Study finds Social Security privatization
would cause cuts to guaranteed benefits

111,000 Mississippians would fall into poverty without promised benefits
JACKSON (Thursday, Aug. 7, 2008) – Current and future Social Security recipients sounded the alarm today about the long-term economic impact in Mississippi of a John McCain/George W. Bush-style privatization plan for Social Security.

A report released this week by the nonprofit Institute for America’s Future says that McCain’s privatization plan would cut guaranteed benefits by $96,818 over the course of a single recipient’s lifetime.

“Currently, 559,344 Mississippi residents rely on Social Security – the most effective anti-poverty program in our country since its inception,” said Barbara Blackmon, vice chair of the Mississippi Democratic Party.

“Diverting money away from the Social Security Trust and gambling it in the stock market takes the guarantee out of guaranteed benefits for current and future retirees. If Sen. McCain – and the same folks who stood by President Bush the last time this was tried – manages to privatize Social Security, we can expect 111,000 Mississippians to be thrust into poverty.”

The financial burden of health care, nutrition and housing for retirees and other beneficiaries will fall to our state and to our families. As the report from the Institute for America’s Future explains, McCain’s privatization plan would endanger the $6 billion in annual funds from Social Security recipients upon which local businesses and state government rely.

“Sen. McCain has been quite clear, offering more of the same failed Bush economic policies and saying personally that he believes that the way Social Security works is a ‘disgrace,’” Blackmon said. “But the people of Mississippi disagree. We say ‘No’ to the same old politics that put Wall Street profits ahead of our families.

“We can work together to ensure that Social Security will continue to be a strong and vital component of American life. But privatization is the wrong thing to do and would only serve to destroy the most effective anti-poverty program in our history.

“In this election, the choice is clear: Sen. McCain, who wants to privatize Social Security, or Sen. Obama who will work with Congress and the American people to ensure we honor America’s promise to us all, and that we can someday retire in dignity.”

MS Democratic Party Release
8/7/8

“Give Us This Day Our Daily” Beef….

Government Response

A few excerpts . . .

In the present case, Robert L. Moultrie, Nixon E. Cawood, the entities that make up The
Facility Group and others are charged with conspiring to bribe a public official in violation of Title
18, United States Code, Sections 666(a)(2) and 371. The elements of conspiracy under 371 are (1)
an agreement between two or more people, (2) to commit a crime, and (3) an overt act performed
by one of the members in furtherance of that agreement.

. . . .

Robin Williams was a member of the Georgia Legislature while employed as a “consultant”
for Robert Moultrie and The Facility Group. Williams attended an April 2, 2003 dinner with the
public official, one of the public official’s campaign employees and Robert Moultrie. The dinner
took place in Jackson, Mississippi just days before The Facility Group was announced as Project
Manager of Mississippi Beef Processors, LLC. After dining with the public official, Moultrie and
The Facility Group billed the costs of the dinner with the public official as well as Moultrie’s travel
to the dinner back to the State of Mississippi as a business expense.

Concerning the Project Management Agreement and the related fundraiser, Williams offered
the Grand Jury the following testimony about a conversation he had with Robert Moultrie:

Grand Juror: You said it (the fundraiser) was already planned. So the
(public official) knew there was going to be a (sic) fundraiser before the
contract was signed?

Robin Williams: I - - this - - here is what I was told that day. On the phone
this is what was told. We got the contract. I’ve (Moultrie) got to do a
fundraiser for the (public official). I’ve got to raise $100,000 dollars. Now,
in that - - the contract to me took that they had done their deal and this is the
date. And the date was pretty quickly after phone call. He said we’re going
to be in Smyrna at my home. I need you to bring some money.

Documentary evidence proves invitations for the fundraiser for the public official were sent
out on July 7, 2003, just days before the contract was signed on July 11, 2003. Less than two weeks
later, on July 23, 2003, a fundraiser for the public official was held at Moultrie’s Smyrna, Georgia
residence. Moultrie, Cawood and employees of The Facility Group and others raised $25,000 for
the public official3 and Williams provided a check for $25,000 to the Democratic Governors
Association.

Then, less than seven days after the fundraiser, The Facility Group created a Political Action
Committee, from which it gave two more contributions to the public official in the amounts of
$20,000 and $25,000 respectively for a total of $95,000 raised by Moultrie, Cawood and The
Facility Group.

. . .

Why so much interest in a race two states away from their home state
of Georgia?

Neither Moultrie, Cawood nor The Facility Group gave a single dime to the public official
when he ran for office in 1999. But it should be noted they were not in the hunt for a multi-million
dollar contract to manage the construction of a beef processing plant in Mississippi that year like
they were in 2003.

