Rank-and-file reject Patriot Act
House Republicans Tuesday night got a harsh introduction to the majority, as more than two dozen rank-and-file GOP lawmakers voted against reauthorizing the Patriot Act.
There was no sign that the leadership saw the setbacks coming. The Patriot Act was moved to the floor under suspension of the rules — a provision that requires two-thirds majority (290 votes) to pass and is often used for noncontroversial legislation. After holding the vote open well past the 15-minute window, it failed 277 to 148 with five Republicans and four Democrats not voting.
Republican leaders will bring the bill back to the floor under a rule, where it will almost certainly secure the 218-vote threshold.
It was a specifically rough patch for Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), who was the subject of much finger-pointing after the vote, as he is charged with vote-counting. Erica Elliott, spokesman for McCarthy, noted that most House Democrats voted against the bill, “deny[ing] their own administration’s request for key weapons in the war on terror.”
Other Republicans blamed Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) and Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.) for the debacle. Sensenbrenner is a senior Judiciary Committee Republican.
Speaker John Boehner’s (R-Ohio) office had no comment on the trade bill or Patriot Act failure. He did not vote, which is somewhat of a tradition for the speaker. Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) and McCarthy voted for the Patriot Act extension.
The Patriot Act has long been a contentious issue on Capitol Hill. It was passed shortly after Sept. 11 to give the government expanded surveillance powers, while breaking down barriers between the CIA, FBI and other intelligence agencies.
But many — ranging from liberals like Rep. Dennis Kucinich (Ohio), to libertarians like Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) — have long expressed concerns over the sweeping breadth of the legislation. Kucinich called Tuesday’s vote a “significant defeat,” adding that it will “fuel opposition” to the measure nationwide.
Indeed, many members were concerned about Patriot Act provisions that would allow the government to access medical and business records, GOP sources said.
And a handful of the no-votes were freshmen who felt completely uninformed by their leadership. Rep. Todd Rokita (R-Ind.), who voted for the bill, said he “didn’t know anything about (the vote) until today.”
Politico
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Rumor Mill: Knox Ross running for Senate District 20
The Flora Harvester has learned that Pelahatchie Mayor Knox Ross will announce his intentions to run for State Senate in District 20. Ross will look to replace Senator Lee Yancey who is running for State Treasurer. Ross formed a committee last year to run for State Auditor in expectation of Auditor Stacey Pickering's run for Lt. Governor, a move that never materialized.
More details on Ross as they become available.
More details on Ross as they become available.
Mississippi NAACP goes after charter school law
NAACP opposes Miss. charter school legislation
Members of the Mississippi NAACP met with lawmakers Tuesday, asking some to reject a bill that would expand the state's current charter school law.
Derrick Johnson, president of the state National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, said lawmakers should focus instead on full funding for public education. He said shortchanging public schools in a tough budget year would "create and maintain a permanent situation of second-class citizens."
This year's budget talks will moved into their final phases in the coming weeks. But the Senate was poised to consider a charter school bill that would open the door for such schools to open throughout the state.
The state's current charter school law, which went into effect in 2010, only allows charter schools to open in struggling school districts.
Charter schools typically operate with a combination of public and private dollars. Supporters have said the schools are free to use innovative teaching methods that could improve academic performance, such as longer school days or more focused fields of study.
Read more: WE
Members of the Mississippi NAACP met with lawmakers Tuesday, asking some to reject a bill that would expand the state's current charter school law.
Derrick Johnson, president of the state National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, said lawmakers should focus instead on full funding for public education. He said shortchanging public schools in a tough budget year would "create and maintain a permanent situation of second-class citizens."
This year's budget talks will moved into their final phases in the coming weeks. But the Senate was poised to consider a charter school bill that would open the door for such schools to open throughout the state.
The state's current charter school law, which went into effect in 2010, only allows charter schools to open in struggling school districts.
Charter schools typically operate with a combination of public and private dollars. Supporters have said the schools are free to use innovative teaching methods that could improve academic performance, such as longer school days or more focused fields of study.
Read more: WE
Bye Bye, Butch.
Not content to allow the MDOT Director to leave office on his own terms, the Transportation Commissioners have given Director Butch Brown until tomorrow to clean out his desk. Newly elected Northern Commissioner Mike Tagert joined Dick Hall in ousting Brown. Brown had said he would resign effective in June of this year.
MDOT commissioners vote to oust director BrownSH
Mississippi Transportation Commission voted 2-1 today to demand that Executive Director Larry L. "Butch" Brown submit his resignation by close of business Wednesday or he will be terminated.
A new commissioner, Norther District Commissioner Mike Taggert, was sworn in before the meeting and sided with Central District Commissioner Dick Hall on the move to replace Brown.
Southern District Commissioner Wayne Brown voted against the motion.
Backers make appeal to keep East Flora Middle School open
More time - that's what Flora parents and officials are asking of the Madison County School Board.
"Let us keep our children here, and we can work with them to get them up to par," Flora Alderman Mary Sumler said to school district officials Monday night at a public hearing on the possible closing of East Flora Middle School.
The school district has been underfunded by $7 million over the past three years, and district officials are looking to reduce costs if the state does not fund the schools at least at the same level as this year. East Flora Middle, the smallest school in the Madison County district, costs $1.1 million to operate, and closing it means a $750,000 saving, Superintendent Mike Kent said.
Kent said the board intends to decide at its April 4 meeting on whether to close East Flora and send those students to Madison Middle School next August.
Flora Mayor Leslie Childress asked the board to consider delaying any idea of closing the school, which has the Mississippi Department of Education rating of "academic watch."
Kent said the school is inefficient to run because of its small size, which makes the cost of educating each student about $14,000 compared to $7,700 in the rest of the district.
Academic performance of the students and low parental involvement also factor into the final verdict. "If performance of the kids goes up, that helps your cause," Kent said. "We have struggled over a number of years to bring the performance up."
Of the 17 who signed up to speak, only Lady Margaret Harvey asked the board to close the school so Flora students can attend Madison Middle School.
"Parents aren't going to send their children to a failing school if they can afford to send their children elsewhere. Tax dollars could be better spent," she said.
CL
"Let us keep our children here, and we can work with them to get them up to par," Flora Alderman Mary Sumler said to school district officials Monday night at a public hearing on the possible closing of East Flora Middle School.
The school district has been underfunded by $7 million over the past three years, and district officials are looking to reduce costs if the state does not fund the schools at least at the same level as this year. East Flora Middle, the smallest school in the Madison County district, costs $1.1 million to operate, and closing it means a $750,000 saving, Superintendent Mike Kent said.
Kent said the board intends to decide at its April 4 meeting on whether to close East Flora and send those students to Madison Middle School next August.
Flora Mayor Leslie Childress asked the board to consider delaying any idea of closing the school, which has the Mississippi Department of Education rating of "academic watch."
Kent said the school is inefficient to run because of its small size, which makes the cost of educating each student about $14,000 compared to $7,700 in the rest of the district.
Academic performance of the students and low parental involvement also factor into the final verdict. "If performance of the kids goes up, that helps your cause," Kent said. "We have struggled over a number of years to bring the performance up."
Of the 17 who signed up to speak, only Lady Margaret Harvey asked the board to close the school so Flora students can attend Madison Middle School.
"Parents aren't going to send their children to a failing school if they can afford to send their children elsewhere. Tax dollars could be better spent," she said.
CL
Baptist campus expanding
"As the market in Madison County has needs for more health care, we will build accordingly," Baptist Health System spokesman Robby Channell said.
Baptist has begun work on the ambulatory center on the ground floor of its building at 401 Baptist Drive. The hospital has held a certificate of need for the out-patient surgery center since planning the building that opened in 2007, Channell said.
Mike Stevens, Baptist vice president of development, told the Madison Board of Aldermen in January that the center will open probably around June or July.
"We don't have a definite date of when we will start treating patients," Channell said.
MCH
Mississippi House OKs plan for insurance exchange
The House, by an 83-33 margin Monday, passed a bill to enact a health insurance exchange in Mississippi.
Backers say the health insurance exchange is a critical part of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
Aaron Sisk, senior staff attorney with the Mississippi Department of Insurance, says the exchanges are "a marketplace for health insurance ... a one-stop shop."
Presumably, people can get health insurance cheaper in the exchanges because the large volume of customers will drive down costs.
A similar bill is pending in the Mississippi Senate.
Under the federal law, states can either set up their own exchanges or leave it to the federal government to establish one.
Republican Gov. Haley Barbour, who has filed a lawsuit questioning the constitutionality of the federal health care law, supports the exchanges and is requesting $1.5 million to put one in place in Mississippi.
