor, you should go now and start to drop your weight and set an example and you get on the trails, then the kids will follow."
NATIONAL FRAGILE X FOUNDATION ADVOCACY DAY
As many of you may know, my wife, Sidney, and I are blessed with a precious 20-year-old son, Livingston. Early in his life, we noticed that Livingston was not reaching developmental milestones as quickly as the other children his age. After almost two years of occupational therapy, speech therapy and many diagnostic tests, we were finally able to get a correct diagnosis of Fragile X Syndrome.
On Wednesday, over 150 Fragile X advocates, many of them parents of Fragile X children, visited Capitol Hill educating their Members of Congress on the potential for effective treatments, raising awareness for this disorder and sharing their personal stories. Below, you will find a video of a floor speech I delivered on the National Fragile X Foundation Advocacy Day.
As the only member of Congress who has a child with Fragile X Syndrome, I understand the challenges that many families face who experience this condition. I am committed to improving the health of children and adults across the country living with this disorder.
HEALTH CARE SUMMIT
President Obama recently hosted a bicameral bipartisan Health Care Summit. I welcome bipartisan discussions to start over on health care legislation. However, I will not support the President's plan that is more of the same tax increases and unfunded mandates. The President's plan would cost Mississippi $200 million per year to expand Medicaid as our state struggles to make ends meet. If the President is serious about bipartisanship, he will scrap his trillion dollar government takeover of health care for reforms that lower the costs of health insurance. Bipartisanship means drafting reforms together - not simply voting for the President's proposals.
Republicans continue to offer constructive solutions to making quality health care coverage available, affordable and accessible for every American, regardless of pre-existing health conditions. I believe that if you change your job, you and your family should be able to keep your health insurance.
As I have said before, House Republicans want to give employers more variety in making health care affordable and available to their employees and their families. Allowing smaller firms to join hands and purchase high-quality health coverage at a lower cost, just as big corporations do, is the cornerstone of our cost reducing proposal.
CONGRESSIONAL ARTS COMPETITION
Each spring, a nation-wide high school art competition is sponsored by the Members of the U.S. House of Representatives. The Artistic Discovery Contest is an opportunity to recognize and encourage the artistic talent across the nation, as well as in the Third Congressional District. The artwork of the over-all winner of our district competition will be displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol. The informative video below is designed to educate students living in Mississippi's Third Congressional District about how to get involved.
All artwork must be original in concept, design and execution. For additional information, such as dimensions and weight requirements, please visit my website.
Thanks again for your support. I am honored to represent you in Congress. If I can ever be of assistance, please do not hesitate to visit my website listed below or contact one of my offices.
Stupak was at a press conference to call for the repeal of the North American Free Trade Agreement, but the crowd of reporters that gathered wanted to ask about abortion.
The Michigan moderate initially said he wouldn’t answer questions about health care, but then he fielded several. He was standing with Reps. Gene Taylor (D-Miss.) and Walter Jones (R-N.C.). Taylor said that they were okay with reporter questions on health care because they both voted for Stupak’s amendment and against the final bill.
“Why do you think we invited this rock star? Do you think you’d come to see us?” Taylor said.
“Some people refer to (me) as Rockette,” Stupak said, to laughter.
Stupak told the crowd that he doesn’t care about process, only the outcome, in making sure no provisions in the final legislation can be construed to allow abortion.
“It doesn’t have to be the ‘Stupak amendment,’” he said. “Heck, we can make it the (Gene) ‘Taylor amendment.’ I don’t care. I have no pride of authorship.”
Taylor moved toward the microphone.
“No, because I’m not going to vote for the bill,” the Democrat said.
In something you don’t see everyday, Representatives Gregg Harper and Bennie Thompson both opposed a House bill, while Representative Gene Taylor and Travis Childers both supported it. The bill was the $15 billion jobs bill that recently cleared the Senate (that Wicker and Cochran supported). The final House vote was a rather close 217-201.
Harper joined 165 Republicans in opposing the bill mainly for fiscal reasons. But Thompson joined several other members of the Black Caucus who opposed the bill arguing that it does not spend enough and therefore will not make a difference.
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - Mississippi Ethics Commission director Tom Hood says an Open Meetings bill has been watered down by a House committee.
Judiciary A Committee Chairman Ed Blackmon says his committee made the bill stronger.
The bill originally would've required elected officials use their own money to pay fines for illegally closing meetings. Under current law, fines are paid by tax dollars - not by the individual violators.
The committee voted to increase the fines, but taxpayers would still pick up the tab.
The committee also removed a provision that said any decision made in an illegally closed meeting could be nullified by a chancery judge or the Ethics Commission.
NEW ORLEANS — The Obama administration on Thursday laid out a plan to deal with the catastrophic dangers of rising sea levels, hurricanes and erosion on the Gulf Coast, and backed efforts to invest in restoring barriers islands and wetlands in Mississippi and Louisiana.
Experts hailed the policy document as the strongest sign of support for coastal restoration on the Gulf Coast ever endorsed by a White House.
“It’s a terrifically important document if it’s followed through on,” said Mark Davis, the director of the Institute on Water Resources Law and Policy at Tulane University in New Orleans.
The document, called a “roadmap” for the coast, said the nation’s energy supply, crucial ports and waterways, vital habitat for fish and wildlife and the Gulf Coast’s “rich cultural legacy” were at stake.
“Unless we stem the rapid rate of ecosystem loss in the region, the ecosystems and the services they provide will collapse,” the document said.
At risk, the paper said, was “not only the economies of Louisiana and Mississippi, but also the economy of the nation as a whole.”
Dan Turner, a spokesman for Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, praised the Obama administration and said Mississippi’s barrier islands were “flattened with recent storms” and that the state’s coast will be vulnerable “until they are restored.”
U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., praised the Obama plan as carrying out an “integrated, comprehensive approach that accelerates our work in coastal Louisiana and builds a true partnership with the state.”
King Milling, the head of the Whitney National Bank in New Orleans and chairman of the coastal advocacy group America’s Wetland Foundation, said the White House was “now acting upon what many have long felt were unheard cries in the wilderness.”
JACKSON, Miss. - Mississippi's blues artists have won worldwide fame for their soulful music born out of the hardships of the state's old plantation system, but many of them end up broke and hungry.
The Mississippi Legislature has passed a bill lawmakers hope will lead to financial help for the performers who established the state's legacy as the "birthplace of the blues."
The bill allows the Mississippi Blues Commission to raise private funding for struggling musicians. It amends the law that created the commission, which is charged with promoting the state's blues heritage. The bill will allow the commission to "raise and expend grant funds to provide assistance to any blues musician in need."
Following the events of the past week which started with comments by Angela McGlowan saying she would not support Alan Nunnelee should he be the GOP nominee, and were then followed by an e-mail from the Prentiss County GOP chairman where he questioned McGlowan’s party loyalty amid her Nunnelee attacks, Henry Ross has now issued astatement on where he stands- and what he would do should he not be the GOP nominee:
After the primary, win or lose, I will work to ensure our party is unified to retake our rightful seat in Congress. I trust that my opponents will do the same. Ensuring our seat is retaken by a conservative is more important than any campaign alone. We need to elect conservative fighters who are unafraid of defeat and that can be counted on by the people. I promise I will work with whomever the nominee is to restore a conservative voice in November.