Similarly, there is no evidence of any contributions by The Facility Group PAC to any other
Mississippi public official – ever. Furthermore, a quick study of The Facility Group’s PAC reveals
that their PAC contributions alone to the Mississippi public official are almost 5 X more than The
Facility Group gave to any officials in its home state of Georgia during the entire existence of the
PAC.

To further evidence their corrupt intent, in addition to reimbursing company employees for
their campaign contributions under the disguise of a “bonus”, after receiving the contract, The
Facility Group began “padding” its billings to the State of Mississippi, Richard Hall and Mississippi
Beef Processors, to recoup the amount of money it spent on bribe payments.

Slabbed
8/6/8

Government is not the long-term fix to poverty

Last week, the Mississippi House of Representatives Select Committee on Poverty conducted a public hearing in Laurel to discuss issues of poverty in Mississippi. Several of our local representatives attended the event, which was successfully spearheaded by State Rep. Omeria Scott. As a part of the hearing, an informative presentation on poverty was shared by representatives from Mississippi’s Institutions of Higher Learning. It was an important hearing to attend, and I was honored to have been invited.


After some initial presentations, an opportunity was allowed to ask questions and make comments. The group discussion quickly revolved around government assistance in combating poverty. Instead of searching for solutions of a personal or local nature, some among the crowd, which consisted of hardworking people, focused only on the responsibility of government. To be honest, it broke my heart, because government has already demonstrated that it cannot adequately satisfy their concerns.

To a few in our society, it has sadly become a generational habit to expect government to owe the benefits it confers, but impoverished Mississippians deserve more than false hopes provided by government programs and the false promises of government salvation. We have allowed government to wage its ineffective war on poverty for 44 years; now it is time for a different approach.



Sen Chris McDaniel
Leader Call
8/7/8

“Actions Speak Louder Than Words”- Davis Challenges Childers’ Voting Record

While prices are high and families are struggling, Congressman Travis Childers holds tightly to the Democratic Party line instead of helping his constituents.

Southaven, MS –Greg Davis, republican candidate for congress responded today to comments made by Travis Childers in the Tupelo Daily Journal. When asked about a third party ad that focused on his liberal voting record, Childers referred to the content as ‘petty’ politics.

“Gasoline at nearly $4.00 per gallon is not ‘petty’ politics and neither is preventing America from producing more of our own energy”, said Greg Davis. “The issues facing our families are not ‘petty’ and Congressman Childers should be more concerned with supporting our district than with supporting the failed policies of Nancy Pelosi and her ‘Do Nothing-Drill Nowhere Congress’.”

While campaigning, Childers often spoke of his desire to lower gas prices. He now appears more concerned with pleasing Speaker Pelosi and other democratic leadership than supporting the people of the first district. “You know the old adage, “actions speak louder than words”? “Maybe he thinks that doesn’t apply once you get to D.C,” Davis said. Despite voting in support of Pelosi and the Democratic Party 87% of the time, Childers continues to portray himself as a conservative.

“Travis Childers has certainly demonstrated his priorities and his loyalties since arriving in D.C, and neither seems to include Mississippi families. The people are suffocating from some of the highest energy prices in history and Childers is voting to stop legislation that would provide relief,” said Davis.

Childers’ record is clear and proves that in a very short period of time, he has fallen in step with D.C. democrats and out of step with the Mississippians he promised to represent.

Voted against allowing debate on any measures to reduce gas prices. (H.R. 6056, CQ Vote #338, Motion agreed to 223-190: R 1-188; D 222-2, 5/21/08)

Voted against consideration any measures to reduce gas prices, as well as consideration of the “Clean Energy Tax Stimulus Act,” which includes tax incentives for energy production and conservation .(H.R. 5658, CQ Vote #340, Motion agreed to 235-186: R 9-185; D 226-1; I 0-0, 5/21/08)

Voted against consideration of a measure to permit oil exploration in ANWR. (S. Con. Res. 70, CQ Vote #341, Motion agreed to 229-186: R 8-183; D 221-3, 5/21/08)

Voted against a motion to recommit to require a study on the feasibility of using former military installations for new oil refineries. (H.R. 5658, CQ Vote #364: Motion Rejected 186-223: R 184-1; D 2-222, 5/22/08)

Voted against allowing debate on any measures to reduce gas prices. (H.R. 3021, CQ Vote #370, Motion agreed to 221-196: R 0-193; D 221-3, 6/4/08)

Voted against allowing consideration of the “No More Excuses Energy Act,” which includes oil and gas leasing in ANWR and OCS, as well as establishing new refineries and a tax credit for nuclear energy (H.R. 6003, CQ Vote #391, Motion agreed to 227-185: R 5-183; D 222-2, 6/10/08)