Rep. Robert Johnson, D-Natchez, said no state money would be needed for the exchange this year. He said that before 2016, the federal government would pay at least 95 percent of the cost of the exchange and might pay it all.
He said Insurance Commission Mike Chaney already has received a $1 million federal grant to begin work on enacting the exchange.
After 2016, the exchanges are required to be self-supporting.
Read more: SH
Saturday, February 5, 2011
KF tackles inconsistencies in the Hatch Act and the Madison County race for Sheriff
The issue of the Hatch Act reared its head when Public Safety Commissioner announced he is running for Attorney General and was mentioned in a newspaper article covering the Madison County Sheriff's race. The Hatch Act prohibits government employees from running for public office. The question that usually arises is whether state or local government employees are covered by the law. The Office of Special Counsel states on its website a covered employee is:
"An officer or employee of a state or local agency is subject to the Hatch Act if, as a normal and foreseeable incident of his principal position or job, he performs duties in connection with an activity financed in whole or in part by federal funds. Coverage is not dependent on whether the employee actually administers the funds or has policy duties with respect to them. However, an employee may have other duties in connection with federally funded programs or activities, and thus may be covered by the Hatch Act, even though he does not apply for or administer federal loans or grants or have any authority or discretion over the federal funding." Special Counsel FAQ's, Federal Law
Considering how many local law enforcement agencies receive federal dollars for communications systems, Homeland Security, anti-drug programs, and supplementing salaries, the Hatch Act probably applies to some or all of those who have filed qualifying papers for the Madison County Sheriff election: Ridgeland Police Chief Jimmy Houston and Madison County Deputies Randall Tucker, Brad D. Harbour and Mark Sandridge.
Read More at Jackson Jambalaya
"An officer or employee of a state or local agency is subject to the Hatch Act if, as a normal and foreseeable incident of his principal position or job, he performs duties in connection with an activity financed in whole or in part by federal funds. Coverage is not dependent on whether the employee actually administers the funds or has policy duties with respect to them. However, an employee may have other duties in connection with federally funded programs or activities, and thus may be covered by the Hatch Act, even though he does not apply for or administer federal loans or grants or have any authority or discretion over the federal funding." Special Counsel FAQ's, Federal Law
Considering how many local law enforcement agencies receive federal dollars for communications systems, Homeland Security, anti-drug programs, and supplementing salaries, the Hatch Act probably applies to some or all of those who have filed qualifying papers for the Madison County Sheriff election: Ridgeland Police Chief Jimmy Houston and Madison County Deputies Randall Tucker, Brad D. Harbour and Mark Sandridge.
Read More at Jackson Jambalaya
Thursday, February 3, 2011
House GOP readies bill to prohibit EPA from regulating carbon emissions
Acting on a vow to fight the Obama administration on climate issues, Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.), chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, unveiled draft legislation Wednesday to try to strip the Environmental Protection Agency of its power to regulate greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act.
Sen. James M. Inhofe (Okla.), ranking Republican on the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, and Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-Ky.), chairman of the subcommittee on energy and power, joined Upton in issuing what they called the Energy Tax Prevention Act.
In a statement, the congressmen said the legislation's intent is to show that the Clean Air Act was not meant to address climate change, stop the EPA "from imposing a backdoor cap-and-trade tax" on industries identified as polluters, and protect American jobs.
"We firmly believe federal bureaucrats should not be unilaterally setting national climate change policy," the statement said.
The EPA issued a finding in late 2009 that said greenhouse gas emissions linked to global warming endanger the public's health and welfare. Last month, the agency told industrial facilities such as power plants, oil refineries and paper mills that require permits to emit sulfur dioxide and nitrous oxide to also account for greenhouse gas emissions if they expand or add construction that significantly increases greenhouse gas pollution.
Republicans, many of whom doubt climate-change science, say the regulations hurt the ability of U.S. manufacturers to compete against companies in countries with relaxed standards.
The EPA has its foot "squarely on the neck of business," Upton has said. Republicans say the Obama administration is trying to use tougher EPA regulations on energy to overcome the president's failure to pass climate-change legislation.
Read More: House GOP readies bill to prohibit EPA from regulating carbon emissions
Sen. James M. Inhofe (Okla.), ranking Republican on the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, and Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-Ky.), chairman of the subcommittee on energy and power, joined Upton in issuing what they called the Energy Tax Prevention Act.
In a statement, the congressmen said the legislation's intent is to show that the Clean Air Act was not meant to address climate change, stop the EPA "from imposing a backdoor cap-and-trade tax" on industries identified as polluters, and protect American jobs.
"We firmly believe federal bureaucrats should not be unilaterally setting national climate change policy," the statement said.
The EPA issued a finding in late 2009 that said greenhouse gas emissions linked to global warming endanger the public's health and welfare. Last month, the agency told industrial facilities such as power plants, oil refineries and paper mills that require permits to emit sulfur dioxide and nitrous oxide to also account for greenhouse gas emissions if they expand or add construction that significantly increases greenhouse gas pollution.
Republicans, many of whom doubt climate-change science, say the regulations hurt the ability of U.S. manufacturers to compete against companies in countries with relaxed standards.
The EPA has its foot "squarely on the neck of business," Upton has said. Republicans say the Obama administration is trying to use tougher EPA regulations on energy to overcome the president's failure to pass climate-change legislation.
Read More: House GOP readies bill to prohibit EPA from regulating carbon emissions
MDL: Justice James E. Graves, Jr. Receives Approval From Judiciary Committee For U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals
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| Graves |
MDL
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Bronze Horse stolen from Andover.
BY: B. Keith Plunkett
WLBT is reporting that one of the bronze horses at the Andover Subdivision on Hwy 22 was stolen in the last days of December. I've driven by several times now since then and haven't even noticed. I guess I just got accustomed to them being there--kind of like being accustomed to driving by a dump--so at some point I stopped looking. Apparently we have thieves with very poor taste. Flora folks may remember the tacky lions that stood guard at the gates of Andover a few years ago. After some people who purchased lots there threatened to sell over it if they weren't removed, the lions disappeared and the horses showed up.
Sorry if I sound a little unconcerned, Mr. Eaves. But out here, we appreciate the real thing much more than your tacky expensive yard ornaments from Italy.
If nothing else the report was good for the fact that we get to replace the silly images of Bert Case being threatened with an ass kicking by former Governor Kirk Fordice,
and the images of Bert yelling at a dog,
with this:
WLBT is reporting that one of the bronze horses at the Andover Subdivision on Hwy 22 was stolen in the last days of December. I've driven by several times now since then and haven't even noticed. I guess I just got accustomed to them being there--kind of like being accustomed to driving by a dump--so at some point I stopped looking. Apparently we have thieves with very poor taste. Flora folks may remember the tacky lions that stood guard at the gates of Andover a few years ago. After some people who purchased lots there threatened to sell over it if they weren't removed, the lions disappeared and the horses showed up.
Sorry if I sound a little unconcerned, Mr. Eaves. But out here, we appreciate the real thing much more than your tacky expensive yard ornaments from Italy.
If nothing else the report was good for the fact that we get to replace the silly images of Bert Case being threatened with an ass kicking by former Governor Kirk Fordice,
and the images of Bert yelling at a dog,
with this:
There's a horse thief on the loose in Madison County.Buuuuhhhhrrrrrrt Case . . . WLBT
But the horse is made of bronze and weighs about 600 pounds.
It was taken from the Andover Subdivision just east of the Flora city limits on Highway 22.
The stolen horse was taken between 5:00 p.m. on Dec. 27 and 7:00 a.m. Dec. 28.
The horse belongs to the John Arthur Eaves family and was brought here from Italy.
The bronze horse was purchased by attorney John Arthur Eaves, Sr. because the horses reminded him of some horses he owned when John Arthur Eaves, Jr. was a child.
"Someone came in the middle of the night and lifted this pure bronze horse out of ground, in this yard, which is an amazing accomplishment, by itself," John Aruthur Eaves, Jr. said. "So you can see we have one horse left, his name is Shadow and they took Velvet, and we just want to have them reunited in time for Valentine's Day."
The Andover Subdivision features 3 to 6 acre lots and appeals to horse owners.
"Well Bert I can't imagine, must a been a group of kids that pulled in here in a pickup truck on a trailer, and just loaded the brass horse off in it," Sheriff Toby Trowbridge of Madison County said. "And I need your help once again in trying to get this back. So my thought was let 3 On Your Side get a hold of it, and if any neighbors see a brass horse, in their neighbor's back yard please call you or us."
