Category: Governor
Gov. Haley Barbour’s 2008 ‘State of the State’ Address
[verbatim] Governor Bryant; Speaker McCoy; ladies and gentlemen of the Legislature; and fellow Mississippians: This is the fifth time you have allowed Marsha and me to join you in this historic chamber to report on the State of our State. Were honored the people of Mississippi have allowed us this opportunity, and IҒm grateful and proud to have the best partner a man could have to help meet this challenge, Marsha.
It is appropriate we are again together for this occasion on Dr. Martin Luther King Day. Our state has the highest percentage African-American population; and the issues, with which we will deal, affect all Mississippians and should receive our best effort to serve the interests of all.
Posted by ladd at 06:12 PM on 01/21/08. Discuss (7)
Haley Barbour’s 2008 Inaugural Address
[Verbatim/Jan. 15, 2008]
Mr. Chief Justice, Governor Bryant, Speaker McCoy, fellow state officials, Senator Cochran, Senator Wicker, Secretary Espy, members of the Congressional Delegation, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Legislature, other distinguished guests, family and friends: Four years ago Marsha and I were here to accept the highest honor the people of Mississippi can bestow on someone, and it was humbling, challenging and exhilarating all at once. It was an unbelievable day for Marsha, our sons and me. And today we are even more grateful for the confidence the voters have shown in us and for all the help so many of you gave us in the election. We also thank all of you who pray for us. We appreciate your prayers and need them.
No one deserves my thanks as much as Marsha, my helpmate for more than 36 years. As people on the Coast learned after Katrina, no one could have a better partner. Thank you, Marsha.
Looking back today it seems impossible that everything that has happened since that Inaugural Day could have taken place in only four years.
Posted by ladd at 01:57 PM on 01/15/08. Discuss (1)
Judge Rules That Barbour Wrong in Election Date
Hinds County Circuit Judge Bobby Delaughter ruled late today that Gov. Haley Barbour interpreted Mississippi statute incorrectly when he elected to schedule the election to fill Sen. Trent Lott’s vacant seat. Some political watchers believe that Barbour may run for that seat, but is just being inaugurated this week for his second term as governor. Delaughter ruled that the election should be held within 90 days. Delaughter ruled that the election should be held within 90 days of when Barbour declared a proclamation of writ of election on Dec. 20, 2007that is, on or before March 19, 2008.
Barbour released a statement saying he is confident that the Mississippi Supreme Court will back him up and reverse Delaughter:
When I set the special U.S. Senate election for November 4, 2008, I felt very strongly that it was the legal and appropriate action under the U.S. and Mississippi Constitutions and state law. Nothing in this decision by the Hinds County Circuit Court changes that belief. As I have said all along, the final decision in this case will be made by the Mississippi Supreme Court, and I look forward to that decision.
Posted by ladd at 07:39 PM on 01/14/08. Discuss (1)
McCoy v. Barbour: Democrat Comes Out on Top … This Time
Read Adam Lynch’s coverage and analysis of the battle of wills that took place this week over the Mississippi speaker of the house:
Amid Tears, McCoy Keeps Seat, Jan. 9, 2008
2008 Legislative Preview: New Session, Old Problems, Jan. 2, 2008
Posted by ladd at 05:11 PM on 01/09/08. Discuss (1)
[Speech] Mabus: Republicans Bad for Mississippi’s Health
Following is the verbatim transcript of the speech Gov. Ray Mabus gave at the Jefferson Jackson Hamer Day Dinner on Oct. 27, 2007:
Mabus: Just like cigarettes are bad for health, REPUBLICANS are bad for Mississippis Health. We let ourselves get distracted and divided. DonҒt go after each other, save the fight for the real opponents, the REPUBLICANS. There is no reason why a party like the DEMOCRATS, shouldnt win every time. We are a party that puts Education first. We are a party that provides affordable Health Care for all kids and all Mississippians. We are a party that believes we are all one state, and we do better when we are United, than when we play the race card that divides us. We are a party who believes that everybody should follow the rules, and the rich and powerful should not be exempt. We are a party that believes our kids should be given the tools and opportunities for success, that where you are born, does not determine your destiny. We are a party that thinks we should tax cigarettes more and groceries less.
Posted by ladd at 05:54 PM on 11/04/07. Discuss (0)
[JFP] Transcripts of JFP Interviews with 2007 Candidates
JFP Interviews:
John Arthur Eaves (D, candidate for governor)
Jamie Franks (D, candidate for lt. governor)
Attorney General Jim Hood (D, incumbent)
Mike Chaney (R, candidate for insurance commissioner)
Gary Anderson (D, candidate for insurance commissioner)
Posted by ladd at 01:34 PM on 11/01/07. Discuss (0)
[Rumor] Are Barbour and Eaves Neck-in-Neck?
A major rumor in the Capitol City this week is that John Arthur Eaves is polling 50-50 with Haley Barbourin polls conducted by the governor.
It’s not an impossible feat, contrary to some beliefs; Barbour only defeated Ronnie Musgrove four years ago with 52.59 percent of vote. And Eaves has certainly emerged as the more religious conservative of the campaign this year.
Posted by ladd at 05:12 PM on 10/31/07. Discuss (0)
[Minor] Barbour Trying Failed Rovian Strategy in Mississippi
In his column this week, Bill Minor argues that Gov. Haley Barbour is trying to turn Mississippi into the latest K Street Project, at any cost:
Evidently Haley Barbour is attempting in Mississippi what Karl Rove failed to do in Washington: create a permanent Republican majority.