Greg Davis Campaign Release
8/7/8

Hood claimed credit for State Farm paying an additional $74 million of Katrina settlement money. State Farm paid this money, following the
collapse of a deal between State Farm and Dickie Scruggs, with Hood's approval, to certify and then settle a class action involving some 36,000 Mississippi homeowners. The class action settlement was rejected by U.S. District Court Judge L.T. Senter, Jr., who was concerned, among other things, about procedural unfairness of the process set up under the agreement to settle claims, and about what exactly Scruggs would do to earn some $15 million due him under the settlement. This failed class action was a backdrop to a settlement at about the same time of some 640 Katrina cases by Scruggs and State Farm (this settlement money, of course, is what led to the dispute within the Scruggs Katrina Group over allocation of the dough, leading to ejection of attorney John Jones from the group and a lawsuit by Jones, leading to Scruggs trying to grease with wheels of the lawsuit by bribing the judge over a procedural matter of sending the case to arbitration).

If you need or want a refresher on the Hood lawsuit, I wrote about it back in 2007, including in this post. Hood's lawsuit alleged State Farm breached its agreement to make additional payments to Mississippi homeowners, which as you can see, was part of the class action proposal. Earth to Hood: one problem with this theory --(1) when a federal judge steps on your agreement, you are relieved from performance of it, and (2) State Farm had already agreed, in a deal with then-Insurance Commissioner George Dale, to reopen the claims, which resulted in payments that probably were about equivalent to what they would have paid under the class action process, minus the dough to Scruggs. (The failure of Scruggs to get the money turned out to be an incredibly lucky thing for him. Hey, what's an extra $15 million to a guy who's already loaded, anyway?

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, just another example of Jim's incredible Hoodzpah. If I was George Dale, I'd be pretty ticked off. The earliest Hood started talking about his lawsuit was somewhere around May 2007, as you can see from this post I wrote from that time.

Here, by the way, is a press release from Hood's office, which has a link in it so you can listen to the press conference, if you care to.

Now look at this press release from Dale last December. In it, he says the figure for all settlement money because of his agreements with State Farm and Nationwide to re-evaluate claim totaled $110 million -- Nationwide paid out an additional $40 million, in addition to the State Farm dough.

Check it out. It's on pages 73 and 74 of the transcript of that [Natchez] proceeding, and you can find the transcript as the top link in this post I wrote in February 008. (I link to the post rather than just the transcript because I want you to read the first paragraph of the post, it's one I thought was pretty funny).

Do you see what Hood said? He didn't know the first thing about the process, how much was paid, who was getting paid, and so forth. He even doubted State Farm had paid $70 million! But when it comes time to settle the lawsuit, he covers his tail by claiming credit for the results he testified he didn't know a thing about. If you read the seven or eight pages before the ones I cited, you will see I am correct. Another amazing display of Hoodzpah.

Insurance Coverage Law Blog
8/7/8

The Mississippi Press Editorial, 8/7/8

Gov. Haley Barbour was wise to shut down the special legislative session that was beginning to look as if it might never end.

The session whimpered to a halt Monday without lawmakers solving the Medicaid budget problem. Instead, the governor acted unilaterally to fill the budget hole with a tax on hospitals that had stalled in the House.

Since May 21, the governor, Senate and House played budget brinkmanship on the Medicaid issue. Even on Monday the House was trying to craft a Medicaid budget solution that included a tobacco tax increase opposed by Barbour. The governor ended the standoff with his plan to enact a solution that doesn't include the Legislature. Evidently the governor was listening to pleas not to turn the impasse into a major upheaval in the lives of some of the state's most vulnerable residents. Barbour had threatened $375 million in Medicaid cuts, but backed off that and came up with this week's solution.

The Clarion-Ledger, 8/7/8

The U.S. Department of Justice has given its OK for Mississippi to put into action the state's most sweeping government ethics and transparency reform in decades.

Gov. Haley Barbour signed into law in May a bill that gives the Mississippi Ethics Commission significantly more authority.

Because the law touches on portions of state law dealing with the election and removal of public officials, it required federal approval before it could go into effect. In a letter sent Tuesday, the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division informed state officials that U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey "does not interpose any objection" to the law.

The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, 8/7/8

Mississippi Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann said Senate Bill 2006 has the ability to slow metal theft in Mississippi, but everyone will have to get on board to make it work.

Hosemann spoke to more than two dozen law enforcement personnel, state representatives and media at Tupelo City Hall on Wednesday about a plan to curb the "massive metal epidemic plaguing our state."

"Copper theft harms every citizen in the state," said Hosemann. "It raises insurance costs and costs counties millions of dollars. It fuels drug issues because people are using the money from the stolen metals to buy drugs, so this is a problem that has to be taken care of."

