Category: Overview
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)
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)
[Release] Purvis leads fundraising in Hinds D.A. race
[Verbatim Release] The Democratic Primary for Hinds County District Attorney isn’t until August 7th, but it’s clear Michele Purvis is the frontrunner. Former City of Jackson Prosecutor Michele Purvis has led her two opponents in campaign money raised since the race began. Purvis has raised $34,196.80 from a wide range of businesses, citizens and attorneys. Current Hinds County District Attorney Faye Petersen has raised only $18,675, while defense attorney Robert Shuler Smith has listed $31,233.51 in contributions.
Posted by kate at 10:42 AM on 06/20/07. Discuss (0)
[Desk] Legislative Roundup, Feb. 8
by Adam Lynch
Feb. 8
With deadlines looming, the Mississippi Legislature traditionally moves like the Tasmanian Devil during this part of the session, and Thursday was no exception.
The House passed HB 1492, a controversial bill that could prove to be the first real step in a statewide opening of parks to development.
Representatives voted 84 to 34 that six parks and some additional public territory in the state should be open for private development?as a means of providing revenue to the state parks division.
Posted by Brian C. Johnson at 09:39 AM on 02/09/07. Discuss (5)
[Desk] Thursday Legislative Update
by Adam Lynch
House floor action consisted largely of highway designations and personality commendations on Jan. 25. The House did pass HB 963, which increases the time within which the state should demand payment of sales tax revenues from individuals, as well as HB1028, which prohibits certain acts used to duck paying sales tax (such as telling the retailer that the purchased items are for resale).
HB 1027 is another revenue enforcer, allowing the State Tax Commission to deny the application for a license plate permit or revoke the permit of any person failing to pay any state taxes, fees, penalties and/or interests owed to the state.
The House also passed?strangely, without real debate--HB 1321, which creates a commission bearing the proud name of America?s first and last Confederate President. The bill containing the building blocks for the Jefferson Davis Bicentennial Commission now heads to the Senate.
Posted by admin at 03:12 PM on 01/26/07. Discuss (9)
[Fleming] Off and Running
From Rep. Erik Fleming’s blog on the JFP Web site (and be sure to watch StateDesk for legislator blogs about to come online):
We have been off and running since day one, when the Conservative Caucus stopped us from taking up bills on the first day. In talking with Gov. Barbour the next day, he said that he was not comfortable in voting for 80 percent of the budget, some $3.5 billion, on the first day of the session, hence the word went forth. I voted to suspend the rules, for there was a precedent for voting for the education budget before the rest of the budget was hammered out. As a matter of fact, it was the last time the Mississippi Adequate Education Program was fully funded in 2003.
Since that first day, the House has passed a teacher pay raise, from Kindergarten teachers to university professors. We passed a minimum wage increase bill, even though it was severely damaged by an amendment from Rep. Joey Hudson, D-Monticello, which exempted high school and college students from receiving the increase. We fully funded MAEP and extended the repealer on the Department of Health for two years, along with a host of other bills and resolutions. Meanwhile, the Senate has not sent us anything but some commending resolutions. Hopefully, the committees over there are least looking at bills.
Posted by ladd at 11:30 PM on 01/23/07. Discuss (3)
[Desk] Welcome to StateDesk, Mississippi’s Political Newswire
The Jackson Free Press is thrilled to present a new statewide news and analysis site devoted to all things political in and of Mississippi. This site is in beta form right now; we are continually loading new features, including blogs by legislators, so keep an eye out. For now at least, you do not have to register in order to comment on the site, but please self-regulate, as we do not welcome ad hominem attacks and juvenile trolling for a fight. Those comments will be deleted, even as vigorous and intelligent debate and various positions are welcome. Meantime, read through the blog postings, and share your comments for what tools you’d really like to see emerge from StateDesk. The idea is to give you the news and analysis needed to help make smart, civic decisions in the state of Mississippi. Your input is vital.
Posted by ladd at 06:20 PM on 01/10/07. Discuss (0)
[Analysis] Legislative Round-up, Week 1
Here’s Adam Lynch’s take on Week 1 in the JFP:
Rep. Bill Denny, R-Jackson, called the bill onslaught a ?political action,? by House Democratic leaders to characterize Republicans as unsympathetic to Mississippi Adequate Education Program and state employees.
?What leaders have done is cut off one-half of that membership,? Denny said. ?In my 20 years of working in the House, we always had a reasonable situation in the House where we could disagree in a manner that would get something done. But (House Speaker) Billy (McCoy) putting forward those bills without letting us review them, the idea of him doing these kinds of things doesn?t serve the public at all. I can?t imagine that he wouldn?t have considered that a rule suspension?wouldn?t have happened.?
Posted by ladd at 03:43 PM on 01/10/07. Discuss (2)
[Opinion] Ledge Says It’s ‘Issues, Not Elections’
Noting that both the House and Senate are Democrat majorities, a C-L editorial spells out some challenges given that the House remains independent of the Governor while the Senate does not. Lame-duck Amy Tuck may or may not be “at the reins” of Governor Barbour, who has called for spending bills to be passed in March; House Speaker Billy McCoy (D-Rienzi) has to shore up his leadership position as he attempts to cram Mississippi Adequate Education Funding through.
The major money issue is education, with the House supporting full funding of the Mississippi Adequate Education Program and some wanting to spend less.
In the cauldron of competing interests, it’s anyone’s guess what lawmakers will produce after 90 days. But the test will be staying focused on issues not elections.
Posted by admin at 10:42 AM on 01/03/07. Discuss (0)
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