Childers Votes to Create Jobs, Extend Highway Funding
Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Travis Childers (MS-01) voted to create new small business and construction jobs, spur private sector hiring, and help rebuild our crumbling infrastructure. The bipartisan Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment (HIRE) Act also extends highway funding that will help maintain and improve critical roads in North Mississippi.
“My top priority is creating jobs in the First District, and today’s legislation will make an essential investment in small businesses and infrastructure projects that will help put North Mississippians back to work,” said Congressman Childers. “Specifically, this legislation will extend the Highway Trust Fund, allowing important Natchez Trace construction projects to continue and ensuring that Mississippians working on these projects are able to keep earning a living. I am pleased to join Sens. Cochran and Wicker in supporting this vital legislation, and will continue working to create and save jobs in North Mississippi.”
The HIRE Act also includes:
Incentives for hiring and retaining new employees. The bill would provide employers with incentives to hire and retain new employees, including a payroll tax holiday for businesses that hire unemployed workers, to create some 300,000 jobs, and an income tax credit of $1,000 for businesses that retain these employees.
Better payment options for state and local infrastructure projects. Congressman Childers previously introduced a bill to make it easier for states to take up school construction projects. The HIRE Act includes this language. Specifically, state and local governments will be able to issue special purpose tax credit bonds for school construction, energy conservation, and renewable energy. This is similar to the Build America Bond direct payment option that has been very successful in helping State and local governments access the credit market.
Will Childers Cave on Health Care?
White House Applies Pressure as Dems Attempt to Force Their Bill Through Congress
Washington- Democrats are making their last-ditch effort to force their unpopular healthcare agenda through Congress, but President Obama and Speaker Nancy Pelosi are having some trouble coming up with the votes. As Democrat leaders continue to lose support for their latest healthcare push, they will be leaning heavily on Travis Childers to be a vote in the ‘yes’ column. Pelosi gave Childers a free pass the last time around, but it looks like that permission slip has expired:
“Kicking off what he promised would be an aggressive campaign, Obama called on Congress to schedule a vote, saying the time for talking is done. And without saying the word ‘reconciliation,’ Obama made it clear that he¹ll pass legislation with only Democratic votes if necessary… House leaders, meanwhile, started the process of smoothing opposition to a finished package.” (Carrie Budoff Brown and Patrick O’Connor, “W.H. Warns Dems: Don’t Flip-Flop,” Politico, 3/3/10)
But if Childers plays ball, he’ll find himself in a world of hurt with voters, who have already enthusiastically rejected the Democrats’ reckless healthcare agenda.
“Twenty-five percent of people questioned in the poll say Congress should pass legislation similar to the bills passed by both chambers, with 48 percent saying lawmakers should work on an entirely new bill and a quarter saying Congress should stop all work on health care reform.” (Paul Steinhauser, “CNN Poll: Healthcare Provisions Popular but Overall Bills Unpopular,” CNN, 2/24/10)
“Nancy Pelosi let Travis Childers off the hook once, but now she’s ready to cash in on the favor,” said NRCC Communications Director Ken Spain. “It’s no secret that Childers is torn between falling in line with his party bosses and saving any chance he has for holding onto his seat in Congress. If Childers plans on walking the plank for the Obama-Pelosi healthcare agenda, he can start looking for a new job now – because voters will send him packing on Election Day.”
Will Travis Childers stand up to his Washington friends as they try to force through their last-ditch healthcare effort? Or will the pressure from Pelosi be too much? Stay tuned…
Wicker Criticizes Democrats’ Procedural ‘Scheme’ to
Pass Massive Health Care Bill with Party-Line Vote
WASHINGTON – In remarks today on the Senate floor, U.S. Senator Roger Wicker spoke out against Democrats’ plans to use “reconciliation,” a procedural tactic typically reserved for budget or noncontroversial measures, to pass the 2,700-page health care bill on a party-line vote. Passing health care under reconciliation would only take 51 votes in the Senate, rather than the 60 votes that are typically needed.
Republicans jousting in a primary to challenge Rep. Travis Childers are now sparring over a GOP proposal to privatize Social Security and create a voucher system for Medicare.
Support is growing for the Rep. Paul Ryan's plan on Capitol Hill, and he picked up another supporter in Angela McGlowan, a former Fox News analyst and candidate in Mississippi's First Congressional district.
McGlowan backs private Social Security accounts, according to the Commercial Appeal. The newspaper reported last week "McGlowan has been criticized for her suggestion the public should be allowed to invest at least some of the social security money the federal government deducts from paychecks."
That's put state Sen. Alan Nunnelee, the GOP's preferred candidate, on the spot as reporters ask if he'll support the Social Security changes too.
Nunnelee gave a squishy answer to a local television station that politicians must be "honest with ourselves if we intend to fix it" but not taking a clear stand on whether he would vote to privatize the entitlement program.
"We have a moral commitment to men and women that have paid in to Social Security all their lives and they are now drawing it, and we need to do everything we can to make sure we honor that commitment first," Nunnelee said, adding that Social Security is "going toward bankruptcy."
Twenty-six candidates representing the Democratic, Republican, Reform, Libertarian and Constitution Parties - as well as a handful of independents - met the March 1 qualifying deadline to run for the U.S. House of Representatives from Mississippi. No incumbent has a party primary challenger, but Republican and Democratic challengers must first clear the June 1 Primary hurdle before facing the incumbents on November 2.
If the number of candidates in a race indicates public dissatisfaction with the incumbent, then First Congressional District Representative Travis Childers (D-Booneville) has a long row to hoe. Ten candidates filed to run against Childers including Libertarian Harold Taylor of Hernando, Barbara Dale Washer of Hattiesburg from the Reform Party, Gail Giaramita of Lake Cormorant from the Constitution Party, and four independents: A.G. Baddley and Les Green both of Hernando, and Rick "Rico" Hoskins and Wally Pang both of Batesville. Pang ran for this seat in 2008 earning 1.1 percent in both the April Special and November General elections.
Whoever the Republicans pick as their nominee will offer substantial competition to Childers. National pundits rate this race a "toss-up" and one of the GOP's best opportunities to unseat a Democratic incumbent. Senate Appropriations Chairman Alan Nunnelee of Tupelo, Fox News personality Angela McGlowan of Oxford, and former mayor Henry Ross of Eupora filed as Republicans.
Closer to home, the House ethics exonerated five other members of the Congressional Black Caucus who were on either of the 2007 and 2008 trips or on both - including House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson, D-Bolton. But the panel said all six would have to pay the costs.
Other lawmakers cleared in the probe were Democratic Reps. Yvette Clarke of New York, Donald Payne of New Jersey, Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick of Michigan and Donna Christensen, the nonvoting delegate from the Virgin Islands. The ethics committee said the traveling House members relied on false information from the listed sponsors of the trips, the Carib News, a New York newspaper, and the Carib News Foundation.
Thompson is not the first congressman to have his official travel questioned. He's not even the first Mississippi congressman to face that scrutiny.
But there's an easy way for member of Congress to avoid being the target of ethics investigations. When trips to exotic locales are offered, make sure the purpose of the trip really is strictly business or don't get on the plane. Officials who "just say no" to all freebies don't have to worry about who might be "sponsoring."
"Wink, wink, nudge, nudge" congressional junkets have become the rule, not the exception. In this dour economy, taxpayers resent such largesse even more than usual.
GULFPORT — Filmmaker Spike Lee said he is determined to find out what has happened to South Mississippians since Katrina made landfall here Aug. 29, 2005.
Lee was in Gulfport and surrounding cities Wednesday, filming a follow-up to his 2006 Katrina documentary “When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts.”