Hosemann said Bill 2006, which was passed during the recent special session, requires metal dealers to register with the state and to collect personal data from people selling metals. Dealers who don't comply with the bill can be fined or put in jail.

A New York man who pleaded guilty to murder in Oregon in exchange for buckets of fried chicken will get calzones and pizza to go with his life sentence.

Tremayne Durham, 33, of New York City, admitted last month that he fatally shot Adam Calbreath, 39, of Gresham, in June 2006. Durham wanted to sell ice cream and ordered an $18,000 truck from an Oregon company. He later changed his mind, but the company wouldn’t provide a refund.

The would-be ice cream man came to Oregon and killed Calbreath, a former employee of the company, while looking for its owner, authorities said.

Durham agreed to plead guilty to murder — but only if he could get a break from jail food. The judge agreed and granted Durham a feast of KFC chicken, Popeye’s chicken, mashed potatoes, coleslaw, carrot cake and ice cream.

After Wednesday’s sentencing, Durham was to get the rest of the deal — calzones, lasagna, pizza and ice cream, his defense attorney confirmed. They will pay the tab.
Durham also got married Wednesday in a civil ceremony at the Portland courthouse. The wedding to Vanessa Davis, 48, also of New York City, was not part of the plea deal that will give Durham a chance for parole after 30 years.

Deputy District Attorney Josh Lamborn said Multnomah County Judge Eric Bergstrom made the right call in allowing the unusual plea agreement because it saved the expense of a trial and possible appeals.

Clarion Ledger
8/7/8

The Associated Press, 8/6/8

Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood said Wednesday that his office has settled its dispute with State Farm Insurance Cos. over how the insurer handled Hurricane Katrina damage claims in Mississippi.

State Farm has complied with a January 2007 agreement with the state by reopening some claims and agreeing to pay more than $74 million more to Gulf Coast policyholders whose homes were damaged or destroyed by Katrina's storm surge, Hood said in a news release.

Hood said the insurer also has agreed to notify nearly 150 more State Farm policyholders who haven't sued or settled their claims that they can still have their cases reevaluated.

The Sun Herald, 8/6/8

State Auditor Stacey Pickering has asked a judge to decide whether it was legal for an outside law firm to receive $14 million for their work on Mississippi's settlement with MCI Inc.

Pickering filed his motion with Hinds County Circuit Judge Winston Kidd on Tuesday.

At issue is the fee paid to the law office of Joey Langston for assisting Attorney General Jim Hood in the 2005 settlement with MCI over tax law violations.

Sid Salter is reporting the same DCCC that gleefully published a racial ad is now ready to give Travis Childers another $1,000,000.

Oh, if only those dots could get connected in the media . . .

An attorney for Paul Minor says federal prosecutors are "unthinking and unfeeling" for not releasing the convicted lawyer from prison to be with his sick wife.

Abbe Lowell, Minor's attorney, claims in a news release that his client "was improperly selected for prosecution" by a politicized U.S. Justice Department.

Prosecutors have said in court papers the claims of selective prosecution are full of "speculation and innuendo."

AP via WDAM
8/7/8

Government's request for jury questionnaires

Wright's response to that motion

Feds: Query jury pool for Melton trial in private

U.S. Justice Department prosecutor Mark Blumberg filed a motion Wednesday asking U.S. District Court Judge Daniel Jordan to approve closing some of the jury selection to the public. Blumberg asked Jordan to allow jurors to be interviewed individually in the judge's chambers because of "the sensitive nature of the topics which must be explored in this case."

Melton and former bodyguards Marcus Wright and Michael Recio are charged with civil rights and weapons violation charges. Their trial has been set for Nov. 12.

Blumberg also asked Jordan to let fill out a questionnaire two weeks before the trial, which he said "would encourage more candid responses to sensitive questions."

"As the Court is aware, this is a high-profile case involving a sitting elected official who is one of the most well-known political leaders in the state of Mississippi," he wrote in the motion.



Clarion Ledger
8/7/8

The New York Times crowd is all abuzz about racially charged ads from Democratic Challenger Nikki Tinker against incumbent Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN).

Here's the ad.



It's a disgusting ad and deserves the scorn it now receives. There is apparently a subsequent ad that Cohen's campaign has produced that has some code worded anti-Semitic language aimed at Cohen. It has, of course, been pulled from YouTube.

Mr. Cohen’s campaign said it was an unusually direct effort to inject race into the contest.

Oh, really?

The DCCC (Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee) put out this ad on behalf of Travis Childers on the eve of his election.




The ad proudly proclaimed "It's up to us to stop him (Davis)".

