The Daily Caller
Friday, February 26, 2010
The Daily Caller: Defeated congresswoman’s car still in House parking lot — more than 3 years later.
By Alex Pappas
Former Rep. Melissa Hart may have hit the road and gone back home to Pittsburgh in 2006 when she lost her bid for re-election, but it appears that a car she owns still remains in the Longworth House Office building parking garage — more than three years after she left Congress.
The Daily Caller
The Daily Caller
Governor Barbour Releases Statement on February Revenue Reports
Governor Barbour released the following statement:
"The State Tax Commission reported today that Mississippi’s revenue collections continued a pattern of decline for the month of February. Preliminary reports show the month’s collections coming in at 12.39 percent, or $33 million, below estimates. This month will be one of the worst – if not the worst – month for tax collections in this fiscal year. Clearly, our state’s economy is still feeling the effects of this deep global recession. It is also the 18th consecutive month revenue has fallen short of expectations, and the 15th consecutive month where less money was collected than the previous year.
“With four months remaining in the fiscal year, it is likely state spending will have to be reduced beyond the $458 million in cuts already made. State law requires a balanced budget, and I will uphold the law.”
"The State Tax Commission reported today that Mississippi’s revenue collections continued a pattern of decline for the month of February. Preliminary reports show the month’s collections coming in at 12.39 percent, or $33 million, below estimates. This month will be one of the worst – if not the worst – month for tax collections in this fiscal year. Clearly, our state’s economy is still feeling the effects of this deep global recession. It is also the 18th consecutive month revenue has fallen short of expectations, and the 15th consecutive month where less money was collected than the previous year.
“With four months remaining in the fiscal year, it is likely state spending will have to be reduced beyond the $458 million in cuts already made. State law requires a balanced budget, and I will uphold the law.”
Watchdogs keep an eye on Canton government
Many people had never heard of the group Canton Quality of Life before a few weeks ago. But the once-quiet grassroots organization has recently captured the attention of local lawmakers and the public with their hard-hitting probes on city government.
Remember the recent controversy over a citizen being denied the use of his video camera in an open city meeting? James Cockrell, vice chairman of Canton Quality of Life, was behind the lens. And when the news broke that ex-Canton animal control officer Alonzo Esco had allegedly improperly shot and dumped numerous animals, Canton Quality chairman Susan Coulange made it her mission to hold the city accountable for hiring a qualified officer in Esco's place.
Said Coulange: "We want Canton to belong to the people like it should. We want our leaders representing us."
Canton Mayor William Truly, who clashed with the Cockrell when he ordered him not to videotape the Feb. 10 mayor and aldermen work session but in later meetings ceased resistance, went on the defensive when asked about Canton Quality of Life, saying city government has nothing to hide and that the group has done nothing to better Canton.
With the help of media attention and a revamped Web site, www.cantonquality.org, Canton Quality's membership has doubled to 35 in just two weeks, Cockrell said. Greg Green was recently brought on as secretary, while Gregg Guion serves as treasurer.
Coulange said "anyone who loves Canton" can join the organization that hopes to draw membership from all parts of the city. In time, the bylaws will be finalized, and the group will have general meetings.
Madison County Page
Remember the recent controversy over a citizen being denied the use of his video camera in an open city meeting? James Cockrell, vice chairman of Canton Quality of Life, was behind the lens. And when the news broke that ex-Canton animal control officer Alonzo Esco had allegedly improperly shot and dumped numerous animals, Canton Quality chairman Susan Coulange made it her mission to hold the city accountable for hiring a qualified officer in Esco's place.
Said Coulange: "We want Canton to belong to the people like it should. We want our leaders representing us."
Canton Mayor William Truly, who clashed with the Cockrell when he ordered him not to videotape the Feb. 10 mayor and aldermen work session but in later meetings ceased resistance, went on the defensive when asked about Canton Quality of Life, saying city government has nothing to hide and that the group has done nothing to better Canton.
With the help of media attention and a revamped Web site, www.cantonquality.org, Canton Quality's membership has doubled to 35 in just two weeks, Cockrell said. Greg Green was recently brought on as secretary, while Gregg Guion serves as treasurer.
Coulange said "anyone who loves Canton" can join the organization that hopes to draw membership from all parts of the city. In time, the bylaws will be finalized, and the group will have general meetings.
Madison County Page
Would Reconciliation for Health Care Affect Mid Term Elections?
By Stuart Rothenberg
While using the reconciliation process could help Democrats deliver on their promise, it could also give Republicans yet another arrow in the party’s already well-stocked quiver.
While Republican legislators and their talking-head allies would be sure to bash the substance of the proposal — just as Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) did on Monday in his press release, criticizing “another partisan, back-room bill that slashes Medicare for our seniors, raises a half-trillion in new taxes, fines them if they don’t buy the right insurance and further expands the role of government” — they also would be able to attack Democrats for how they passed the measure.