The new film, “If God is Willing and the Creek Don’t Rise,” will focus on the progress and failures in education, housing and population relocation, and will spotlight the spirit of South Mississippi residents.
The two months of political infighting that preceded Wednesday's passage of a bill that restores $82 million to the current state budget hasn't deterred lawmakers' optimism for finishing the session on time.
"The love fest is back," said Rep. George Flaggs, D-Vicksburg, underscoring his enthusiasm with a thumbs up. "I would be surprised if we didn't get out early."
There is roughly a month left in the regularly scheduled session for lawmakers to approve a $5 billion-plus budget for the new year beginning July 1.
Gov. Haley Barbour is expected to sign the budget restoration bill both chambers overwhelmingly approved Wednesday for fiscal 2010. House and Senate negotiators brokered the deal late Tuesday night.
Later at Brinkley Middle School, she got a rock star reception as about 1,000 people, including hundreds of students cheered loudly when she was announced at a rally.
"I picked this state because of all the creative things that are happening here to fix things," Mrs. Obama said.
The Mississippi Department of Education has started several programs to increase physical activity at schools, boost the consumption of fruit and vegetables in lunchrooms and reduce fried foods on school menus.
Mrs. Obama praised Gov. Haley Barbour and his wife, Marsha, for leading the state's "Let's Go Walking" campaign, which encourages residents to exercise regularly. She also cited the north Mississippi city of Hernando for its efforts to build more sidewalks and encourage more farmers' markets.
"We all know too many kids in this country don't get enough exercise and they aren't as healthy as they need to be," she said. "Here in Mississippi, some kids struggle with this issue sometimes even more than in other parts of this country."
The CDC has long said that nearly a third of Americans are obese. In 2009, Mississippi had the highest rate of adult obesity, 32.5 percent, for the fifth year in a row.
Mississippi also had the highest rate of overweight and obese children, at 44.4 percent in total, according to the CDC. It's followed by Arkansas, 37.5 percent; and Georgia, 37.3 percent.
JACKSON -- House members sent Gov. Haley Barbour legislation Wednesday that would restore $82million of the $458.5 million in spending cuts he has made to the 2010 state budget.
The money, which would come from an assortment of state reserve funds, would restore $37.1 million to K-12 education, including more than $2 million for DeSoto County schools.
Also Wednesday, the Senate approved legislation to trim five days off the school year and allow superintendents to furlough teachers for up to five days.
The funding bill was hammered out Tuesday after several days of meetings between members of a House-Senate conference committee.
Brinkley Middle School
Jackson, Mississippi
2:12 P.M. CST
MRS. OBAMA: Thank you, guys. (Applause.) Thank you so much. (Applause.) How you all doing? (Applause.) You excited? (Applause.)
You all fired up? (Applause.) That's a good thing.
I'm just happy to be here.
AUDIENCE MEMBER: We love you! (Applause.)
MRS. OBAMA: Well, let me tell you something. The White House is a pretty neat place to live, but let me -- let me just say this. One of the
best things I do is coming out of the White House and coming here to spend time with all of you. You all really do -- (applause) -- you all
really help remind us what we're here for. And we're just so proud of you.
And let me start by thanking Tiffany for that beautiful introduction. (Applause.) I got to meet Tiffany backstage. And I know that the reason
she got to introduce me was because she worked hard and won an essay competition to do it. And we are proud of her. We're proud of you,
Tiffany, proud of the work that you're doing. (Applause.) You're a beautiful young lady, a sweetheart, and I want you to keep up whatever it
is you're doing, because you're doing good things. And we're just so proud of you. (Applause.)
I also want to thank, before we get -- I want to thank a few people here, because there are a lot of people here who care about this state and
care about this city; people who have done a lot to make this visit possible, who’ve done a lot of important groundwork to get this state in the
limelight. And I want to make sure that we recognize those people -- some of them who couldn’t be here, like Congressman Bennie
Thompson, because he’s in Washington. (Applause.) The President has him working hard in Washington and we're glad he’s there working.
But who came along is his wife, London, and their daughter. If you all would stand so that we can say hello. (Applause.)
And also another Congressman -- I don't think he could be here -- Gregg Harper -- he’s in Washington, but his wife, Sidney, is here. Sidney,
would you stand, please. (Applause.)
And I have to thank your mayor, Mayor Johnson, and his wife, Kathy. (Applause.) Got a chance to talk and meet them both. And it’s not
easy having the First Lady come to your city, but they have just been gracious and they worked very hard, and we're just so honored and
thrilled to be here.
I also want to thank the school superintendent, Dr. Lonnie Edwards. Dr. Edwards, would you please stand? (Applause.) Because Dr.
Edwards let us visit during a school day, so we've got to give him a round of applause. (Applause.)
And last but not least, I have to thank Governor Barbour and his beautiful wife, the First Lady of the state of Mississippi. They have -- they’ve
opened their hearts to me from the very beginning of this initiative. I've said this before -- there are so many people who have been out on
front on this issue long before I showed up at the White House and long before we launched “Let’s Move,” and Mrs. Barbour has been just a
big advocate of “Let’s Go Walkin’” -- that initiative is exactly the kind of things we need to replicate all over this country. And I am grateful to
both the Governor and the First Lady for their hard work and their commitment and their sincerity. So let’s give them another round of
applause. (Applause.)
So since I've been here I went to visit Pecan Park Elementary School. Did I say that right? Pecan?
AUDIENCE: Yesss --
MRS. OBAMA: Because where I come from, sometimes you say “pecaan” -- but it’s “pecon” round here, right? (Laughter.) But we got to
visit that school and some of the great kids there, and I got to walk with Mrs. Barbour and the Governor and the principal there -- principal
Quon -- and a couple of students around the track that they built. And the kids were out there exercising and working out. It was a beautiful
day, a beautiful facility, and it’s just something that we should be highlighting all over the country.
So they showed us how Mississippi, how Jackson, is working to make sure kids stay healthy and active. And that’s one of the reasons why
I'm here visiting Brinkley Middle School. Can I hear it? (Applause.) That's why I'm here, because we want to continue this conversation that
I've been having around the country -- starting about a few weeks ago. It’s an issue that I care deeply about -- not just because I'm a First
Lady but because I'm a mother. And I've said this ever since I came into office -- I approach this job first as a mother. And I'm thinking
about all of you all as a mother, not as a First Lady.
And we have to figure out what we can all do together in this country to help our kids in the country live healthy and active lives, and to stay
that way throughout your entire lives. We care about you deeply, because too many kids right now just aren't living that way. And we all
know that. Too many kids in this country don't get enough exercise and they aren't as healthy as they need to be.
And if we're honest with ourselves, as all of you know, we know that here in Mississippi, kids struggle with these issues sometimes even more
than in other parts of the country. And we all know that when our kids don't eat right and they don't get enough exercise, what happens is
that they’re at greater risk of a whole range of preventable diseases -- things like diabetes. And a long time ago diabetes was also only
something that happened in adults, and now we're seeing it more and more among kids because they’re less healthy. Things like heart
disease and cancer -- all these things should be older folks’ issues, but we're seeing more and more of our children being -- struggling with
these issues.
And what the Governor will tell you is that one of the other problems is that these preventable issues cost the state money. Here in the state
of Mississippi, I think you're spending about $750 million each year to treat diseases that don't even have to exist. So that's the bad news --
right? That's the kind of stuff that we're here to fix.