I suppose that when charges of supporting a statue linked to the KKK get levelled at a Democrat, the world must stop and hiss. When it happens to a Republican like Greg Davis, it's business as usual. The DCCC in fact defended the flier's distribution in the Childers vs. Davis race. And when it happened, the New York Times, Commercial Appeal, and the Clarion Ledger were nowhere to be found . . . and they remain silent still.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said she understands some of the questions Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) raised about the surge policy in Iraq, but says today's conditions in the war zone would be only "wishful thinking" without it.

In an interview Wednesday with Politico and Yahoo! News, Rice pointed out that the two presidential candidates’ positions on Iraq “seem to be narrowing somewhat.” And she said that is only possible because of the reduction in violence that has followed President Bush’s approval of a surge of new U.S. forces.

“If I had been sitting here a year ago telling you [that] American forces, as General [David] Petraeus has suggested, [will ]be able to continue to come down, … you would have said, ‘Oh, come now — that’s wishful thinking,’” she said.

Asked about Obama, who opposed the surge, she acknowledged: “There were reasons to have questions about the surge. The president asked all of those tough questions himself. The advisors asked all of those tough questions.”

The secretary was asked if Obama would now benefit from the surge he once opposed, since the gains made from the increased troops are making withdrawals of U.S. forces more feasible, if not nearly as fast as most Democrats – and some Republicans – would like.

“Well, America has benefited from the surge,” she said. “Iraq has benefited from the surge. And the whole region has benefited from the surge.”

Rice, who has often been mentioned as a potential running mate for Arizona Sen. John McCain, demurred when asked if she might serve as second in command to Obama.

“I don’t need another job in government with anybody,” she said. “Look, I’m a Republican, all right? Senator McCain is a fine patriot and … he would be a great president. But there’s something to be said for fresh blood. And I know that there are a lot of very good people who could be his vice president.”

During the interview in a regal room at the State Department appointed with chandeliers, rich carpets and cases of porcelain, Rice was asked: “Would you feel safe with a President Obama?"

"Oh, the United States will be fine,” she responded. “I think that we are having an important debate about how we keep the country safe. I think we are having an important debate about our responsibilities, our obligations, our interests in the Middle East in the wake of the now increasing evidence of success in Iraq. Those are important judgments for the American people to make.”

Rice insisted that Iraqis are “not quite ready” for the complete withdrawal of coalition forces. But she said the current discussions about additional responsibilities that Iraqis can shoulder are “a happy day for America.”

“The negotiations that are going on now on how to sustain a presence as long as it is needed are very important negotiations,” she said. “The United States worked for the day and the coalition worked for the day when Iraqi security forces would be capable of taking on most of these roles themselves.”

“I think the Iraqis recognize that there are still things that they need the coalition to do,” she added. “There’s still training missions that need to be done. There are even still combat missions that need to be done. But the very fact that we are having discussions with the Iraqis about the turnover of these responsibilities is a happy day for America.”

Rice, one of a tiny few officials who have been in the inner circle for all eight years of the Bush administration, said that rather than write a memoir, she plans a Kissinger-style book about fundamental transformations in foreign policy during this presidency.

The secretary said she plans to write a book about “American foreign policy in this period of time,” which she said has been “fundamentally transformed - the role that we’ve played in recognizing the importance of turning weak states into democratically governed stronger states; the role that we’ve played in changing, I think forever, the way that people think about terrorism and what has to be done to defeat it; the role that we’ve played in bringing the insistence on democracy as a core value in our foreign policy, not just for the rest of the world but also for the Middle East.”

“There’s a lot to talk about in this eight years,” she said. “I’m looking forward to writing about it.”
Politico
8/7/8

Attorney General Jim Hood and State Farm have reached a truce - in court, anyway.

Hood held a news conference at his Biloxi office Wednesday to announce State Farm has honored its obligation to re-evaluate Coast Katrina claims, leading to settlement of a lawsuit he filed against the company in Hinds County Chancery Court.

He credited the lawsuit with forcing State Farm to pay policyholders an additional $74 million. However, Hood filed the lawsuit in June 2007, after State Farm had begun the re-evaluation process under the Mississippi Insurance Department's supervision. Hood's lawsuit accused the company of violating an agreement with his office that called for federal court supervision of the re-evaluation.

"We find it perplexing Attorney General Hood would claim full credit for a process he opposed from day one and was the foundation for his lawsuit against us, which he now has settled," State Farm spokesman Fraser Engerman said Wednesday.

Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney, who was on the Coast to speak to two different groups Wednesday, said after hearing about Hood's remarks: "I think he's crazy to call a press conference on a lawsuit claiming credit for something he didn't do."

Chaney credited his predecessor, George Dale, for heading up the re-evaluation. Dale also directed Nationwide to re-examine its claims, leading to an additional $40 million in payments.