The bronze horse weighs about 600 pounds.
If anyone knows who stole it, they could get up to a $1,000 reward for turning them in.
Eaves, Jr. said if the people who stole the bronze horse bring it back, he will not press charges.
WWII hero Earl Derrington, the POW's friend, awarded the Bronze Star in ceremony
Tuesday February 1, Congressman Gregg Harper awarded the Bronze Star to WWII veteran Earl Derrington of Jackson. The 86-year old Derrington was a prisoner of war in Germany. Upon his return home to Jackson and recovery from wounds received, he began working for all American POW's everywhere. Mr. Derrington with the help of state legislators passed one of the first POW bills in the country through the Mississippi Legislature, and eventually helped do the same for the rest of the country.
You can read the Clarion Ledger coverage of the ceremony HERE.
You can read the Clarion Ledger coverage of the ceremony HERE.
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| Photo by: B. Keith Plunkett |
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| VA Congressional Assistant Larry Wert, introduces Congressman Gregg Harper. Photo by: B. Keith Plunkett |
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| Photo by: B. Keith Plunkett |
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| Congressman Harper presents Mr. Derrington with the Combat Infantry Badge. The award was a replacement for one Derrington lost in 1945 while recovering from combat wounds. Photo by: B. Keith Plunkett |
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| Congressman Gregg Harper pins the Bronze Star on Earl Derrington. Photo by: B. Keith Plunkett |
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| Harper and Derrington speak immediately following the ceremony. Photo by: B. Keith Plunkett |
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| Photo by: B. Keith Plunkett |
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| Photo by: B. Keith Plunkett |
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| Congressman Gregg Harper looks on as Earl Derrington is interviewed by the media following the ceremony. Photo by: B. Keith Plunkett |
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| Photo by: B. Keith Plunkett |
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
The Hill: Barbour to meet with Netanyahu in Israel
Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour (R) will visit Israel on Saturday, less than a week after Mike Huckabee announced a similar trip.
Barbour is scheduled to leave Saturday and will be in Israel until Wednesday of next week.
According to the Republican Jewish Coalition, which is hosting the possible 2012 presidential candidate, Barbour will meet with senior Israeli leaders, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He will also deliver a "major address" at the Herzliya Conference on the last day of his trip.
Netanyahu has recently met with both former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R) and ex- Arkansas Gov. Huckabee, both of whom have shown interest in running for president in 2012.
Visiting Israel and meeting with Netanyahu in particular are indications that Romney, Huckabee, and Barbour are working to bolster their foreign policy credentials.
Read More.
Barbour is scheduled to leave Saturday and will be in Israel until Wednesday of next week.
According to the Republican Jewish Coalition, which is hosting the possible 2012 presidential candidate, Barbour will meet with senior Israeli leaders, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He will also deliver a "major address" at the Herzliya Conference on the last day of his trip.
Netanyahu has recently met with both former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R) and ex- Arkansas Gov. Huckabee, both of whom have shown interest in running for president in 2012.
Visiting Israel and meeting with Netanyahu in particular are indications that Romney, Huckabee, and Barbour are working to bolster their foreign policy credentials.
Read More.
MBJ: State revenue collections beat forecast, but Barbour urges caution
It appears that the state’s January revenue collections will exceed expectations, but Gov. Haley Barbour is still urging lawmakers to be cautious when spending.
Barbour said, “Mississippi’s preliminary January revenue collections were slightly higher than estimated, which shows the state’s economy continues to recover slowly. The state collected $326 million, which was 1.42 percent above the Sine Die estimate for the month.
MBJ
Barbour said, “Mississippi’s preliminary January revenue collections were slightly higher than estimated, which shows the state’s economy continues to recover slowly. The state collected $326 million, which was 1.42 percent above the Sine Die estimate for the month.
MBJ
Harper to award WWII veteran Bronze Star Medal in ceremony today.
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| Congressman Gregg Harper speaks with Mississippi officials at the State of the State address in Jackson. |
U.S. Rep. Gregg Harper, a Mississippi Republican, will present the medal to Clarence Earl Derrington Jr., a retired U.S. Army corporal, during a 1:30 p.m. ceremony at Mississippi's War Memorial Building.
Harper called the medal in a news release a testament to Derrington's "courage and selflessness."
Derrington was 20 when he was wounded and captured. He spent 260 days as a prisoner in Stalag 69.
Keeping East Flora open is a bad idea until a majority of parents prove they care.
BY: B. Keith Plunkett
The Madison County Board of Supervisors voted in favor of a resolution asking Madison County Superintendent Mike Kent to find a way to keep East Flora Middle School open following a special meeting on the subject on Friday January 28.
My guess is: most of them, leaving the school district and East Flora Middle School with the same problems--lower achievement, a majority of parents who care more about their own convenience than they do about their kids education, and an extremely ineffecient school.
Supervisor Paul Griffin's suggestion was predictable: raise taxes.
The attraction to economic development is a wonderful argument on it's face. Having a school in town is a much bigger draw to industry looking to relocate. But, like the redistricting argument, it doesn't hold water, either. Once industry recognizes the school is in serious trouble, it may as well not exist.
If parents of students don't care about the school, why should the Madison County taxpayer.
The Madison County Board of Supervisors voted in favor of a resolution asking Madison County Superintendent Mike Kent to find a way to keep East Flora Middle School open following a special meeting on the subject on Friday January 28.
"The school is inefficient because of its economy of scale," Kent said, adding that the cost to educate a student there is $14,000 compared to $7,700 in the rest of the district.In a Madison County Herald report today, District 4 Supervisor Karl Banks suggested the district redraw lines to force kids from Madison Middle School--rated a top rated Star School--into the Flora District as a way of increasing attendance. The East Flora Middle School is currently rated as "academic watch". Banks suggested that, despite the fact that the Madison County taxpayers are spending almost double the average cost per student at East Flora, that the school is being "penalized." But, he obviously had no problem "penalizing" students from Madison Middle School.
"If you changed the attendance zone, student cost wouldn't be the issue. Fourteen thousand dollars is not the issue," said Banks, who represents the Flora area. "If you're going to penalize (East Flora Middle) because of the costs, you can solve that with the stroke of a pen - bring in more children."
"Maybe if the lines were drawn better, we could have two Star Schools," Banks said.But, will bringing kids in whose parents care more about their kids education, into a school that's parental involvement is among the lowest in the district help students, or hinder overall achievment? And is that an experiment the School District wants to conduct on it children? Furthermore, how many of the Madison Middle School students who would be drawn into the Flora District will withdraw from public schools and enter the private school system?
My guess is: most of them, leaving the school district and East Flora Middle School with the same problems--lower achievement, a majority of parents who care more about their own convenience than they do about their kids education, and an extremely ineffecient school.
Supervisor Paul Griffin's suggestion was predictable: raise taxes.
Supervisor Paul Griffin said the school district could consider doing what the county did a few years ago to provide for needed funds - increase the millage rate.Griffin made a similar suggestion weeks ago in order fund the construction of emergency sirens in his district.
"If the Board of Education wants to provide good schools and keep them going, they may have to bite the bullet and raise taxes," Griffin said.
The attraction to economic development is a wonderful argument on it's face. Having a school in town is a much bigger draw to industry looking to relocate. But, like the redistricting argument, it doesn't hold water, either. Once industry recognizes the school is in serious trouble, it may as well not exist.
If parents of students don't care about the school, why should the Madison County taxpayer.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Fla. judge strikes down health overhaul
PENSACOLA, Fla. -- A federal judge in Florida says the Obama administration's health overhaul is unconstitutional, siding with 26 states that had sued to block it.
U.S. District Judge Roger Vinson on Monday accepted without trial the states' argument that the new law violates people's rights by forcing them to buy health insurance by 2014 or face penalties.
Attorneys for the administration had argued that the states did not have standing to challenge the law and that the case should be dismissed.
The case is likely to go to the U.S. Supreme Court. Two other federal judges have upheld the insurance requirement, but a federal judge in Virginia also ruled the insurance requirement unconstitutional.
Sun Herald
U.S. District Judge Roger Vinson on Monday accepted without trial the states' argument that the new law violates people's rights by forcing them to buy health insurance by 2014 or face penalties.
Attorneys for the administration had argued that the states did not have standing to challenge the law and that the case should be dismissed.
The case is likely to go to the U.S. Supreme Court. Two other federal judges have upheld the insurance requirement, but a federal judge in Virginia also ruled the insurance requirement unconstitutional.