But there’s a lot of good news -- good news is that the folks around this country, particularly around this state and this city, have begun to
focus on this issue in a real serious way. We know that a lot of this is our fault, the grownups -- right? This isn’t on you all -- right? And
people have gotten an important wakeup call. They’re looking at the health statistics, they’re looking at you guys and they’re seeing the
future in you, and we all know that we've got to do something. That's the good news. Finally we're waking up and we're getting moving --
right?
And that's why I wanted to come to Mississippi. I picked this state because of all the creative things that are already happening here to fix
things. I'm not here to highlight what's wrong; I'm here to highlight what’s right -- (applause) -- what we can do for our kids. (Applause.)
Lots of good examples, like up in Hernando, Mayor Chip Johnson is working to build more sidewalks and to bring weekly farmer's markets to
town so folks in his town can be more active and eat better. And Mayor Johnson was with me when I launched “Let’s Move” in Washington,
D.C. That's a good thing.
Here in Jackson, there’s an organization called My Brother's Keeper that's launched an initiative called "Jump Start Jackson" -- and there
they’re trying to bring more fresh grocers to town, and make it safe for kids to walk and bike to school.
And all across Mississippi -- and this is really key because this is where the whole state can come into play. What the Governor has done is
signed a law to help make sure that schools like Brinkley are giving students more time in school to be active and to play, and that they’re
teaching in the curriculum every day about healthy lifestyles and doing better to serve healthier lunches here -- right -- because many of the
kids here, you're eating most of your meals here at school so it’s incumbent upon us to make sure that those meals are healthy.
If you think about it, before that law was signed the average school here in this state -- the lunch had more than 900 calories. That's a lot of
-- that's a lot of calories in a lunch for some kids -- right? But today, they've been cutting those calories by reducing fats and sugars that are
in the foods you have, and increasing more fruits and whole grains. Have you all noticed that? Some changes in your lunch? (Laughter.)
Yes, I know how -- right. There’s the kids, and the grownups, right? (Laughter.) But these are important things for you to know as you see
the changes in the lunchroom -- they’re happening for a reason.
Before that law was passed, more than three in four middle schools sold things like candy and salty snacks and soda to the kids. And now,
today, because of that law, more than three in four schools don't serve those kinds of foods. And I know we've got a few unhappy faces
about that, but this is a good thing.
Every day, folks here in this state prove that if we in this country are creative and we're determined and we're focused, that we can meet
these challenges -- because this isn’t just happening in Mississippi; it’s happening all across the country -- that if we really work together we
can really reverse these trends and turn back the tide. We can help you all live the kind of healthy, active lives right from the start.
The thing is if you learn these habits early -- right -- you’ll carry them through -- with you for the rest of your lives. So what I have asked
people to do is let's act. Let's get going. Let's move. That's why we call this initiative “Let’s Move.” It’s about all of us getting up, getting
together to make sure that our kids are living the kind of lives that we need them to live.
There’s one important goal to this initiative. We are trying to end the epidemic of childhood obesity in a generation. That's a big goal --
because we want kids born today to grow up healthy and at a good weight when they reach adulthood. So that's the goal. And reaching this
goal, it’s an ambitious goal to talk about doing anything in a generation. It’s a hard thing. But that's why we started “Let’s Move,” because
this initiative is asking everyone in the country to do their part to reach this goal. Everyone has got to do their part.
That's why I've been traveling around the country -- and I'm going to do this for years to come -- asking everyone to step up and get
involved. I've been meeting with governors and mayors; I've already met with many of them. I'm asking them to do their part to make
cities and states more -- healthier; building more sidewalks, turning playgrounds into track fields, and opening up abandoned buildings, and
doing a whole range of creative things to do their part.
I've been meeting with parents and I've been asking parents to do their parts, because it doesn't matter what we feed you at school, but if
you get home and it's hard for parents to make healthy choices, then you guys still aren't leading healthy lives, so we've asked parents to
step up and do more.
And I've been meeting with educators and school nutrition leaders, people like Mary Hill, asking them to do their part to make sure you all
have options that not only are healthy but they taste good and they look good and it looks like something that you event want to try.
In a couple of weeks I'm going to even meet with the food manufacturers, the people who make the food that goes into your lunches and also
the people who make food, period. (Applause.) And I'm going to be asking them to do their part, right, because if the stuff you buy in the
grocery stores aren't healthier, if the options are limited, then it's hard for your families to make healthy choices.
And today I wanted to be here especially because I'm going to ask for help from the most important group of this whole entire effort, and
who do you think that group is? It's you, right? It's all of you -- all of you young people. You have to do your part, too.
So I'm really asking you all to help me. Have you ever been asked by the First Lady or the President of the United States to help them?
(Laughter.) Well, I am asking you for your help. You going to help me? (Applause.) All right, well let me -- but before you sign on --
(laughter) -- let me just tell you what I need you to do, because we can make all these changes in your communities, your parents can do
things differently, the schools can do things differently, but if you're not open to change and ready to do your part, then it won't work either,
right? I know your teachers tell you that all the time. You have to want to change, right? And it starts with the choices that you make. And
this is what I tell my kids: Make healthy choices, right? When you have snack time, you've got the choice between grabbing a candy bar or
the potato chips or grabbing an apple, right? And I urge my kids to just balance it out. Just think about putting a little more fruits and
vegetables on that tray and then trying to eat them. Can you do that? Come on now. (Laughter.) A little less enthusiasm there.
(Laughter.)
We know you have to be active and move, right? That means you can't spend hours sitting in front of the TV and video games and the
computer. You have to get up and move. Can you help me with that?
STUDENTS: Yes.
MRS. OBAMA: Yes. (Laughter.) They were so excited a few minutes ago. (Laughter.)
But the President and I ask our daughters these same things. I mean, this is what we talk about at home. When we're at dinner, we ask
them, what did you eat for lunch? What kind of choices did you make? Did you try a little salad? Did you put some carrots on your plate?
And if you had dessert one day of the week, do you think you need to have it every day of the week? If you watch TV on Saturday all day,
do you really need to watch it again on Sunday? If you haven't finished your homework, should you really be on the computer? Now these
are things that we need you to start asking yourselves. You all are in middle school, right? You all are large and in charge, right?
STUDENTS: Yes!
MRS. OBAMA: So now you've got to start asking yourselves these questions, right? And you have to help your parents out, because when
they ask you to make the change, what don't we want you to do, parents? Whine? (Laughter.) We don't want whining. Can you help us by
not whining about a change? (Laughter.) Can you do that? Come on, Brinkley!
STUDENTS: Yes!
MRS. OBAMA: Come on. Well, this is the kind of help we're going to need from all of you. This is the kind of stuff we want you to think
about as we move through this initiative, the kind of choices that you're making. And we've been working with kids your age for the entire
year. At the White House we planted this wonderful garden, and we had middle school students just your age working with me every step of
the way. They helped me pull up the soil and plant the seeds, and they've been at the White House several times a year, because we've just
been learning what it looks like to grow your own food and eat your own food. And the thing we found out is that when kids play a role in
what they do, they're much more inclined to try new stuff if they grew it. So hopefully many of you can get involved in your community
gardens as well.
But that's what "Let's Move" is all about. "Let's Move" is really about you all. It's really about making things better for our kids, and that's
why we're here today. You've got a community of people around you. You all should look in this room, because it's not just you up there.