Hood said a spot check shows State Farm met or exceeded its obligation to pay each policyholder left with only pilings or a slab 50 percent of structural policy limits for all covered losses, including contents.

With federal court supervision, Hood believes policyholders would have been paid north of $400 million.

The settlement ends legal disputes between Hood and State Farm that began less than three weeks after Katrina - when Hood sued major insurance companies for refusing to cover hurricane damage.

He also launched a criminal investigation of State Farm that ended only after the insurance company sued to stop it.

copy of settlement agreement

Sun Herald
8/7/8

B-R-E-T-T . . . Brett! Brett! Brett

The most famous ballplayer in Oak Grove High School history that never took a live snap for the team has been traded. The Brett Favre saga seems now to be over as late last night Brett Favre was traded to the New York Jets.

Green Bay fans can still root for Favre . . . if the Jets go to the Superbowl, the Pack will get a first round draft pick from the Jets.

According to the NFL Network, if Favre takes 50 percent of total snaps with the Jets in 2008, the fourth-rounder becomes a third-round pick. If he gets 70 percent of the snaps and the Jets make the playoffs, it becomes a second-round pick; and if he gets 80 percent of snaps and the Jets make the Super Bowl, it becomes a first-round pick.

One more piece that has not been widely reported beyond the headline is the "poison pill" that Green Bay inserted in the deal.

. . . the Packers took great pains to ensure that Favre would not be traded to the Vikings by inserting a "poison pill" in the deal. If Favre were to be traded to Minnesota, the Jets would have to surrender three first-round picks to Green Bay.

Apparently, folks in Wisconsin don't like folks in Minnesota very much.

YallSports
8/7/8

Faces




DSCC
8/5/8

Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood says his lawsuit against State Farm Insurance made the company pay $74 million it initially refused to give to policyholders affected by 2005's Hurricane Katrina.

State Farm didn't exactly agree Wednesday, responding to a press conference during which Hood announced he was dropping the lawsuit he filed against the company after Katrina.

Much has happened since then, including a federal judge rejecting a Jan. 2007 settlement reached by the two sides, a breach of contract suit by Hood, a major war of words between the two and State Farm establishing a claims revisiting process with the state's Insurance Department.

"We find it perplexing Attorney General Hood is taking full credit for the resolution process he opposed and was the basis for his lawsuit against State Farm which he has now settled," State Farm said in a statement.

"Nonetheless, we are pleased the Attorney General understands State Farm has met its obligations under the agreement made with his office in Jan. 2007. State Farm has been focused on resolving all pending matters related to Katrina and this is another step toward resolution."

Hood alleged in June 2007 a bad faith breach of contract on State Farm's part for refusing to reconstruct the rejected January settlement.

In the aftermath of Katrina, Hood said five insurance companies wrongfully represented the amount of water damage to some homes because flood damage, covered by the National Flood Insurance Program, is excluded from their policies.

The two sides appeared to have settled in Jan. 2007 when State Farm agreed to terms that could have cost them between $50 million-$500 million, Hood estimated.

However, U.S. District Judge L.T. Senter rejected parts of the settlement because he worried about the amount of control State Farm would possess during an arbitration process that started when a policyholder rejected the company's initial claim -- an automatic 50 percent of the structural value of the property according to the policy.

Because State Farm did not fix the rejected settlement to conform to the federal court's guidelines, Hood says the company breached its contract with the state.

State Farm, meanwhile, began revisiting claims as part of a deal reached with Insurance Commissioner George Dale. That deal, State Farm said, mirrored the one originally reached with Hood.

It is through that process that State Farm has paid $74 million to policyholders.
Legal Newsline
8/6/8

Jackson Police Department Gets Big Check For Overtime Costs

The Jackson Police Department got a much-needed boost from the State of Mississippi Wednesday as State Senator David Blount (D) handed over a big check.

"This is our first time to go over and ask for this, and we came back with it," said Hinds County Sheriff Malcolm McMillin.

Senator Blount gave $160,000 to the Jackson Police Department at their weekly meeting that would help to offset overtime costs associated with working at state events such as the Dixie National Rodeo and the Mississippi State Fair. The check does not cover overtime costs associated with events such as local parades. Sheriff McMillin added that a big problem they've had this year was the lack of overtime.

"Those of us in Jackson and in this Jackson Police Department know that there are increased costs associated with providing public safety at events in Jackson that are here because this is the state capital," said Senator Blount to police present at the meeting. "It's something that I worked on very hard."

Senate Bill 3157, an appropriation bill for the Department of Finance and Administration, was signed by Governor Haley Barbour at the end of regular session this year, and money was made available at the end of July, according to Senator Blount.