Sun Herald
Supes talk Flora Middle School Closure (Video) Part 2
Citzens respond at the Special meeting of the Madison County Board of Supervisors on January 28.
You can view Superintendent Mike Kent's statement in Part 1 HERE
Part 2 Madison County Board of Supervisors Jan 28, 2011 from DI Smith on Vimeo.
You can view Superintendent Mike Kent's statement in Part 1 HERE
Part 2 Madison County Board of Supervisors Jan 28, 2011 from DI Smith on Vimeo.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Supes talk Flora Middle School Closure (Video)
The video was provided by Supervisor DI Smith, and is 40 plus minutes long. But, if you're interested in getting information on why the school board feels closing Flora's Middle school is the only option, you should watch it.
Thanks to Supervisor Smith for his continued efforts to provide transparent government to Madison County residents.
Madison County Board of Supervisors Special Mtg East Flora Middle School Jan 28, 2011 from DI Smith on Vimeo.
Thanks to Supervisor Smith for his continued efforts to provide transparent government to Madison County residents.
Madison County Board of Supervisors Special Mtg East Flora Middle School Jan 28, 2011 from DI Smith on Vimeo.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Two more Mississippi Democrats switch to Republican Party
BY: B. Keith Plunkett
Two more Mississippi Democrats made the switch to the Republican Party today at GOP Headquarters in Jackson brining the total number since 2009 to 53. State Representatives Russ Nowell of Louisville represents District 43, and Representative Margaret Rogers of New Albany represents District 14. The two were joined by gaggle of state officials.
Majority in Mississippi has a running tally of party switchers HERE.
Click the pictures below for a larger view:
Two more Mississippi Democrats made the switch to the Republican Party today at GOP Headquarters in Jackson brining the total number since 2009 to 53. State Representatives Russ Nowell of Louisville represents District 43, and Representative Margaret Rogers of New Albany represents District 14. The two were joined by gaggle of state officials.
Majority in Mississippi has a running tally of party switchers HERE.
Click the pictures below for a larger view:
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| GOP Chairman Brad White is joined by Governor Barbour and dozens of state officials to join Russ Nowell and Margaret Rogers to the Republican Party |
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| State Rep. Russ Nowell of Louisville is flanked by Governor Barbour, Rep. Scott Bounds, Rep. Margaret Rogers, Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann and other state officials as he announces his switch to the Republican Party. |
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| Rep. Russ Nowell |
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| State Rep. Margaret Rogers of New Albany with Governor Barbour, Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann, Chairman Brad White, and Rep. Russ Nowell. |
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| Governor Barbour welcomes Rep. Margaret Rogers and Rep. Russ Nowell to the Mississippi Republican Party |
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Harper Floor Speech: 'Affordable Care Act' is Politics Above Economics (Video)
U.S. Representative Gregg Harper (R–Miss.), a Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, made the following statement today on the House floor in support of legislation to repeal the “Affordable Care Act:”
“The so-called ‘Affordable Care Act’ is nothing short of politics above economics.
"This penalizing law is loaded with excessive constraints and oppressive federal mandates on states. As Medicaid rolls rise, state revenues continue to fall, and this law only increases the challenges that Governors face in their attempts to balance their budgets.
“Instead of granting state executives the authority to tailor their Medicaid programs to their states’ diverse populations, the ‘Affordable Care Act’ implements a one-size-fits-all Maintenance of Effort provision which restricts states from changing their Medicaid programs.
“Republicans want to provide states with the flexibility they need to manage their health programs. This is simply one example of why I am committed to repealing this carelessly crafted health care law and replacing it with reforms centered on decreasing costs and protecting our middle-class jobs.”
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Supervisor Griffin says he's okay with Madison County incurring more debt for Emergency Sirens in his district.
BY: B. Keith Plunkett
District 5 Supervisor Paul Griffin was quoted in a weekend story as saying he would be willing to consider a bond issue for Madison County if he could get some emergency sirens in his rural district.
We have roads that have been engineered and re-engineered when the money isn't even there for construction. How much of these engineering fees that Mr. Griffin voted to approve could have gone to provide the safety he wants for his constituents?
Maybe Griffin wasn't looking that far ahead when he cast those votes. Maybe he doesn't care about budgets and taxes at all. After all, we know where the majority of the tax money comes from, and it ain't District 5!
But, let's just pretend that Griffin, Board President Tim Johnson, and Supervisor Karl Banks hadn't put the the taxpayers on the line 50 million dollars five years ago. Are the sirens a good investment?
District 5 is a very rural district. If, as the article says, to install a siren costs $20,000, it shouldn't cost over $40,000 to put one in Sharon and one in Camden. That should do it. Any more would be a waste and the money needed to cover those two communities can be found by cleaning up waste in other parts of the county budget. Attempts to cover the countryside with sirens to protect a few homes that, if they are like mine in Flora, already know the storm is coming before the sirens go off anyway, is a waste of resources.
Butch Hammack, the county's emergency management director, seemed to agree.
District 5 Supervisor Paul Griffin was quoted in a weekend story as saying he would be willing to consider a bond issue for Madison County if he could get some emergency sirens in his rural district.
Now, only residents of Ridgeland, Madison, Canton and Flora are within earshot of emergency weather warning systems run by those municipalities. But, Griffin said he wants all other county residents to hear similar alarms sound when tornadoes or dangerous storms approach.
"It's for public safety. I want to get citizens as much notice as possible," said Griffin, who represents the rural northern end of the county. "Having sirens in the county has always been a thought of mine."Let me say that I am not against properly managing emergencies. I am not against the people in Supervisor Griffin's district. I don't want to see their property destroyed by bad weather or a tornado. But, the idea that Madison County would even consider a bond issue right now is madness.
We have roads that have been engineered and re-engineered when the money isn't even there for construction. How much of these engineering fees that Mr. Griffin voted to approve could have gone to provide the safety he wants for his constituents?
Maybe Griffin wasn't looking that far ahead when he cast those votes. Maybe he doesn't care about budgets and taxes at all. After all, we know where the majority of the tax money comes from, and it ain't District 5!
But, let's just pretend that Griffin, Board President Tim Johnson, and Supervisor Karl Banks hadn't put the the taxpayers on the line 50 million dollars five years ago. Are the sirens a good investment?
District 5 is a very rural district. If, as the article says, to install a siren costs $20,000, it shouldn't cost over $40,000 to put one in Sharon and one in Camden. That should do it. Any more would be a waste and the money needed to cover those two communities can be found by cleaning up waste in other parts of the county budget. Attempts to cover the countryside with sirens to protect a few homes that, if they are like mine in Flora, already know the storm is coming before the sirens go off anyway, is a waste of resources.
Butch Hammack, the county's emergency management director, seemed to agree.
"There's always a lot of debate (about the effectiveness of sirens), but I'm putting together this study for the supervisors review," he said.
"It's not feasible to spend $20,000 for five houses and thousands of cattle," Hammack said.
MBJ: Kirby, Bryant prove to be anti-business; Dennis for personal responsibility
However, when Sen. Dean Kirby, R-Pearl, argues against a microbreweries beer bill, because he doesn’t want to put his committee members in an uncomfortable position during an election year, it is obvious that political gain is more important than business success.
Even Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant, a Republican candidate for governor, took the same position in a story in the Mississippi Business Journal this week. Bryant said he didn’t see a reasonable benefit to increasing the alcohol content in Mississippi.
If that is the case, Bryant and Kirby must be against more jobs and a better tax base for Mississippi.
In a conversation with the Mississippi Business Journal last week, Coast businessman Dave Dennis, a Republican candidate for governor, said he would be for such a bill and that any concerns about alcohol and morality is about personal responsibility, not politics.
So, if Dennis sees the financial and jobs benefit of the bill, why not Bryant and Kirby. I’m assuming they would rather see government impose its will on Mississippians instead of allowing for personal responsibility.
MBJ
Even Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant, a Republican candidate for governor, took the same position in a story in the Mississippi Business Journal this week. Bryant said he didn’t see a reasonable benefit to increasing the alcohol content in Mississippi.
If that is the case, Bryant and Kirby must be against more jobs and a better tax base for Mississippi.
In a conversation with the Mississippi Business Journal last week, Coast businessman Dave Dennis, a Republican candidate for governor, said he would be for such a bill and that any concerns about alcohol and morality is about personal responsibility, not politics.
So, if Dennis sees the financial and jobs benefit of the bill, why not Bryant and Kirby. I’m assuming they would rather see government impose its will on Mississippians instead of allowing for personal responsibility.