Back there are hundreds of people who care deeply about you, and they're all here working hard, from the President to the governor on
down, because we all care about you. And it's important for you all to understand that we're here doing this for you.
So we're doing this because eventually you all are going to be in charge of all this, right? One day you're going to be the parents and the
teachers and the doctors and the principals and the governors, and we need you healthy, right? We need you to be in a good, strong body so
that you can get these things done.
So let me tell you a little bit about what "Let's Move" is all about, just quickly, because there are four parts. One of the things we're doing is
asking your parents to make healthier choices, but we have to do a better job of making sure that they have the information that they need.
So we're working with the FDA to make sure that, you know those labels that they read, that tell you what's in food? Well, it's too
complicated. We've got to make that easier so that they know what's healthy and what's not. So we're trying to make that easier. We've
set up a Web site called letsmove.gov. Some of you all may want to go on there, walk through that with your parents, because it gives
helpful tips and strategies on what to eat and how to move. The second part of the initiative is that we're asking people to "let's move" so
that parents actually have the foods and vegetables in their own communities.
Do you know that there are a lot of kids who live in communities that don't have access to a grocery store or a farmers market or a place to
buy fruits and vegetables? There are about 6.5 million kids who can't walk down the street and go to a grocery store because their
communities don't have grocery stores. Well, part of "Let's Move" is trying to eliminate that, because we can't tell people to buy fresh food if
there's no place to buy it, right? You know how hard it is for your parents if they have to get on a bus to go get a head of lettuce and they
just came home from work and they have to get in a cab to go to a grocery store -- that's hard and expensive for them, right? You all, if
you've seen it, you know how hard it is. So we've got to make it easier. We've got to eliminate food deserts and make sure that there are
more grocery stores and farmers markets in communities. So that's something that we're working on.
The third thing we have to do is make sure that, as I said, that more schools have healthier lunches, right -- (applause) -- because many of
you are eating most of your meals at lunch. We can do an applause for that, that's a good thing. (Applause.) It's important for you to have
the nutritious meals that you need at lunch. And Mississippi and Jackson, you all are already doing some wonderful things. I mentioned Mary
Hill. She's your food services director. Mary, you should stand up, because these kids should know who you are because you're working
hard. (Applause.)
Mary Hill is working on what you all eat, and one of the things that's happened is that you guys eat lunch with your teachers now, right? And
I know that might be a hassle having them sitting at the table with you, but what that does is because the teachers are sitting with you, what
they've seen is that you're more inclined to eat more fruits and vegetables, and so are your teachers. So just because of that one little
change, having teachers eating with you, that changes how you eat. And that's something that's happened here in this state because of
Mary, because of the governor, because of so many other people.
Here in Mississippi, another thing that's happened is that they've taken fryers out of the school and put in more ovens, right? (Applause.)
And just imagine, just because of that, in Starkville, two schools in that area, they've cut out about 3 million calories -- 3 million calories --
just by not having fried potatoes. Those are the kind of little things that make a difference.
But the key, one of the real things I'm highlighting in this "Let's Move" challenge is the fourth thing, is that you all have to get moving, we all
have to get moving, because you can eat the best food in the world, but if you all aren't active, it's going to be a tough thing.
So we need you all to get moving and be more active. This is where you guys come in, again, putting down the cell phones and thinking of
creative things that you care about, whether it's getting your parents to do the Electric Slide or doing Dance, Dance Revolution. I don't -- it
doesn't matter what it is. My kids -- me and the President and our kids play Dance, Dance Revolution. How many of you all have done that?
(Applause.) That's a good game. That will make you sweat. (Laughter.)
And we need you all working, finding creative ways to stay active and get your parents active. And we're going to expand the President's
Fitness Challenge so that more kids can try new things and get awards; maybe come to the White House because you're meeting some goals;
working with some professional athletes from all the leagues because a lot of them have signed on to help -- people from Major League
Baseball and the NBA and the NFL and WNBA. All of these professional athletes are going to be signing on to do clinics and to encourage you
all to stay active.
So there's a lot of good stuff in "Let's Move." But we're going to need you all, as I said. We're going to need you all to help us get this stuff
done. But know that we're doing this all for you. We care so much about your future, we really do. We're proud of every single one of you.
You're like our kids. And sometimes it may not feel that way because somebody is lecturing you trying to eat food that you don't want to
eat.
But we want you all to pursue your dreams, and we know all of you have big dreams. How many people here want to be a doctor? How
many people here want to be a lawyer? How many people here want to be President of the United States? (Applause.) And that's the good
news, right? You all obviously have some big dreams, right? Well, in order to achieve those dreams, you've got to be healthy. And you've
got to feel good physically and you've got to feel good about yourselves, right? And you won't do that if you're not eating right and getting
good exercise.
And it's our job as a community, as a nation, to make sure you have all the resources that you need to make it happen. So we're going to
start getting moving. You all promise that you will help me with this, because I'm going to be checking in. (Applause.) You think I'm not
going to check in. And you have to help each other. Do you realize that? You've got to help your teachers help you. You've got to check in
on your teachers. The teachers have to check in on you. You all have to check in on your parents. You've got to get your parents working.
Your parents have to check in on the mayor, make sure the mayor is doing his job. We all have to check in on the governor -- (laughter) --
make sure that -- because he's promised me he's going to get moving. (Laughter.)
And if we're all working together, you all, all of you at Brinkley and all these other schools, we can get this done, right? And then you will be
President of the United States, and maybe if you're lucky you'll be the First Spouse, like me. (Laughter.)
But thank you all. We're proud of you and let's get moving. Thanks so much. (Applause.)
With the House now the last line of defense to stop a government takeover of healthcare, Project Code Red is a multi-front effort to force Democrats to make a choice – either vote “NO” on this unpopular bill, or face the electoral consequences in November. Using various forms of traditional and direct media, Code Red will put pressure on these lawmakers to answer a simple question – will they support a job-killing government takeover of health care or will they stand with the American people who want Congress to scrap the bill and start over with reforms that will lower costs?
You can help, too. We’re asking doctors, small businessmen, and grassroots supporters to let their voices be heard about their support for common-sense health care reforms that lower costs. Visit this site for new information on the Democrats’ efforts to ram this bill through Congress, or sign up for our email alerts for the latest updates on Democrats who are switching their votes.
Republicans in Mississippi’s 1st District are questioning Angela McGlowan’s party loyalty after the former Fox News analyst refused to commit to backing frontrunner state Sen. Alan Nunnelee in the event he wins the June GOP primary.
In an appearance last week on the Paul Gallo radio show, McGlowan criticized Nunnelee’s record on taxes and referred to him as a “Republican in name only.” She said she would support former Europa Mayor Henry Ross if he wins the primary, but declined to commit to backing Nunnelee.
Her comments led Prentiss County GOP Chairman Roy Gray to fire off an angry email letter to Mississippi GOP Chairman Brad White and other local party leaders, questioning McGlowan’s GOP bona fides and raising the possibility that she was “a plant for [Democratic Rep.] Travis Childers.”
“Angela has previously stated that she intended to run a positive campaign focusing on the defeat of Travis Childers. Good advice, that she needs to heed,” wrote Gray, according to a copy of the email obtained by POLITICO.
He pointed out that GOP infighting ended up damaging the party’s nominee in 2008 and enabled Childers to capture the Republican-leaning north Mississippi district.
“I, for one, believe McGlowan should run her race in a respectable manner, keep her mouth shut and support the [R]epublican nominee whether it be her, Ross or Nunnelee and if she can't do this we as a party should demand that she withdraw from this race today,” said Gray.