Fox40
8/6/8

Gallo Notes: August 7th, 2008


Who Needs MHA

The Clarion-Ledger’s Opinion Page Editorial reads, “What did taxpayers get for $600K?” Another question that should be asked is-“What did the Mississippi Hospital Association members get for $300,000.00?” I’ve heard from more than one source that some member hospitals, especially those who may have received enormous membership fee increases, aren’t really happy with King Sam the Cameron. On one hand King Sam has a palace, a wonderful staff of loyal workers, one dragon-size salary, perks fit for a king and some friends in high places. On the other hand, the member hospitals get………….……………….uh, hold on, I’m thinking. I’ll have to get back to you on that one.


Queen Mother Gives Blessing

Thanks to Queen Mother Pelosi, House members who are in jeopardy of losing have received her blessing to tell their constituents they are FOR drilling. You gotta love the Democrat Party. If you want a politician to tell you exactly what you want to hear, why would you go anywhere else? The Queen Mother said she is releasing several in-jeopardy members from their death grip environmental, eko-geeko obligation so they can say they now support drilling. She says she’ll that the heat. Totally unrelated question-“What’s the actual melting point of Botox?”

Barack H. Obama (I put only the H. so as not to draw undue attention) also got the same DNC Howard Dean memo to ease back a bit. As voting gasoline consumers we should demand immediate action on drilling legislation now, not after another vacation. At around $4.00 per gallon, this is not something that can wait till after the House and Senate are totally dominated by Liberals. In other words, if SENATOR Obama, Senator Reid, Madam Speaker and the rest are willing to drill, then do it NOW, before the election. Show us how serious you are by gaveling in and voting yes. It’s not like the tank of gas that we bought is going to last until after the November Presidential election.


Gays In The Military

Senator B.O. has stated more than once that he’s coming to the aid of the homosexual community. It seems even before he solves the energy problem with mandatory tire inflation legislation, he’s intent blowing away with the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” military policy. The vast, vast majority of military experts-who have actual military experience-don’t think it’s a very good idea. But a President Obama would likely make the Armed Forces more homosexually friendly.

As I mentioned on the air, consider this unintended consequence. With rapid fire communication technology today, culture trends happen now in weeks, not years. Is it possible, after say eight years of Obama , that a frightening percentage of heterosexual young men and women view the military as an occupation for cohabitation? If that mindset becomes the prevalent undertones of jokes from the gym to Saturday Night Live, we could see a drastic reduction in recruitment. Should that happen, Congress would have no choice but to reactivate the DRAFT! As my Italian grandmother use to say, “What Goes Around, Comes Around!” Of course she did it with an accent.

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Attorney General Jim Hood and State Farm have settled a lawsuit Hood's office filed against the company.

Hood said State Farm has paid policyholder an additional $74 million for Hurricane Katrina claims, meeting requirements that company had agreed to with his office in January 2007.

As part of the settlement, State Farm has agreed to notify 148 policyholders who had only slabs or piers after the hurricane that they can have their claims re-evaluated as well.

So far, these policyholders have not participated in the re-evaluation process or filed lawsuits against the company.

Sun Herald
8/6/8

Magnolia Report, 8/6/8

2008 Neshoba County Fair Speeches- Lester Spell

Magnolia Report, 8/6/8

2008 Neshoba County Fair Speeches- Mike Chaney

Magnolia Report, 8/6/8

2008 Neshoba County Fair Speeches- Stacey Pickering

State Auditor Stacey Pickering Files Motion for Summary Judgment in MCI Case



Jackson, Miss. – State Auditor Stacey Pickering filed a motion on Tuesday for summary judgment in the MCI Settlement case asking Hinds County Circuit Court Judge Winston Kidd to determine whether the $14 million paid directly to The Langston Law Firm for their service as outside counsel retained by the Attorney General’s office was in compliance with State law.



Prior to filing this motion, two federal judges, one in New York and one in Mississippi, both ruled that this issue is a matter of state law and should be decided in a Mississippi court. “The agreement between Joey Langston, Attorney General Jim Hood and the judge in the original settlement acted outside the law when entering into a contract to pay Langston for his services without that money being appropriated through the Legislature,” said State Auditor Stacey Pickering. Precedent shows it is unlawful under Mississippi Code 7-5-7 to use public money to pay outside counsel retained as special assistants to the Mississippi Attorney General, except out of the Attorney General’s contingent funds or monies appropriated by the Mississippi Legislature.



In requesting summary judgment in this case, the State Auditor feels there is no need to incur the expense of a trial because this is a matter that is ready to be decided by Judge Kidd and/or the Supreme Court. “The matter has been ruled on in two federal courts, and the courts have ruled favorably to the State Auditor and the State of Mississippi. “Summary judgment would allow this case to move forward expeditiously and save the taxpayer’s money.” A decision from Judge Kidd is expected this fall.