MBJ
Sunday, January 16, 2011
P-A-R-E-N-T-S
It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities. J. K. Rowling
90 pregnancies at one high school
By James Eng
About 90 teenage girls at one public high school in Memphis, Tenn., are either pregnant or have had a baby this school year, according to media reports.
Frayser High School has 978 students – 508 of which are girls. That means nearly 18 percent of teen girls at Frayser are either currently pregnant or recently had babies.
As a Title One school, Frayser receives federal dollars based on the number of students from low-income families who qualify for free or reduced lunch, according to WMC-TV.
Pregnancy is not a new problem for the school, one Frayser graduate says. "When we would come back from summer break, there would be a thousand people pregnant. We were like, what's going on?" Alicia Williamson told KTUU. Williamson graduated from Frayser in 2004. She added, "There were a whole lot of bellies. You had to watch out so you didn't bump into them. Being 2011, I thought a lot of them would have thought this is not the right way to go, having babies during school time.”
The news comes as the city plans an initiative to fight teen pregnancy in their community with a nonprofit organization called Girls Inc., which teaches girls about pregnancy prevention.
In Memphis, the teen pregnancy rate is between 15 percent and 20 percent – and in Frayser, the rate is 26 percent, said Deborah Hester Harrison, executive director of Memphis’ Girls Inc. It’s no surprise that Harrison places at least part of the blame on the media, such as the popular MTV shows “16 and Pregnant” and “Teen Mom.”
"So much of our society is sexually oriented. As adults we can look at that and it doesn't impact us, but kids are different," Harrison said.
90 pregnancies at one high school
By James Eng
About 90 teenage girls at one public high school in Memphis, Tenn., are either pregnant or have had a baby this school year, according to media reports.
Frayser High School has 978 students – 508 of which are girls. That means nearly 18 percent of teen girls at Frayser are either currently pregnant or recently had babies.
As a Title One school, Frayser receives federal dollars based on the number of students from low-income families who qualify for free or reduced lunch, according to WMC-TV.
Pregnancy is not a new problem for the school, one Frayser graduate says. "When we would come back from summer break, there would be a thousand people pregnant. We were like, what's going on?" Alicia Williamson told KTUU. Williamson graduated from Frayser in 2004. She added, "There were a whole lot of bellies. You had to watch out so you didn't bump into them. Being 2011, I thought a lot of them would have thought this is not the right way to go, having babies during school time.”
The news comes as the city plans an initiative to fight teen pregnancy in their community with a nonprofit organization called Girls Inc., which teaches girls about pregnancy prevention.
In Memphis, the teen pregnancy rate is between 15 percent and 20 percent – and in Frayser, the rate is 26 percent, said Deborah Hester Harrison, executive director of Memphis’ Girls Inc. It’s no surprise that Harrison places at least part of the blame on the media, such as the popular MTV shows “16 and Pregnant” and “Teen Mom.”
"So much of our society is sexually oriented. As adults we can look at that and it doesn't impact us, but kids are different," Harrison said.
Friday, January 14, 2011
The Fix: Michael Steele bows out of RNC Chair race, endorses Maria Cino
By Chris Cillizza
Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele bowed out of his longshot bid for a second term, bringing an end to a two-year tenure more defined by gaffes than the electoral victories his party wracked up.
"I will step aside because I think the party is ready for something different," said Steele before the fifth ballot for chairman began. He immediately threw his support to former RNC official Maria Cino's candidacy.
Even in defeat, however Steele was unapologetic about his time in office. "I hope you all appreciate the legacy we leave," he told the 168 members of the RNC. "Despite the noise, despite the difficulties, we won."
Steele finished second on the first ballot, a single vote behind Wisconsin Republican party chairman Reince Priebus. But he progressively lost support as the balloting went on as the 168 committee members made clear that they have decided to move past his stormy time in office.
Nearly two years ago to the day, Steele was triumphant -- scoring a somewhat surprising victory over a crowded field to become the first African American chairman of the Republican party. Steele was touted by many within the GOP as a foil to the newly elected President Obama -- a well spoken, fresh face for a party decimated in the 2008 election.
But Steele turned into something far less than what many had hoped -- a gaffe-prone public speaker who struggled to court the high dollar donors that form the financial foundation of the RNC.
READ MORE
Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele bowed out of his longshot bid for a second term, bringing an end to a two-year tenure more defined by gaffes than the electoral victories his party wracked up.
"I will step aside because I think the party is ready for something different," said Steele before the fifth ballot for chairman began. He immediately threw his support to former RNC official Maria Cino's candidacy.
Even in defeat, however Steele was unapologetic about his time in office. "I hope you all appreciate the legacy we leave," he told the 168 members of the RNC. "Despite the noise, despite the difficulties, we won."
Steele finished second on the first ballot, a single vote behind Wisconsin Republican party chairman Reince Priebus. But he progressively lost support as the balloting went on as the 168 committee members made clear that they have decided to move past his stormy time in office.
Nearly two years ago to the day, Steele was triumphant -- scoring a somewhat surprising victory over a crowded field to become the first African American chairman of the Republican party. Steele was touted by many within the GOP as a foil to the newly elected President Obama -- a well spoken, fresh face for a party decimated in the 2008 election.
But Steele turned into something far less than what many had hoped -- a gaffe-prone public speaker who struggled to court the high dollar donors that form the financial foundation of the RNC.
READ MORE
The name says it all: Crook at it again.
We can add another peculiarity to former Madison County Chancery Clerk and Ridgeland Alderman Mike Crook's growing list. Some things get better with age. Crook's actions seems to get more unusual as time goes on.
He has been credited with royally screwing up the land records in Madison County during his tenure as clerk, being a lawsuit happy landlord, and attempting to conduct a coup of the TEA party movement for his own meglomaniacal purposes, among other things. Last year he refused to comply with police officers in Ridgeland, and then sued the City for arresting him over it.
But this one? This one makes all the others look positively normal by comparison.
He has been credited with royally screwing up the land records in Madison County during his tenure as clerk, being a lawsuit happy landlord, and attempting to conduct a coup of the TEA party movement for his own meglomaniacal purposes, among other things. Last year he refused to comply with police officers in Ridgeland, and then sued the City for arresting him over it.
But this one? This one makes all the others look positively normal by comparison.
BY: Lucy WeberREAD MORE
Former Ridgeland alderman Mike Crook may have figured dinner for he and his wife and a sleepover could keep him out of legal trouble over rental property, but he was wrong.
Crook was found guilty Thursday in Madison Municipal Court on two counts of violating the city's ordinance governing rental houses. Judge Dale Danks ordered him to pay $867, the maximum fine that includes $300 per count plus court costs.
Acting as his own attorney, Crook tried to convince the judge he didn't need to meet city licensing requirements because he lived at the house he owned at 127 Cypress Drive. However, Danks said tenant Tammy Thompson provided "the most compelling evidence."
"He asked if he and his wife could come over and have dinner and if he could sleep on my sofa in case the city asked if he was living there," testified Thompson, who paid $1,250 a month to live in the house for about seven months last year.
City officials said Crook, a former Madison County chancery clerk, never posted a $10,000 bond required under the rental ordinance adopted in 2008 despite numerous letters and phone calls, but he did pay the required $100 rental fee. A bond or letter of credit is used to guarantee the owner will make any needed repairs the city requires. A bond or letter from a bank for $10,000 costs anywhere from $200-$300, said Bill Foshee, the city's director of code enforcement.
"The city has 327 rental houses, and 326 of them have complied with the ordinance," Foshee said.
Crook said he intended to appeal to Madison County Court. "I'm glad to get to County Court to have a fair trial," he said.
The case against Crook marks the first time the city has taken a homeowner to court for violating the ordinance.
First Tally at RNC Winter Meeting has Priebus ahead by one vote.
First tally of of RNC Chair votes at the RNC Winter Meeting shows Priebus with 45 and Steele with 44, the other three candidates garnered the other 79 votes. 85 needed to win. Let the lobbying begin!
The Hill: Liberal groups worry president will cut deal on 'crown jewel' Social Security
BY: Alexander Bolton
A broad coalition of labor unions and liberal groups has launched an intense lobbying campaign directed at the White House in advance of President Obama’s State of the Union address.
These groups are concerned about Obama’s taciturn response to the proposal by his fiscal commission to gradually increase the retirement age and use a different calculation for cost-of-living adjustments.
Coalition partners held a conference call with liberal bloggers on Thursday afternoon to expand the public-relations campaign directed at the White House and Congress.
The Strengthen Social Security Campaign includes more than 200 member groups such as the AFL-CIO, AFSCME, SEIU, Campaign for America’s Future, National Women’s Law Center, USAction and MoveOn.org.