In an interview with POLITICO, Gray confirmed that he was the author of the letter, which he sent to several other local leaders. He said he received positive feedback and encouragement from them regarding his forceful tone.
In an appearance last week on the Paul Gallo radio show, McGlowan criticized Nunnelee’s record on taxes and referred to him as a “Republican in name only.” She said she would support former Europa Mayor Henry Ross if he wins the primary, but declined to commit to backing Nunnelee.
Her comments led Prentiss County GOP Chairman Roy Gray to fire off an angry email letter to Mississippi GOP Chairman Brad White and other local party leaders, questioning McGlowan’s GOP bona fides and raising the possibility that she was “a plant for [Democratic Rep.] Travis Childers.”
“Angela has previously stated that she intended to run a positive campaign focusing on the defeat of Travis Childers. Good advice, that she needs to heed,” wrote Gray, according to a copy of the email obtained by POLITICO.
He pointed out that GOP infighting ended up damaging the party’s nominee in 2008 and enabled Childers to capture the Republican-leaning north Mississippi district.
“I, for one, believe McGlowan should run her race in a respectable manner, keep her mouth shut and support the [R]epublican nominee whether it be her, Ross or Nunnelee and if she can't do this we as a party should demand that she withdraw from this race today,” said Gray.
In an interview with POLITICO, Gray confirmed that he was the author of the letter, which he sent to several other local leaders. He said he received positive feedback and encouragement from them regarding his forceful tone.
“I don’t know why she would do this,” Gray said of McGlowan’s actions. “I think the type of voter she’s trying to appeal to would find these tactics offensive.”
McGlowan campaign manager Anne Marie Turner responded in a statement to POLITICO, saying that “the assertion that Angela McGlowan is not a life-long, loyal member of the Republican party is absurd.”
“Regrettably, rather than join Ms. McGlowan's fight against Obama, 16-year incumbent politician Alan Nunnelee has chosen to encourage attacks on Angela's character and conservative credentials to hide serious and legitimate questions about his own record,” said Turner.
Pointing to Nunnelee’s voting record in the state Senate, Turner lumped him in with both the president and the Democratic incumbent.
“McGlowan feels compelled to protect Mississippians from this type of hypocrisy, whether it comes from Barack Obama, Travis Childers or Alan Nunnelee.”
McGlowan Backs Social Security Privatization; Alan Nunnelee Still Says Nothing
After reports surfaced of his primary opponent supporting Social Security privatization, Democrats renewed their call for state Senator and congressional candidate Alan Nunnelee (MS-01), who previously “steered clear of specifics” on the proposal, to tell Mississippi seniors where he stands. A newspaper report this weekend made clear that Nunnelee’s primary opponent, Angela McGlowan, supports Social Security privatization, a key component of the recent GOP Leadership budget proposal.
When interviewed last week, state Senator and congressional candidate Alan Nunnelee “steered clear of the specifics” when asked about his support for a “controversial GOP budget proposal to privatize Social Security.”
“His Republican primary rival supports privatizing Social Security just like the national Republicans that have restarted this Bush-era plan, but Alan Nunnelee can’t be bothered to say what he believes,” said Jesse Ferguson, Southern Regional Press Secretary for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “Alan Nunnelee either stands with his primary opponent and the Republican leadership in Washington or with the seniors of Mississippi. Alan, it’s a yes or no question…”
The plan, introduced by ranking Republican budget committee member, Representative Paul Ryan, returns to the Bush-era concept of privatizing Social Security in Wall Street accounts. Representative Pete Sessions, chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee which has named Alan Nunnelee a contender for its Young Gun Candidate Program, supports privatizing Social Security.
Background
McGlowan backs privatization. “McGlowan has been criticized for her suggestion the public should be allowed to invest at least some of the social security money the federal government deducts from paychecks.” [Commercial Appeal, 2/28/10]
Alan Nunnelee “Steered Clear of the Specifics” on Social Security. [WCBI, 2/24/10]
House GOP Leader supports privatizing social security. In May 2001, now NRCC Chairman Representative Pete Sessions, co-signed a letter to the President’s Commission to Strengthen Social Security urging for privatization. The letter read, “Social Security reform must offer younger workers the opportunity to improve their rates of return using personal retirement accounts.” [Rep. Jim DeMint Letter to The Social Security Reform Commission, 5/24/01]
Alan Nunnelee is a part of the National Republican Congressional Committee’s list of contenders in their Young Gun candidate program. [NRCC]
The Washington Post’s Ezra Klein writes that under House Republican Ranking Member of the Budget Committee Paul Ryan's budget proposal reforms are “nothing short of violent. Medicare is privatized. Seniors get a voucher to buy private insurance, and the voucher's growth is far slower than the expected growth of health-care costs. Medicaid is also privatized. The employer tax exclusion is fully eliminated, replaced by a tax credit that grows more slowly than medical costs. And beyond health care, Social Security gets guaranteed, private accounts that CBO says will actually cost more than the present arrangement, further underscoring how ancillary the program is to our budget problem.” [The Washington Post, 2/1/10; Ranking Republican of Budget Committee Paul Ryan Web site]
In 2005, President Bush went on a 60 stops in 60 days Social Security tour, following him outlining the details of his private account plan in his February State of the Union Address. [Washington Post, 4/27/05]
Had seniors been relying on private social security accounts in the Stock Market during the 2008 collapse, they might have lost nearly 40% of their retirement savings in the 12 months leading up to the collapse. On October 9, 2007 the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at 14,164.53. On October 9, 2008 the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at 8,579.19. [History of Dow Jones Industrial Average, http://www.mdleasing.com/djia.htm;http://finance.yahoo.com/q/hp?s=^DJI&a=09&b=9&c=2007&d=09&e=9&f=2008&g=d&z=66&y=198]
First lady Michelle Obama toured the playground station and walking track at Pecan Park Elementary School today in Jackson with Gov. Haley Barbour and wife, Marsha, along with Wanda Quon, the principal of the school.
Obama is in Jackson as part of her Let's Move! campaign promoting healthy eating and lifestyles for children.
Pecan Park students Alton Chambers and Reion Jamison were also with the group.
Obama toured the school's physical fitness facilities for about 20 or 30 minutes, often asking the governor and his wife questions.
Washington (CNN) -- A Pentagon study on how to implement a plan to allow gays to serve openly in the military, "can only be successful if it is managed in a way that minimizes disruption to a force engaged in combat operations," according to Defense Secretary Robert Gates.
Gates made the comments in a letter sent Tuesday to the four service heads and other senior staff who will work on a study looking at implications of repealing the "don't ask don't tell" law.
President Barack Obama requested that the Congress repeal the law and directed Gates to consider how best to implement a repeal.
The letter by Gates included an outline with objectives for the study and how to approach executing it throughout the services.
Some of the objectives include:
...
However, senior military officials have said that attitudes among troops about serving with openly gay service members have relaxed and many now do not worry about serving along side homosexual troops.
To prove the more relaxed attitude for the Gates study, an anonymous survey will be given to troops to voice their attitudes toward the possible repeal of the law, Navy Secretary Ray Mabus told a Congressional panel last month.
The Pentagon review is the first since the Congressional law took effect in 1993 banning service members from acknowledging they are gay.
The final report is due to Gates on December 1, and then will be presented to Obama.
