Category: Republicans
Treasurer Tate Reeves: ‘No New Bonds in 2008’
Mississippi state Treasurer Tate Reeves released the following fiscal update today. Reprinted verbatim:
Jackson, Miss: (January 17, 2008) - State Treasurer Tate Reeves spoke to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee and other members of the House and Senate today at the annual fiscal briefing. In Reeves briefing, he made a recommendation that the Legislature withhold from authorizing the issuance of any new bonds in the 2008 session. According to Reeves, since 2003 the states debt has begun to level off, and in order for this positive trend to continue the Legislature must reduce the authorization of new bonds. ғWe have made great progress in the last few years reducing the overall debt burden on Mississippi taxpayers Reeves said. ԓGiven the budget challenges that face the Legislature this year, the only fiscally prudent approach to bonds is to forego the pressure and not authorize any new debt.
Posted by ladd at 11:49 AM on 01/17/08. Discuss (2)
Andy Taggart Fingering Moore … and Hood?
In a confusing post on the Ledger’s Red-Blue Blog, Republican pundit Andy Taggart complains that two of the attorneys now caught up in the Dickie Scruggs bribery scandal—Tim Balducci and Joey Langston—did not give back the settlement money from MCI-Worldcom that paid their attorney fees for recouping $108 million for the state:
A little over a year ago, then State Auditor Phil Bryant sent a demand letter to Joey Langston and the Langston Law Firm, where Tim Balducci used to practice, seeking recovery of the $14 million in attorneys fees improperly paid to Langston and Balducci in the MCI tax settlement case. Former Attorney General Mike Moore had represented MCI during the settlement.
The post seems designed to implicate former Attorney General Mike Moore (who played the odd role of representing MCI in the case) and current Attorney General Jim Hood, who awarded the contingency contract. What isn’t clear from this extremely partisan post is fourfold: (a) What did Moore know, and when did he know it? And did he know about anything illegal? (b) Ditto for Hood; same question, remembering that he and Moore are not necessarily joined at the brain. (c) What is the law that would have required them to give back the attorney’s fees that the company paid them? (d) Positing that those attorneys are now “known scumbags,” what exactly is the relevance of this to that case?
We’d really like some of the salivating pundits in the state to connect more dots for us, rather than deal in partisan innuendo. Maybe they know stuff they can’t tell us, or think they do. Time will tell.
Posted by ladd at 07:32 PM on 01/15/08. Discuss (3)
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)
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)
Charlie Ross Running for Congress
The following e-mail just came, verbatim, from Charlie Ross for Congress. (Read the lengthy JFP Interview with Charlie Ross here: “Red and Ready to Rumble.”)
Dear Friends:
Sharon and I hope that each of you had a happy and blessed Thanksgiving and enjoy the upcoming holiday season with your family.
Several weeks ago when Congressman Chip Pickering announced he would not seek re-election in 2008, I reached out to friends and supporters to get your thoughts on my running for his seat. Sharon and I received responses from many of you and they were overwhelmingly in support of my seeking the Third Congressional District seat.
After prayerful consideration, we have decided that I am going to run for Congress. We believe that I will be able to use the experience from my military career, law practice and service in the state legislature to serve the people of Mississippi.
Posted by ladd at 12:47 PM on 12/05/07. Discuss (4)
Here’s A Surprise: Lott Is Weighing Lobbyist Offers
Trent Lott’s son has told Bloomberg that his daddy may ... drum roll ... become a lobbyist.
We coulda told ‘em that.
Bloomberg:
Senator Trent Lott is weighing a new career as a lobbyist when he retires from Congress and may team up with his former colleague John Breaux, the Mississippi Republican’s son said.
``He was a lawyer years ago, and a lot of the lobbying law firms are calling,’’ Chester Lott, who heads a Lexington, Kentucky-based lobbying firm, Lott and Associates, said in a telephone interview. ``It’s all over the map.’’
He said his father is considering a partnership with Breaux, a former Democratic senator from Louisiana who announced today that he is leaving the Washington lobbying firm Patton Boggs LLP to form his own company with his son, John Jr.
Posted by ladd at 03:35 PM on 11/28/07. Discuss (2)
Partisan Flap Over Timing of Special Election
The Daily Journal is reporting that Barbour says the special election to replace Lott should be next Election Day (the same day as the presidential election), and the state’s Dems want it to be within 90 days, presumably so Barbour’s choice doesn’t serve any longer than (inevitably) he has to. We’re not sure the state’s beleaguered Dems are being smart on this one: Can they turn out enough voters in a special election to win a statewide election? They might just need the help of a national turnout to have a snowball’s chance in Gulfport of winning this one. Of course we’ve been wrong before (but seldom about the state’s Democrats).
Here’s what Jere Nash has to say about the scuffle:
Posted by ladd at 01:43 PM on 11/28/07. Discuss (3)
Who Wants Lott’s Seat? Everyone’s Got An Opinion.
The names are coming in. Rep. Roger Wicker, R., registered his domain name (hat tip to Will Bardwell before Lott finished announcing his retirement. General sentiment is that retiring Congressman Chip Pickering is the odds-on choice. Today The Clarion-Ledgerpiled on a list of “former” Democratic names who might want to run: former Attorney General Mike Moore, former Jackson Mayor Harvey Johnson, about-to-be former Rep. Erik Fleming (a JFP blogger-columnist), former Gov. Ronnie Musgrove, former Rep. Mike Espy.
Just when you thought election madness had settled down a bit .... (And we can’t wait to see THESE campaign ads.)
Oh, and to Bardwell, gotta LOVE the “R-Citizens Council” after Wicker’s name. Snicker.
Posted by ladd at 10:00 AM on 11/28/07. Discuss (2)
Trent Lott to Resign by End of Year
Mississippi Sen. Trent Lott is stepping down, as predicted by political-watchers. He’ll be out at the end of the session, to be temporarily replaced by Gov. Haley Barbour, followed by a special election.
Posted by ladd at 08:43 AM on 11/26/07. Discuss (0)
[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)
[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]Phil Bryant announces Accountability Agenda
Phil Bryant presented what he called an ”accountability agenda” on Wednesday that outlined his plans should he be elected Lt. Governor. The outline includes his approach to illegal immigration, crime and education.
Posted by kate at 11:56 AM on 06/29/07. Discuss (3)
[C-L] Judge asked to reconsider voter ID decision
According to the Clarion Ledger, Attorney General Jim Hood along with the NAACP and the Mississippi Republican Party have requested that the federal judge reconsider his voter ID decision.
Posted by kate at 12:52 PM on 06/26/07. Discuss (1)
[C-L]Mississippians protest Lott’s push for immigration bill
According to the Clarion Ledger, protest escalates as Lott continues to push for Senate votes in favor of a controversial immigration bill. Lott, who the article names “the second most powerful Republican in the state,” has promised to lobby Republicans to support the bill. The bill would toughen the security at the U.S.-Mexico border and offer a process for illegal immigrants to live legally in the U.S.
Posted by kate at 10:55 AM on 06/20/07. Discuss (0)