Many of the groups were members of the Health Care for America Now campaign that worked alongside Obama to push healthcare reform through Congress.
Now that Republicans control the House and Obama is facing reelection, the political dynamic is different and liberal groups fear the president might be willing to cut a deal on Social Security. Labor unions and liberal groups worry Obama could endorse a boost in the retirement age or a change in cost-of-living adjustments when he discusses strategies for reducing the federal deficit later this month.
“Everybody and their cousin is talking to the White House about this,” said a Democratic strategist involved in the lobbying campaign. “Nobody in the progressive world thinks the president ought to endorse the Bowles-Simpson Social Security stuff. People feel very strong about it and have been working it very hard.
“No one knows for sure where the White House is,” said the strategist. “Social Security has been the crown jewel of progressive policy over the last century. Just because so many people voted for the Bowles-Simpson plan and Obama hasn’t said anything specifically about the Social Security recommendations, groups are doing an all-out push.”
The Campaign for America’s Future plans to release polling data next week conducted by Stan Greenberg showing public attitudes about Social Security and the economy.
In December, former Clinton White House Chief of Staff Erskine Bowles and former Sen. Alan Simpson (R-Wyo.), the chairman of Obama’s fiscal commission, released their final recommendations for Social Security as part of a comprehensive proposal to reduce the deficit.
Eleven of the 18 members of the bipartisan commission, including Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (Ill.) and Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) voted for the final debt-reduction proposal.
Kingson said the liberal coalition is also in the midst of planning a nationwide grassroots campaign to press members of Congress not to support cuts to Social Security.
He estimated the coalition’s budget is “a couple million” over the next six months, but that does not include the substantial resources that unions such as the AFL-CIO will allocate to allied activities, such as educating their members on the issue.
"In late January, President Obama will make his annual State of the Union address. It is important that he use the speech to send a clear message to those who want to cut Social Security — Hands Off!" stated an e-mail sent this week.
Hickey warned that if Obama embraced the Bowles-Simpson recommendations for Social Security, it would “split the Democratic Party.”
READ MORE
These groups are concerned about Obama’s taciturn response to the proposal by his fiscal commission to gradually increase the retirement age and use a different calculation for cost-of-living adjustments.
Coalition partners held a conference call with liberal bloggers on Thursday afternoon to expand the public-relations campaign directed at the White House and Congress.
The Strengthen Social Security Campaign includes more than 200 member groups such as the AFL-CIO, AFSCME, SEIU, Campaign for America’s Future, National Women’s Law Center, USAction and MoveOn.org.
Many of the groups were members of the Health Care for America Now campaign that worked alongside Obama to push healthcare reform through Congress.
Now that Republicans control the House and Obama is facing reelection, the political dynamic is different and liberal groups fear the president might be willing to cut a deal on Social Security. Labor unions and liberal groups worry Obama could endorse a boost in the retirement age or a change in cost-of-living adjustments when he discusses strategies for reducing the federal deficit later this month.
“Everybody and their cousin is talking to the White House about this,” said a Democratic strategist involved in the lobbying campaign. “Nobody in the progressive world thinks the president ought to endorse the Bowles-Simpson Social Security stuff. People feel very strong about it and have been working it very hard.
“No one knows for sure where the White House is,” said the strategist. “Social Security has been the crown jewel of progressive policy over the last century. Just because so many people voted for the Bowles-Simpson plan and Obama hasn’t said anything specifically about the Social Security recommendations, groups are doing an all-out push.”
The Campaign for America’s Future plans to release polling data next week conducted by Stan Greenberg showing public attitudes about Social Security and the economy.
In December, former Clinton White House Chief of Staff Erskine Bowles and former Sen. Alan Simpson (R-Wyo.), the chairman of Obama’s fiscal commission, released their final recommendations for Social Security as part of a comprehensive proposal to reduce the deficit.
Eleven of the 18 members of the bipartisan commission, including Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (Ill.) and Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) voted for the final debt-reduction proposal.
Kingson said the liberal coalition is also in the midst of planning a nationwide grassroots campaign to press members of Congress not to support cuts to Social Security.
He estimated the coalition’s budget is “a couple million” over the next six months, but that does not include the substantial resources that unions such as the AFL-CIO will allocate to allied activities, such as educating their members on the issue.
"In late January, President Obama will make his annual State of the Union address. It is important that he use the speech to send a clear message to those who want to cut Social Security — Hands Off!" stated an e-mail sent this week.
Hickey warned that if Obama embraced the Bowles-Simpson recommendations for Social Security, it would “split the Democratic Party.”
READ MORE
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Could we please dispense with the Palin "target" crap.
BY: B. Keith Plunkett
Let me start by saying I'm no Palin fan. I think she's an opportunist. I doubt her sincerity, and her intelligence. Start "shooting" me those emails ladies. I can take your criticism. But, she hasn't a hooting chance in hell of ever being President.
Having said that, I want to defend her a little here. She's become the whipping girl for everyone on the left for using a graphic of a map that targets Democrat controlled districts with literal targets on her website. But, how about we cut out the holier-than-thou. The Dems did it way back in 2004, and even referenced their "targets" as being "behind enemy lines." There is also a video from 2003 on the same site entitled "A Country Worth Fighting For".
From the Democrat Leadership Council Website:
Let me start by saying I'm no Palin fan. I think she's an opportunist. I doubt her sincerity, and her intelligence. Start "shooting" me those emails ladies. I can take your criticism. But, she hasn't a hooting chance in hell of ever being President.
Having said that, I want to defend her a little here. She's become the whipping girl for everyone on the left for using a graphic of a map that targets Democrat controlled districts with literal targets on her website. But, how about we cut out the holier-than-thou. The Dems did it way back in 2004, and even referenced their "targets" as being "behind enemy lines." There is also a video from 2003 on the same site entitled "A Country Worth Fighting For".
From the Democrat Leadership Council Website:
The heartland strategy begins by choosing likely targets for Democratic gains. Let's go to the map:
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Henry Barbour profiled in NYT
There’s not much left between Henry Barbour’s house and the horizon. Since the tornado came through here last April, the house has sat on a bare hill, looking out over the meager remains of the surrounding woods.
It will be decades before that seclusion grows back, but Mr. Barbour is staying anyhow. He grew up here, his family is here and he has managed a career in big-money politics from here perfectly fine.
Whenever Mr. Barbour’s name has shown up in the national news media, it has regularly been followed by the words “nephew of Gov. Haley Barbour.” That suits him well enough; Mr. Barbour has no problem being a backstage player.
But he is also fiercely competitive, and his profile has begun to rise over the last couple of months, as Mr. Barbour, a member of the Republican National Committee, has led a widely publicized campaign to have Michael Steele ousted as chairman. The committee begins its annual winter meeting on Wednesday and holds its election for chairman on Friday, and few are playing a more central role than Mr. Barbour.
READ MORE
It will be decades before that seclusion grows back, but Mr. Barbour is staying anyhow. He grew up here, his family is here and he has managed a career in big-money politics from here perfectly fine.
Whenever Mr. Barbour’s name has shown up in the national news media, it has regularly been followed by the words “nephew of Gov. Haley Barbour.” That suits him well enough; Mr. Barbour has no problem being a backstage player.
But he is also fiercely competitive, and his profile has begun to rise over the last couple of months, as Mr. Barbour, a member of the Republican National Committee, has led a widely publicized campaign to have Michael Steele ousted as chairman. The committee begins its annual winter meeting on Wednesday and holds its election for chairman on Friday, and few are playing a more central role than Mr. Barbour.
READ MORE
East Flora PTA to meet Thursday night over potential school closing.
The East Flora PTA will meet Thursday night at 6:00 in the school gym to discuss the potential closing of the school. If closed, the town of Flora would be the only municipality in Madison County without a school. The move would force students to be bussed several miles away.
East Flora Middle School serves 147 students and is listed as underperforming. Madison County spends $14,000 per student at East Flora compared to the average per student cost of $7,700.
Concerned parents and town officials met Tuesday night at Flora City Hall to discuss the predicament.
East Flora Middle School serves 147 students and is listed as underperforming. Madison County spends $14,000 per student at East Flora compared to the average per student cost of $7,700.
Concerned parents and town officials met Tuesday night at Flora City Hall to discuss the predicament.
Barbour's Last State of the State in Pictures
Prognosticators, Politico's and Pundits have already begun to break down Governor Haley Barbour's final State of the State Address given last night. You can check out Majority in Mississippi to view a transcript of the Guv's speech. Follow this LINK to see the transcript of the Democrat response. And, you can view the entire MPB coverage of the event HERE.