I recently spoke with Republican pollster Bill McInturff of Public Opinion Strategies, a veteran of the health care wars, about the danger Democrats face using reconciliation to pass health care reform, and he thinks the tactic would be a gamble for Democrats.
Rothenberg Political Report
While using the reconciliation process could help Democrats deliver on their promise, it could also give Republicans yet another arrow in the party’s already well-stocked quiver.
While Republican legislators and their talking-head allies would be sure to bash the substance of the proposal — just as Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) did on Monday in his press release, criticizing “another partisan, back-room bill that slashes Medicare for our seniors, raises a half-trillion in new taxes, fines them if they don’t buy the right insurance and further expands the role of government” — they also would be able to attack Democrats for how they passed the measure.
I recently spoke with Republican pollster Bill McInturff of Public Opinion Strategies, a veteran of the health care wars, about the danger Democrats face using reconciliation to pass health care reform, and he thinks the tactic would be a gamble for Democrats.
Rothenberg Political Report
Ethics Committee Releases Report on Caribbean Trips, Exonerates Congressman Bennie Thompson among others
By Jennifer Yachnin
The House ethics committee released its 2,498-page report Friday ruling that two Caribbean trips involving six Members violated House rules — although it exonerated all but Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.) of intentional wrongdoing — and disclosing hundreds of pages of receipts and other documents showing corporate sponsorship of the events.
The report follows the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct’s announcement Thursday night that after its investigation into travel sponsored by the Carib News Foundation in 2007 and 2008, it found that the trips violated House gift rules because of prohibitions on corporate contributions and that it had approved the trips based on “false and misleading information.”
The committee exonerated five of the six Members of wrongdoing — Reps. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick (D-Mich.), Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), Donald Payne (D-N.J.), Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.) and Del. Donna Christensen (D-Virgin Islands) — but admonished Rangel after ruling that his staff were aware that some of the funding came from prohibited sources, even if he himself did not know.
Roll Call
The House ethics committee released its 2,498-page report Friday ruling that two Caribbean trips involving six Members violated House rules — although it exonerated all but Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.) of intentional wrongdoing — and disclosing hundreds of pages of receipts and other documents showing corporate sponsorship of the events.
The report follows the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct’s announcement Thursday night that after its investigation into travel sponsored by the Carib News Foundation in 2007 and 2008, it found that the trips violated House gift rules because of prohibitions on corporate contributions and that it had approved the trips based on “false and misleading information.”
The committee exonerated five of the six Members of wrongdoing — Reps. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick (D-Mich.), Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), Donald Payne (D-N.J.), Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.) and Del. Donna Christensen (D-Virgin Islands) — but admonished Rangel after ruling that his staff were aware that some of the funding came from prohibited sources, even if he himself did not know.
Roll Call
Mississippi Tort Reform Faces "Judicial Nullification" Effort
By Alyson Bustamante Jones
Thanks to the leadership of Governor Haley Barbour and a legislature which has understood the corrosive effect unmeritorious vexatious litigation has on a state's judicial system and its ability to attract new business and grow the economy, Mississippi has transformed its civil justice system and its prior litigious image through targeted tort reforms. When posed with similar legislative reforms in other states, trial lawyers have engaged in a full frontal assault against these efforts at tort reform by attempting to nullify the laws under the state constitutions with mixed and more recently unsuccessful results. This "judicial nullification" effort has migrated to Mississippi, where plaintiffs' lawyers have taken aim at provision of the state's tort reform.
Insider Online
Thanks to the leadership of Governor Haley Barbour and a legislature which has understood the corrosive effect unmeritorious vexatious litigation has on a state's judicial system and its ability to attract new business and grow the economy, Mississippi has transformed its civil justice system and its prior litigious image through targeted tort reforms. When posed with similar legislative reforms in other states, trial lawyers have engaged in a full frontal assault against these efforts at tort reform by attempting to nullify the laws under the state constitutions with mixed and more recently unsuccessful results. This "judicial nullification" effort has migrated to Mississippi, where plaintiffs' lawyers have taken aim at provision of the state's tort reform.
Insider Online
MADISON COUNTY JOURNAL-'Trail Rangers' to patrol Ridgeland multi-use trails
RIDGELAND - City officials are calling for volunteers to patrol its multi-use trails in an effort to cut down on crime.
The "Trail Rangers" program is looking for cyclists, runners, walkers, bird watchers, photographers or anyone else who uses the trail, to volunteer.
Rangers will wear identifying apparel such as a certain colored vest or bib with the Trail Rangers logo and they will carry a cell phone. If any suspicious persons or activity are seen on or near the trail, the Ranger will call the Ridgeland Police immediately.
Madison County Page
The "Trail Rangers" program is looking for cyclists, runners, walkers, bird watchers, photographers or anyone else who uses the trail, to volunteer.
Rangers will wear identifying apparel such as a certain colored vest or bib with the Trail Rangers logo and they will carry a cell phone. If any suspicious persons or activity are seen on or near the trail, the Ranger will call the Ridgeland Police immediately.