GULFPORT — The Armed Forces Retirement Home might have recouped more money from two beachfront parcels if the land had been appraised before it was sold in January 2004 to Gulfport businessman Brent Warr and his father, Gene Warr.
A report by the Inspector General’s Office of the United States Department of Defense also concluded the “appearance of a conflict of interest” resulted because the Warrs and AFRH used the same real estate agent, Sherry Owen of Gulfport, for the transaction. However, the report said, the Warrs used the same agent to save on commission fees and AFRH approved the dual agency agreement required for such transactions.
Deputy Undersecretary of Defense Tommy T. Thomas agreed to follow the inspector general’s recommendations by obtaining appraisals in the future and by more fully documenting real estate negotiations. The real estate transactions complied with the law, the report concluded.
Senators Roger Wicker and Thad Cochran both released statements today indicating there support for a one-time funding bill that is currently held up in the Senate. As the bill is now stalled, it has temporarily stopped such programs as unemployment benefits, health insurance subsidies, and highway projects.
Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY) objected to the new spending without having any way to pay for it. He proposes using stimulus funds to finance the bill, something Democrats oppose.
In a statement, Sen. Cochran said, “I regret that we’ve reached this point, which will cause hardships for many people in Mississippi and across the country. I am hopeful the Congress will act soon to retroactively reinstate these expired provisions.”
First Lady Michelle Obama is scheduled to visit Mississippi's capital city Wednesday morning. She will tour two Jackson Public Schools as part of a push to promote her recently launched "Let's Move" initiative to encourage an active lifestyle and end childhood obesity.
Obama's first stop will be Pecan Park Elementary, where she will meet with Governor Haley Barbour and Mississippi First Lady Marsha Barbour. There, Obama will tour the school's playground and walking trail, which was installed as part of the statewide "Let's Go Walkin', Mississippi" campaign.
Just over two dozen hand-selected students and staff members were invited to attend the tour.
Democrats are playing a dangerous game of political theatre on the issue of healthcare reform. LastThursday, the White House hosted a seven hour bilateral healthcare summit in which Democrats appeared to bring the Republicans to the bargaining table. Their attempt was only symbolic. I mentioned previously that on principle, it is impossible for Republicans to agree with the White House’s proposal. A truly bilateral approach would be to scrap the recently passed House and Senate healthcare reform bills and start anew, placing conservative principles, which preserve individual freedom, at the core of healthcare reform. Instead, Democrats only gave Republican ideas lip service. In fact, immediately after the summit the White House imposed a six week (more like six day) time table to pass their legislation with or without Republican support.
What is scary is Nancy Pelosi claims she has the votes in the House to finally pass the Senate Democrats’ version of Healthcare reform, and Harry Reid is willing to circumvent Scott Brown’s vote in the Senate to approve House amendments to the Senate bill through the reconciliation procedure—which only requires 51 votes. Democrats are ideologically bent on passing healthcare reform despite the long term damage it could cause our country, and it seems they may have the votes to do it. Politically, many Democrats will be expected to tote the party line, so Democrats will have something to campaign on with their liberal base. As the Democrat votes in the House become narrower, Travis Childers may not get a free pass from Nancy Pelosi to vote against the healthcare bill this time around. When Nancy Pelosi flexes her muscles, how will he react? The First District deserves better than free passes and uncertainty.
Democrats truly believe they know better than the American people when it comes to this issue. Nancy Pelosi contends she will incorporate Republican proposals “if they (Republicans) have a good idea and it works for the American people.” Unfortunately, what she really means is: if Republicans have an idea that is consistent with Democratic ideology, it will be considered. Since 56% of Americans oppose the Democratic proposals, it is strikingly evident that her rhetoric is off the mark.
This is a historic year for conservatism. Millions of people who would otherwise be uninvolved in politics have become engaged because they are concerned about the direction our country is going. As a nation, it’s time for us to decide what our future will be. We can follow a path of liberal, big government solutions, or we can take the path of freedom and conservatism, where individuals are empowered to make their own decisions. We must make sure this year that our country goes down the right path.
I want to make a request of you. If you are not already involved in the political process, I ask that you become involved. Begin attending Tea Parties and county Republican meetings or organize your own groups. If you haven’t done so, begin studying your candidates and the policies that are threatening to steer our country in the wrong direction. I urge you to become active and help restore our country to the principles we hold dear. We can save our country, but we must do it together. This is our year. We must act now.
As a candidate for Congress, I pledge to campaign in every town in the first district. No door is too far away to knock on and no voter will be neglected. I pledge to walk the district and meet everyone possible. I want to give you the opportunity to find out how I want to help our district. I care about you, our district and our state. This is our year to make Mississippi’s voice really heard in Washington. Let’s do it together.
JACKSON – In a late evening move Senate and House budget conferees reached a joint resolution on restoring cuts made to the current fiscal 2010 budget.
“This bipartisan agreement with the House conferees has taken a lot of hard work and time but it has been worth the fight,” Lt. Governor Bryant said. “SB 2495 makes it possible for us now to continue crafting a fiscal 2011 budget resolution. I appreciate the hard work and dedication of the Senate and House budget conferees through this very challenging process.”
The compromise will restore over $37 million to K-12 including $2 million for National Board Certified Teachers. It fully restores cuts made to District Attorneys and their staff, $4 million to Mental Health, $1.7 million to Public Safety and a total of $16 million to the Department of Corrections. The total amount of restorations made to state agencies is $82 million.
Another part of the agreement includes Governor Barbour adding an additional $4 million to community and junior colleges from his discretionary fund.
Senate Conferees for SB 2495 were: Senators Alan Nunnelee (R-Tupelo), Terry Burton (R-Newton), Doug Davis (R-Hernando). The Senate will reconvene Wednesday at 9:00 a.m.
Former Fox News analyst and Mississippi Republican congressional candidate Angela McGlowan says she will not support Republican opponent Alan Nunnelee if he wins the GOP nomination. She told a local radio show that Nunnelee, a state senator who is the frontrunner in the Republican primary, is a "RINO Republican" who raised taxes. The former news analyst also added that she would support her other Republican opponent, Henry Ross, if he were to win the primary.
Senator Nunnelee says he will put his conservative credentials up against anyone -- and he plans to ignore McGlowan's criticism.
"I use as my role model on things like this the life of a young teenager, [the Old Testament character] David," the senator explains. "David went to the valley of Elah, and there was a giant roaming around in the valley. And if you will read -- I think it's first Samuel, chapter 17 -- David's brothers began to taunt him and to pick a fight with him. And David very wisely ignored the taunts of his brothers because he knew that his energy needed to be focused on the giant in the valley."
Dawn Hynum
Director of Communications
Mississippi Center for Public Policy hynum@mspolicy.org
Office: 601-969-1300
Cell: 601-503-6153
What: Mississippi Center for Public Policy Quarterly Luncheon
When: Tuesday, March 9, 2010 -- 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Downsizing Government - From Someone Who Has Done It
The Honorable Maurice McTigue, former New Zealand Cabinet Minister, will be the keynote speaker at Mississippi Center for Public Policy's quarterly luncheon on March 9, 2010. McTigue will discuss how to achieve cost reduction and improve performance in government.