The MCI settlement in 2005 was in favor of the State of Mississippi and resulted in $100 million, and an additional $14 million paid directly to Langston Law Firm for special assistant fees. It is illegal for public funds to be spent except upon a two-thirds vote of the Mississippi Legislature. The State Auditor’s Office contends that the Langston Law Firm received its $14 million fee in violation of the Mississippi Code and Mississippi Constitution. The Office of the State Auditor contends that any fees should have been approved by the Mississippi Legislature.



Since taking office January 10, 2008, State Auditor Stacey Pickering has recovered over $1.1 million. The total amount of funds recovered in FY 2008 ending June 30 by the Office of the State Auditor was $1,918,092.08.


State Auditor Stacey Pickering Press Release
8/6/8

Magnolia Report, 8/6/8

2008 Neshoba County Fair Speeches- Tate Reeves

Magnolia Report, 8/6/8

2008 Neshoba County Fair Speeches- Delbert Hosemann

Magnolia Report, 8/6/8

2008 Neshoba County Fair Speeches- Jim Hood

Magnolia Report, 8/6/8

2008 Neshoba County Fair Speeches- Phil Bryant

Magnolia Report, 8/6/8

2008 Neshoba County Fair Speeches- Jim Smith

Magnolia Report, 8/6/8

2008 Neshoba County Fair Speeches- Jim Kitchens

Magnolia Report, 8/6/8

2008 Neshoba County Fair Speeches- Gregg Harper

Magnolia Report, 8/6/8

2008 Neshoba County Fair Speeches- Joel Gill

Magnolia Report, 8/6/8

2008 Neshoba County Fair Speeches- Roger Wicker

Magnolia Report, 8/6/8

2008 Neshoba County Fair Speeches- Ronnie Musgrove

Magnolia Report, 8/6/8

2008 Neshoba County Fair Speeches- Haley Barbour

The Clarion-Ledger, 8/6/8

A day after barring county coroners from using Dr. Steven Hayne to perform autopsies, Mississippi's public safety commissioner said he hopes to hire a state medical examiner in six months and the embattled pathologist could apply.

"He's performed a valuable service," Commissioner Steve Simpson said of Hayne during a Tuesday news conference.

Hinds County Assistant Public Defender Matthew Eichelberger disputed Simpson's statement about Hayne.

"I'm sure Levon Brooks, Kennedy Brewer, Yolanda Williams, Corey Maye, Tyler Edmonds and Brett Jones would disagree," he said, referring to cases in which Hayne's conclusions have been challenged.

The Clarion-Ledger, 8/6/8

Mississippi's enthusiasm could give it an edge in securing a $450 million Homeland Security laboratory, officials say.

Hundreds of people attended a public hearing Tuesday in Flora on the proposed National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility. The general sentiment from the crowd was positive.

"Most of these people are here because they support it," Flora Mayor Scott Greaves said.

The town is among six finalists for the lab, which will study animal diseases.

"This is a gigantic opportunity - not only for Flora and central Mississippi but for the whole state," Gov. Haley Barbour said.

The Clarion-Ledger, 8/6/8

Jackson Mayor Frank Melton has more time to prepare to defend himself against the latest criminal charges leveled against him.

U.S. District Court Judge Daniel Jordan approved an order Tuesday setting Nov. 12 as the date Melton and his former police bodyguards, Marcus Wright and Michael Recio, will stand trial on federal charges related to damage caused to a northwest Jackson duplex nearly two years ago.

Federal prosecutors didn't object to the delay.

A federal magistrate judge set an Aug. 18 trial date after Melton, Wright and Recio were served with a three-count federal indictment last month. Attorneys for the trio said they needed additional time to prepare their defense.

The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal Editorial, 8/6/8

State Sen. David Baria, D-Bay St. Louis, is being accused in some quarters of killing legislation that would ensure the continued op eration of a Mississippi Department of Health lab.

Indeed, Baria did use a procedure granted by the Mississippi Constitution to hold the bill on a motion to reconsider Monday after it was passed. That motion meant the Senate would have to stay another day to dispose of that motion and release the bill to the other chamber.

Rather than doing that, a majority of the Senate, led by Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant, opted to end the special session, effectively killing the legislation. Unless other steps are taken, the lab, which among other things tests for West Nile virus, runs the risk of being shut down.

On the surface some might say the death of the bill and the ultimate possible demise of the lab is Baria's fault. But people who say that are only trying to make political points.

The fact of the matter is that the House also had passed legislation to ensure that the lab remained open. That legislation was either in the Senate or would have been in the Senate before the day was up.