Madison County Page
Madison City Officials call for Supervisor Tim Johnson to resign
The City of Madison's leaders are calling on District 2 Supervisor Tim Johnson to resign.
The Madison Board of Aldermen unanimously approved a resolution calling for Johnson's resignation Wednesday, which was then signed by Mayor Mary Hawkins-Butler. The resolution lists specific actions by Johnson as cause for the action.
See the complete resolution on the Madison County Page
The Madison Board of Aldermen unanimously approved a resolution calling for Johnson's resignation Wednesday, which was then signed by Mayor Mary Hawkins-Butler. The resolution lists specific actions by Johnson as cause for the action.
See the complete resolution on the Madison County Page
Clarion Ledger--Vying facilities make pitches: Hospitals go head to head
Madison County's health needs will be determined by the state
If anyone was keeping score, it was 67 supporters appearing on behalf of St. Dominic Hospital building a 71-bed hospital outside Madison and 57 on behalf of HMA-owned Madison River Oaks up the road in Canton.
Advocates of the two hospitals were allowed their say Thursday, the final day of an almost three-week state Department of Health hearing, when administrative hearing officer Cassandra Walter opened the record to public comment.
Most, including a number of employees for both hospitals, stated their name and which facility they supported without making statements.
Clarion Ledger
If anyone was keeping score, it was 67 supporters appearing on behalf of St. Dominic Hospital building a 71-bed hospital outside Madison and 57 on behalf of HMA-owned Madison River Oaks up the road in Canton.
Advocates of the two hospitals were allowed their say Thursday, the final day of an almost three-week state Department of Health hearing, when administrative hearing officer Cassandra Walter opened the record to public comment.
Most, including a number of employees for both hospitals, stated their name and which facility they supported without making statements.
Clarion Ledger
High court to define reach of gun-control laws
The dispute that will be argued before the Supreme Court on Tuesday could reshape firearms regulations nationwide.
The case marks the second round of high-stakes litigation over the breadth of the Second Amendment — and will likely have wider impact nationwide than the first. In June 2008, the justices struck down a Washington, D.C., handgun ban and declared for the first time that the Second Amendment covers an individual right to keep and bear arms.
The new question is whether the 2008 decision also applies to cities and states, or only to laws in the federal government and its enclaves, such as Washington. It sets up another major constitutional question with ramifications for scores of mostly urban gun regulations.
USA Today
The case marks the second round of high-stakes litigation over the breadth of the Second Amendment — and will likely have wider impact nationwide than the first. In June 2008, the justices struck down a Washington, D.C., handgun ban and declared for the first time that the Second Amendment covers an individual right to keep and bear arms.
The new question is whether the 2008 decision also applies to cities and states, or only to laws in the federal government and its enclaves, such as Washington. It sets up another major constitutional question with ramifications for scores of mostly urban gun regulations.
USA Today
White House prepping to "astroturf" conservative radio
Back in August of 2009, Democrat Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi attempted to discredit the outrage shown by citizens during Town Hall meetings protesting Health Care Reform legislation by referring to them as "astroturf". While there was no evidence that the effort was organized by Republicans, the Democrat National Committee obviously thought it a good enough strategy to try it themselves.
The DNC, the White House, and the President's community organizing office, Organizing for America of has introduced an online tool encouraging supporters to call into talk radio. The online tool presents users with a radio show discussing political topics, to which supporters can listen live, and the phone number for that station, for when health care comes up. It also offers tips for callers and talking points on the issue.
Much like earlier efforts of the White House that encouraged the forwarding of "chain emails" to the adminstration, supporters are encouraged to call back and report to OFA.
The DNC, the White House, and the President's community organizing office, Organizing for America of has introduced an online tool encouraging supporters to call into talk radio. The online tool presents users with a radio show discussing political topics, to which supporters can listen live, and the phone number for that station, for when health care comes up. It also offers tips for callers and talking points on the issue.
Much like earlier efforts of the White House that encouraged the forwarding of "chain emails" to the adminstration, supporters are encouraged to call back and report to OFA.
He's back: W in Washington for Bush-Cheney reunion
Former President George W. Bush received a U.S. Army Freedom Team Salute Commendation honoring his continuous support of the Army Mission and the Army Family at the Safari Club International (SCI) 38th Annual Convention in Reno, Nevada.
The ex-president is attending a reunion of former Bush administration staffers, telling them he is enjoying life back in Texas and busy writing his book.
See more at USA Today
The ex-president is attending a reunion of former Bush administration staffers, telling them he is enjoying life back in Texas and busy writing his book.
See more at USA Today
Taylor's Bid To Scrap NAFTA Might Presage More Discontent
Populist sentiment in the House against free trade is about to reach a boiling point, as Rep. Gene Taylor, D-Miss., readies a bill to withdraw the United States from the North American Free Trade Agreement.
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