Mr. McTigue served in New Zealand's government as a Cabinet Minister, Member of Parliament, and Ambassador. McTigue led the efforts to reconstruct New Zealand's public sector and to revitalize the country's economy from 1984-1994. As Minister of Railways, Minister of Works and Development, and Chairman of the Cabinet's Expenditure Control Committee, McTigue worked to apply the results-based criteria and incentives that helped to reinvigorate New Zealand businesses. He later served as New Zealand's ambassador to Canada and received the Queen's Service Order in 1999. In 1997 McTigue joined the Mercatus Center, a public policy research organization based at George Mason University, as a distinguished visiting scholar. For more than a decade he has translated his New Zealand reform experience to policy makers throughout the United States.
The Mississippi Center for Public Policy's quarterly lunch will be held 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the University Club atop the Regions Bank building in Jackson. Tickets for the luncheon are $15 per person and may be purchased at the door. For reservations and more information, contact MCPP's Dawn Hynum at hynum@mspolicy.org or 601-969-1300.
The Senate Committee on Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks met briefly this morning but was adjourned by chairman Tommy Gollott, R-Biloxi, without acting on any remaining House bills.
That included House Bill 1282 that would have restructured deer seasons, giving gun hunters more time, moving primitive weapons to November and eliminating about three weeks of exclusive time afforded archers.
The committee also failed to vote on H.B. 1298, which would have created a spring squirrel season, and H.B. 1137, which would have authorized state wildlife officials to allow the early harvest of antlerless deer on certain lands where needed.
JACKSON, Miss. (Legal Newsline) - Entergy Corp. says Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood should have contacted them before putting out a press release that questioned a transfer of $1.3 billion to the company's nuclear power wing.
Hood issued the press release Friday, two days after the Vermont Senate voted against renewing the company's Vermont nuclear plant for another 20 years. The release featured three questions about the transfer to which Hood demanded answers.
"Our actions have been proper and in compliance with applicable federal income tax law," Entergy Mississippi spokesman Joey Lee said.
"We are confident that had the attorney general contacted Entergy directly, we would have been able to answer his questions."
There are reports that HB 1282, authored by Rep. Bo Eaton, has died in committee this morning. Senator Tommy Gollott called a meeting of the Wildlife Fisheries and Parks Committee in the Senate and did not call it off the calendar.
This is a HUGE political miscalculation for Gollott and the Senate leadership and will negatively impact hunters and farmers statewide. The bill had the full support of MS Department of Wildlife Fisheries and Parks and would have featured and additional 3 full weeks of rifle hunting for the state's young hunters under the age of 16.
Two prominent Republican governors on Tuesday plan to go after Sen. Mary Landrieu, Louisiana Democrat, in an attempt to criticize President Obama’s health-care bill and also highlight what they say is a piling of unfunded mandates onto states.
Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, chairman of the Republican Governors Association (RGA), and Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, RGA vice-chair and a potential Republican candidate for president in 2012, will argue that Landrieu has admitted that states will be saddled with large financial obligations because of Medicaid expansion provisions in the president’s plan.
The governors say Landrieu is “the first Democratic senator to admit that states will have to shoulder significant new costs created by President Obama’s proposed health-care plan,” and plan to call on her to declare what state programs she would cut or what taxes she would raise in order to meet those obligations.
“While we appreciate the senator’s candor, her admission should prompt her and other Democrats to consider exactly how states are going to pay for billions of dollars in new health-care costs,” Barbour said, in a statement provided to The Daily Caller on Monday.
Mississippi's four U.S. representatives will face opposition in this fall's mid-term elections.
As Monday's deadline passed for declaring candidacy, 26 people, including the four incumbents, qualified.
Mississippi does not have a U.S. Senate race this year.
In what will be the most contested race, three Republicans, four independents and a candidate each from the Constitution, Libertarian and Reform parties hope to unseat Democratic Rep. Travis Childers in the 1st District.
Childers, of Booneville, is seeking his second full term.
Interest in this year's race has gained national attention.
DESOTO COUNTY - A.G. Baddley, eschewing affiliation with the nation's two major parties, said it's time for a fresh voice in Washington D.C.
Baddley, 52, a Hernando native, said he's running as an independent in the U.S. First Congressional District race for precisely that reason.
He will face the winners of the Republican and Democratic primaries in the November general election. Candidates running in those contests include Sen. Alan Nunnelee, Eupora Mayor Henry Ross and former Fox News commentator Angela McGowan on the Republican side and incumbent Democrat U.S. Rep. Travis Childers.
"It's time for America to get back to the independence of our founding fathers," Baddley said as he announced the launch of his campaign from the steps of the DeSoto County Courthouse on Saturday. "I hope to bring on board a lot of the TEA Party people. I'm just an average American. I'm conservative. I believe the laws Congress enacts should reflect the will of the people."
MS-01: In an email blast to supporters, Alan Nunnelee provided what he calls a campaign update. One note of interest, he appears to respond to some of the criticisms from McGlowan/ DCCC that he is a tax raiser when he says: “Since being elected to the Mississippi Senate I am proud to have voted over 250 times to lower taxes for the citizens of Mississippi…Over the past two years, Governor Barbour, Lieutenant-Governor Bryant, and I have worked together to make sure your taxes are kept low. These efforts to squeeze out more efficiency’s and to streamline our state government included raising the cigarette tax so we could offset increases in your car tags and to reinstate fees for hospitals that place the burden on users rather than the general public. Hospitals pay twenty-two cents to get one dollar in return.”
MS-01: Henry Ross mailed official debate request letters to McGlowan and Nunnelee on Friday, per a press release issued today. McGlowan and Ross have talked about debates in the past, while we haven’t heard much from Nunnelee’s camp on the issue.
MS-01: There is a write-up in the Desoto Times Tribune about A.G. Baddley, an independent candidate from Hernando. He is a conservative, and says he hopes to work with the Tea Parties to make a name for himself.
Henry Ross Submits Official Debate Request to First District Candidates Ross Proposes a Series of Six Debates for Republican Congressional Candidates
On Friday, February 26th, 2010, the ‘Henry Ross for Congress Campaign’ mailed official debate request letters to the campaigns of Alan Nunnelee and Angela McGlowan. The Ross campaign recommended holding debates in a variety of formats which can be sponsored by College Republicans, various Tea Party Organizations or other interested civic groups.
Commander Ross said, “there is only a short time until voters decide who will represent the Republican Party in the general election, it is incumbent upon us to make certain the voters know our positions and can contrast us as candidates. Therefore, I am proposing that each candidate join me in a series of six debates, two in March, two in April, and two in May, in venues throughout the district.”
The Ross campaign has further invited any new candidates who may enter the campaign before the qualifying deadline. Mr. Ross added that, “I look forward to participating in healthy and spirited debates with the other candidates concerning the pressing issues confronting our nation and our district and state.”
The Ross campaign is urging the candidates to agree to debates quickly so that the respective campaigns can begin determining the terms and the venue for the debate.
Questions about how the Warr family purchased two beachfront houses from the Armed Forces Retirement Home have been answered by the Department of Defense's Inspector General.
The questions came from Congressman Gene Taylor. He wondered how the Warrs were able to buy two valuable beachfront parcels in 2003 for just under a million dollars.
According to a report released by the Inspector General on February 22, the management of the Armed Forces Retirement Home could have gotten more money for the land. But those managers never got an independent appraisal.
"If AFRH officials had required appraisals of the two beachfront properties before the sale, officials may have been able to sell the properties for a higher amount, resulting in additional money for the AFRH Trust Fund," the report stated. "In addition, the use of separate real estate agents could have decreased the appearance of a conflict of interest and increased documentation of the negotiations."
WLOX
3/1/10
Posted March 1, 2010 - 8:16 pm
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Thursday, March 11, 2010