I won't attempt to add another layer to those who have started breaking it all down to tell you what you thought you heard. Instead I'll offer a few visual aids.
Click on the photos to enlarge.
Enjoy.
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| Congressman Gregg Harper arrived on the House Floor early to talk to Lawmakers. |
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| Speaker Billy McCoy brings the House to order. |
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| Lt. Governor Phil Bryant and President Pro-Tempore Billy Hewes welcome First Lady Marsha Barbour. |
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| Speaker McCoy welcomes Governor Barbour to the floor of the House. |
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| The Governor received a warm welcom from the joint session of the Mississippi State Legislature. |
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| Lt. Governor Bryant, a gubernatorial hopeful, and Senator Billy Hewes who is looking to replace him as head of the Senate. |
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| Barbour was at times sentimental about his time in the Governor's Mansion. |
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| Members of the Legislative Black Caucus sat on their hands for much of the Governor's speech. But, rose in agreement when Barbour called for a plan to build a Civil Rights Museum in Jackson. |
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| Senator Giles Ward, Representative Scott Bounds and other legislator's listen intently to the Governor's speech. |
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| Madison Representative Rita Martinson |
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Monsanto corn breeding facility up and running in Flora.
Elected officials from across the state joined Flora in welcoming Monsanto to the Flora Industrial Park on Tuesday January 11. The $2.4 million facility further boosts the company’s investment in the South and is a reflection of Monsanto’s commitment to continue delivering new high-performing products to southern farmers.
The 26,000-square-foot corn breeding station will employ approximately 10 full-time and up to 50 seasonal workers. Corn production in the southern region has been growing in the last several years, and the new site’s research focus will be on using the latest breeding techniques to develop higher-yielding corn hybrids with greater resistance to disease and other environmental stresses, specifically adapted to the region.
The site will complement Monsanto’s global breeding program and become part of a network of more than 50 corn breeding locations around the world. Southern farmers also will benefit from the genetic diversity of Monsanto’s global germplasm pool.
Monsanto currently has 3 technology research sites in Mississippi – Scott, Leland, and Winterville – focused on delivering cotton and soy varieties and traits to meet the needs of southern farmers.
The announcement comes two years after the town lost out to a site in Kansas to be the new location for a Department of Homeland Security Bio lab. Flora's Industrial Park currently has only one tenant, Primos Hunting Calls, locating there in May of 2002.
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| Mayor Les Childress, Ag Commissioner Lester Spell, Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith, Congressman Gregg Harper, and Representative Phillip Gunn were on hand to welcome the new Monsanto facility to Flora. |
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| Flora Mayor Leslie Childress welcomes officials from across Madison County and Mississippi to Flora. |
The site will complement Monsanto’s global breeding program and become part of a network of more than 50 corn breeding locations around the world. Southern farmers also will benefit from the genetic diversity of Monsanto’s global germplasm pool.
Monsanto currently has 3 technology research sites in Mississippi – Scott, Leland, and Winterville – focused on delivering cotton and soy varieties and traits to meet the needs of southern farmers.
The announcement comes two years after the town lost out to a site in Kansas to be the new location for a Department of Homeland Security Bio lab. Flora's Industrial Park currently has only one tenant, Primos Hunting Calls, locating there in May of 2002.
Monday, January 10, 2011
DeLay Sentenced to Three Years in Prison
A Texas judge sentenced former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas) to a three-year prison term Monday for his role in a scheme that violated the state’s campaign finance laws and funneled corporate funds to candidates in 2002, the Associated Press reported.
A jury convicted DeLay in late November on charges of money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering. He is expected to appeal.
DeLay was accused under a 2005 indictment of illegally funneling to state candidates $190,000 in corporate money collected by his state political action committee through the Republican National Committee in 2002. State laws prohibit such funds from being used for political campaigns.
DeLay denied wrongdoing in the case. The AP reported that his attorney had sought probation, rather than a prison term.
Texas Judge Pat Priest could have sentenced DeLay to life in prison. Instead, DeLay was sentenced to three years in prison on the conspiracy charge and 10 years of probation on the money-laundering charge, the Austin American-Statesman reported.
Read More
A jury convicted DeLay in late November on charges of money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering. He is expected to appeal.
DeLay was accused under a 2005 indictment of illegally funneling to state candidates $190,000 in corporate money collected by his state political action committee through the Republican National Committee in 2002. State laws prohibit such funds from being used for political campaigns.
DeLay denied wrongdoing in the case. The AP reported that his attorney had sought probation, rather than a prison term.
Texas Judge Pat Priest could have sentenced DeLay to life in prison. Instead, DeLay was sentenced to three years in prison on the conspiracy charge and 10 years of probation on the money-laundering charge, the Austin American-Statesman reported.
Read More
Special Elections to go ahead as planned
Special elections for Northern Transportation Commissioner, and to replace the seats left open by Senator Alan Nunelee and Representative Steven Palzzo will reportedly go on as planned tomorrow despite snow and sleet across the state yesterday.
Secretary of State Delbert Hoseman said his office would plan to hold the elections as scheduled unless Governor Barbour decided otherwise. Barbour spokesman Dan Turner said Sunday the governor would make a decision today, based on whether roads are expected to be clear Tuesday.
Secretary of State Delbert Hoseman said his office would plan to hold the elections as scheduled unless Governor Barbour decided otherwise. Barbour spokesman Dan Turner said Sunday the governor would make a decision today, based on whether roads are expected to be clear Tuesday.
Friday, January 7, 2011
George Dale to run as independent for Insurance Commissioner?
Rumor is that former Insurance Commissioner George Dale picked up qualifying papers from the Secretary of State's office on Thursday, January 6 with the intent of running for his old office as an independent. He previously held the office as a Democrat.
Dale was a teacher, coach and school administrator in the Moss Point public school system prior to entering state government in 1972. Elected as commissioner of insurance in 1975, he became the youngest insurance commissioner in Mississippi history. Upon completing his eighth term, Commissioner Dale was the longest-serving insurance commissioner in the United States.
Following his defeat by Democrat Challenger Gary Anderson 51-49 in 2007, he joined the law firm of Adams and Reese as a governmental affairs advisor.
Dale lost in the wake of his cozy relationship with the insurance industry following Hurricane Katrina.
The now seventy year old told the Mississippi Business Journal following his 2007 defeat, "I will not go home and retire."
He added, "I come from family of long livers. I have one uncle who lived to be 99 and another who lived to 94. I think a certain amount of long life is hereditary. The key to all of them living so long was they were active to the end. I intend to be active as long as I can."
It would appear he intends to get his old job back.
Dale was a teacher, coach and school administrator in the Moss Point public school system prior to entering state government in 1972. Elected as commissioner of insurance in 1975, he became the youngest insurance commissioner in Mississippi history. Upon completing his eighth term, Commissioner Dale was the longest-serving insurance commissioner in the United States.
Following his defeat by Democrat Challenger Gary Anderson 51-49 in 2007, he joined the law firm of Adams and Reese as a governmental affairs advisor.
Dale lost in the wake of his cozy relationship with the insurance industry following Hurricane Katrina.
The now seventy year old told the Mississippi Business Journal following his 2007 defeat, "I will not go home and retire."
He added, "I come from family of long livers. I have one uncle who lived to be 99 and another who lived to 94. I think a certain amount of long life is hereditary. The key to all of them living so long was they were active to the end. I intend to be active as long as I can."
It would appear he intends to get his old job back.
Republicans Say Higher U.S. Debt Limit Depends on Specific Spending Cuts
Republicans in Congress told President Barack Obama and Democrats they will insist on specific cuts in government spending as a condition of raising the U.S. debt limit.
Any increase must be “accompanied by meaningful action by the president and Congress to cut spending and end the job- killing spending binge,” House Speaker John Boehner said in a statement yesterday after the Obama administration asked Congress to boost the debt ceiling by March 31.
Boehner, of Ohio, and House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, of Wisconsin, said a default on government debts isn’t an option. Still, Ryan suggested Republicans may use the debt- ceiling issue as leverage to attach conditions that would force Obama to sign them into law or force a default.
“Republicans are not interested in just a naked debt- ceiling increase,” Ryan said at a Washington forum on economic policy. “Nobody likes brinksmanship, but what we really don’t want is runaway spending.”
Republicans “want to do something that gets us pointed in the right direction,” he said.