Barbour, who believes in top-down management of political power, has obviously set out to elect Republicans to all state offices, creating a Cabinet beholden to him, unlike anything ever seen in Mississippi.
His reach doesn’t stop with putting GOP loyalists in state offices but also into both houses of the Legislature, even by subtly undermining the election of the House speaker.
Posted by ladd at 05:07 PM on 10/31/07. Discuss (1)
[M-P]State Election Board supports voter ID requirement
The official state Election Board voted yesterday to require some form of voter identification at the polls. The vote occurred at an Elections Board meeting where the three members of the board were all present - Attorney General Jim Hood, Secretary of State Eric Clark, and Governor Haley Barbour. The Election Board said the federal court order can be implemented before next year’s elections.
Posted by kate at 11:30 AM on 06/29/07. Discuss (0)
[C-L]Barbour speaks at Mississsippi Early Childhood Education meeting
Last Thursday Gov. Haley Barbour, who cited that early education is the key to economic growth in Mississippi, was the keynote speaker at the Mississippi Early Childhood Education Meeting in downtown Jackson. Barbour additionally urged the state to continue to support “commonsensical programs” like the Quality Step System. Anthony Topazi, the president and CEO of Mississippi Power who also spoke at the meeting, pledged that his company will commit $450,000 to early education over the next three years.
Posted by kate at 11:19 AM on 06/29/07. Discuss (0)
[Release]Eaves to address Mississippi Association of Supervisors
John Arthur Eaves Jr., leading Democratic
candidate for governor,
will address the Mississippi Association of Supervisors during their annual
meeting on
Wednesday, June 20, 2007, at the Gulf Coast Convention Center in Biloxi.
Eaves is scheduled
to speak at 11:10 a.m. during the candidates forum.
Posted by kate at 12:16 PM on 06/19/07. Discuss (0)
[S-H]Miss. Supreme Court rules against diverting tobacco money to Partnership
The Mississippi Supreme Court ruled on Thursday that if Mississippi wants an anti-tobacco program, the Legislature must provide funding. Former Attorney General Mike Moore’s appeal of a 2006 order that decreased funding to the Partnership for a Healthy Mississippi was rejected by the justices in a 6-1 decision.
Posted by kate at 11:33 AM on 06/15/07. Discuss (1)
[C-L]Attorney General files suit against Barbour over youth grants
On Thursday, June 15, Attorney General Jim Hood filed suit against Gov. Haley Barbour for his decision to slice $5.5 million in grants for youth groups such as the state YMCA, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mississippi and Boys and Girls Clubs of Mississippi. Barbour, who vetoed a bill back in April that would direct Hood’s office to spend the money on these groups, explained that the Department of Human Services should be who gives money to these youth groups. The Attorney General and Democratic legislators Sen. Gray Tollison of Oxford and Rep. Joe Warren of Mount Olive filed the lawsuit in the Hinds County Chancery Court. According to Hood and the legislators, the suit is about preserving a separation of power in the state government. However, Barbour’s spokesman Pete Smith was quoted in the article as saying, “He [Barbour] has always supported the work of the Boys and Girls Clubs and the YMCA.”
Posted by kate at 11:07 AM on 06/15/07. Discuss (0)
[Release]Eaves’ supporters say Barbour is not doing enough for crime prevention
With new FBI numbers released today
showing an increase of 42 percent in violent crime in the capital city, John
Arthur Eaves Jr., Democratic candidate for governor, is calling Gov. Haley
Barbour’s crime prevention plan an empty promise.
“Haley Barbour accused his opponent in 2003 of allowing a crime wave to
sweep the state,” Eaves said. “Today’s report indicates that in the capital
city, we have fallen even further behind. This governor is clearly
out-of-touch with the importance of protecting our citizens from crime.”
“This governor has cut funding for YMCAs, Boys & Girls Clubs, Big Brothers
Big Sisters of Mississippi - programs that keep kids off the streets and out
of trouble. We should be investing more in these youth because that is a
direct way to prevent future crime,” Eaves said.
In a recent interview with The Clarion-Ledger, Barbour said he was hesitant
to put any more resources into crime-fighting efforts in Jackson. While
mentioning that an investment in security for state-owned buildings might
help free up local law enforcement resources in Jackson, that has not been
done.
“Violent crime threatens the sanctity of every community, and this dramatic
increase threatens the viability and economic development of our capital
city,” Eaves said. “The current gubernatorial administration has done
nothing to protect our citizens. Under my administration, citizens can
expect more investment in youth programs, and the law enforcement community
can expect help addressing the mental health and addiction problems of
criminals.”
While Jackson experienced a 42 percent increase in violent crime during
2006, the national average for similar crimes was only 1.3 percent.
Posted by kate at 10:16 AM on 06/05/07. Discuss (1)
[C-L]Major Economic Development Plan is a New Jet Engines Parts Plan in Batesville
According to the Clarion Ledger, General Electric is implementing a jet-engine parts plant in Batesville. Governor Barbour and Scott Donnelly will be announcing the plan in northwest Mississippi this afternoon.
Original plans called for the plant to be built by late 2007 or early 2008, but it was not known this morning whether that timetable has changed.
When complete, the plant will construct composite fan blade platforms for a new generation of jet engines.
Posted by kate at 10:37 AM on 05/29/07. Discuss (2)