In a letter to congressional leaders, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said the $14.29 trillion debt limit may be reached as soon as March 31, and “most likely” by May 16. The debt was incurred “during periods when both Republicans and Democrats were in control of different branches of government,” he said.
A default on government obligations by a failure to extend the borrowing authority would have “catastrophic consequences” possibly worse than the 2008 financial crisis, said Geithner. He said Obama is committed to working with both parties to put the U.S. on a “fiscally responsible path.”
Senate Minority leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, told reporters, “Rather than sending out scary letters, what we ought to look at is an opportunity here, on a bipartisan basis, to address spending and debt.”
As part of the Republican focus on spending cuts, the House yesterday voted to reduce its operating budget by 5 percent. The 410-13 vote imposed the reduction on all House committees and the offices of leaders and members. The resolution will save an estimated $35 million from a federal budget that exceeds $3.5 trillion.
Ryan suggested Republicans’ new House majority may seek to use the debt-ceiling matter to force Obama to sign legislation with spending conditions he might otherwise veto. An increase in the government’s borrowing authority “is not an unrelated item,” he said.
Asked whether Republican demands for spending cuts would threaten a government default, Ryan said, “It would be irresponsible if the president brings about a default of the country if he refuses to sign a bill that raises the debt- ceiling limits. That’s his choice.”
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat, told reporters that Republicans are “threatening to shut down the government” over the debt limit, which would cause “an economic crisis.”
Ryan said Republicans are discussing their strategy for boosting the government’s borrowing authority, adding they might opt for either a one or two-year extension.
“There are different ways of doing a debt-ceiling increase that could speak to our strategy,” Ryan said.
Ryan said he holds out “some hope that there’s a shot at some actual, maybe not wholesale, fundamental” changes in the tax code.
Bloomberg
Any increase must be “accompanied by meaningful action by the president and Congress to cut spending and end the job- killing spending binge,” House Speaker John Boehner said in a statement yesterday after the Obama administration asked Congress to boost the debt ceiling by March 31.
Boehner, of Ohio, and House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, of Wisconsin, said a default on government debts isn’t an option. Still, Ryan suggested Republicans may use the debt- ceiling issue as leverage to attach conditions that would force Obama to sign them into law or force a default.
“Republicans are not interested in just a naked debt- ceiling increase,” Ryan said at a Washington forum on economic policy. “Nobody likes brinksmanship, but what we really don’t want is runaway spending.”
Republicans “want to do something that gets us pointed in the right direction,” he said.
In a letter to congressional leaders, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said the $14.29 trillion debt limit may be reached as soon as March 31, and “most likely” by May 16. The debt was incurred “during periods when both Republicans and Democrats were in control of different branches of government,” he said.
A default on government obligations by a failure to extend the borrowing authority would have “catastrophic consequences” possibly worse than the 2008 financial crisis, said Geithner. He said Obama is committed to working with both parties to put the U.S. on a “fiscally responsible path.”
Senate Minority leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, told reporters, “Rather than sending out scary letters, what we ought to look at is an opportunity here, on a bipartisan basis, to address spending and debt.”
As part of the Republican focus on spending cuts, the House yesterday voted to reduce its operating budget by 5 percent. The 410-13 vote imposed the reduction on all House committees and the offices of leaders and members. The resolution will save an estimated $35 million from a federal budget that exceeds $3.5 trillion.
Ryan suggested Republicans’ new House majority may seek to use the debt-ceiling matter to force Obama to sign legislation with spending conditions he might otherwise veto. An increase in the government’s borrowing authority “is not an unrelated item,” he said.
Asked whether Republican demands for spending cuts would threaten a government default, Ryan said, “It would be irresponsible if the president brings about a default of the country if he refuses to sign a bill that raises the debt- ceiling limits. That’s his choice.”
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat, told reporters that Republicans are “threatening to shut down the government” over the debt limit, which would cause “an economic crisis.”
Ryan said Republicans are discussing their strategy for boosting the government’s borrowing authority, adding they might opt for either a one or two-year extension.
“There are different ways of doing a debt-ceiling increase that could speak to our strategy,” Ryan said.
Ryan said he holds out “some hope that there’s a shot at some actual, maybe not wholesale, fundamental” changes in the tax code.
Bloomberg
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Dems prove early that the 112th will be no different than the 111th: Games, Games, Games
“Despite the fact that they read the Constitution today, they should have read it yesterday, actually,” one senior Democratic aide said. “I guess swearing in their Members wasn’t part of their pledge.”
The aide was referring to the adjourning of a GOP hearing on a health care repeal resolution.
Rules Chairman David Dreier (R-Calif.) abruptly adjourned a hearing on a GOP health care repeal resolution Thursday after he became aware that Rep. Pete Sessions was not sworn in as a Member of the 112th Congress, committee spokeswoman Jo Maney said.
The Texas Republican was not on the floor during Wednesday’s swearing-in ceremony. But he was the Member who offered the motion to constitute the Rules Committee.
The aide was referring to the adjourning of a GOP hearing on a health care repeal resolution.
Rules Chairman David Dreier (R-Calif.) abruptly adjourned a hearing on a GOP health care repeal resolution Thursday after he became aware that Rep. Pete Sessions was not sworn in as a Member of the 112th Congress, committee spokeswoman Jo Maney said.
The Texas Republican was not on the floor during Wednesday’s swearing-in ceremony. But he was the Member who offered the motion to constitute the Rules Committee.
Harper: "Our Path To A Balanced Budget Begins Today, And It Begins With This Vote"
U.S. Representative Gregg Harper (R-Miss.) speaks in support of a bill to reduce Members of Congress' operating budget by five percent. Harper: "As lawmakers, we must lead by example. For this past Congress - my first term - my congressional office has come in under budget, voluntarily returning approximately 10 percent of the Members' Representational Allowance."
Madison County Superintendent not to run for re-election
Kent said he had been weighing retirement.
"I've been struggling with it about a year," he said. "I am, by nature, a term limits guy. ... I think there is value in change and revitalization."
Kent, 59, has spent 38 years as a state educator, all of them in the Madison County School District. He was Madison Central High School's principal before being elected superintendent in 1999. Under his leadership, Madison County schools have consistently ranked among the top districts in the state.
During his tenure, Ridgeland High was built and two more bond issues were passed, the second funding construction of Germantown High, set to open in Gluckstadt this fall.
"We've gone from nine schools to 23. We've spent $300 million on new construction," he said.
The district serves nearly 12,000 students. "When I took office, we had about 7,000 students, and we had more kids in trailers than in bricks and mortar, but we're about to get that remedied." Kent said.
Kent also pointed to the district's achievement of unitary status, which "returned local control to the school district."
The district got out from under the U.S. Justice Department in 2006. A group of Madison County residents unsuccessfully challenged the change.
Board member Bill Grissett Jr. noted there has been no tax increase in the Madison County district in six years and attributed that to Kent's leadership.
Whoever is elected as the district's superintendent will need to follow Kent's lead "because what he's had in place has been working," Grissett said.
Deputy Superintendent Ronnie McGehee said Wed-nesday he plans to file qualifying papers to run for the job Friday, and Kent is endorsing him.
Read More: CL
"I've been struggling with it about a year," he said. "I am, by nature, a term limits guy. ... I think there is value in change and revitalization."
Kent, 59, has spent 38 years as a state educator, all of them in the Madison County School District. He was Madison Central High School's principal before being elected superintendent in 1999. Under his leadership, Madison County schools have consistently ranked among the top districts in the state.
During his tenure, Ridgeland High was built and two more bond issues were passed, the second funding construction of Germantown High, set to open in Gluckstadt this fall.
"We've gone from nine schools to 23. We've spent $300 million on new construction," he said.
The district serves nearly 12,000 students. "When I took office, we had about 7,000 students, and we had more kids in trailers than in bricks and mortar, but we're about to get that remedied." Kent said.
Kent also pointed to the district's achievement of unitary status, which "returned local control to the school district."
The district got out from under the U.S. Justice Department in 2006. A group of Madison County residents unsuccessfully challenged the change.
Board member Bill Grissett Jr. noted there has been no tax increase in the Madison County district in six years and attributed that to Kent's leadership.
Whoever is elected as the district's superintendent will need to follow Kent's lead "because what he's had in place has been working," Grissett said.
Deputy Superintendent Ronnie McGehee said Wed-nesday he plans to file qualifying papers to run for the job Friday, and Kent is endorsing him.
Read More: CL
House GOP leadership to start 112th with reading of the Constitution
House lawmakers will also take up a spending cut bill, a five percent cut taken from lawmaker and committee budgets, worth about $35 million dollars.
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