Jeff Amy: Gov. Bryant appears to be slipping on GOP plan to stymy Medicaid

Jeff Amy has a great article up today about the GOP strategy to prevent Medicaid expansion.  Primarily, he talks about how Bryant's announcement that he won't call a special session at all is a marked deviation from the prior stance of calling one and putting the pressure on Democrats while in special session.  Here's how the article begins:

That seemed to be the case last week when Gov. Phil Bryant said he would try to run Medicaid even if the Legislature failed to pass bills reauthorizing or funding the program. Beyond the cloudy legality of the Republican’s claim, it turns away from the clear-as-glass GOP strategy of blaming Democrats for voting against the program and causing a calamity where 640,000 Mississippians wouldn’t have health care coverage come July 1.

I recommend reading the whole thing here.

Bill Crawford: Gov. Bryant and Speaker Gunn are acting like tyrants

And y'all thought I was rough on these two.  Check out what Bill Crawford writes in the Daily Journal today about Gov. Bryant's and Speaker Gunn's behavior regarding Medicaid expansion:

Resistance to Medicaid expansion and Obamacare is one thing. Power plays that oppress free and open debate and good government are quite another, and display a taint liberty resists.

Founder Ben Franklin told us, “Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God.”

I strongly recommend that you read the whole piece.  It's a great summation of what really happened with Medicaid this session.

BREAKING: Medicaid cuts to begin January 1, 2014?

From a press release by the House Democratic Caucus:

May 13, 2013

Jackson, MS- Statement from House Democratic Caucus Leader Bobby Moak (D-Bogue Chitto):

“On Monday the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services released proposed regulations for the implementation of reductions in Medicaid disproportionate share payments to hospitals pursuant to the requirements of the Affordable Care Act.  These cuts begin January 1, 2014.  The release can be found at Medicaid.gov.  The agency has previously announced cuts to Medicare payments under the program beginning October 1, 2013.   

Both the Governor and the Division of Medicaid have consistently speculated that the cuts will not occur. With the release today, they have been proven wrong. Should the Mississippi Medicaid program not be expanded to offset these cuts, our hospitals will be irreparably harmed. We again call on the Governor to call a special session to deal with this issue as soon as possible.”

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Going on SuperTalk again this morning

I'll be on the Gallo Show again this morning at 7:30. Brandon Jones, Executive Director of the Mississippi Democratic Trust, will be joining me.

Gov. Phil Bryant, legal scholar

From today's Clarion-Ledger:

"As head of the Governor's Division of Medicaid, I will do all I can to continue and to provide Medicaid to the citizens who qualify in the state of Mississippi," Bryant said Wednesday. "That is my legal argument. If someone wants to challenge me in court, what is their argument?"

There are some days when I can't help but ask myself: Is this guy for real?

I know he has lawyers over there in his office, and they're some damned good ones. He should listen to them every now and then.

Flaggs wins Vicksburg mayoral race

When the polls closed, Rep. George Flaggs was right at 50%, just a vote shy of taking the primary without a runoff. There were approximately 158 affidavit and absentee ballots to be counted, and he needed a majority of those to win.

When the dust settled today, it was official: Rep. George Flaggs is the Democratic nominee for Vicksburg mayor, meaning he's virtually assured of taking office later this year.

Percy Bland, target of intimidation, wins Democratic mayoral primary

A few weeks ago, I posted a picture of a noose found outside of Percy Bland's office over in Meridian. Mr. Bland was running for the Democratic mayoral nomination in Meridian, and considered the leader in that race.

Well, he won the nomination tonight, setting up a showdown with incumbent Republican mayor Chari Barry.

Welcome Back to the Blogosphere, Frank Corder



Down in Pascagoula, the former editor of Y'all Politics has lost a bid for Mayor on the first ballot in a contest featuring four candidates.

Look forward to more stories like this and this and this coming to the computer of a very angry white guy in your neighborhood soon.

Welcome back, Frank.

Jackson Mayor Harvey Johnson ousted

With 94% of the votes tallied, incumbent Jackson mayor Harvey Johnson is firmly ensconced in 3rd place behind Chockwe Lumumba (2nd) and Jonathan Lee (1st). Lee has the lead with 35%, Lumumba has 25%, and Johnson has 21%. The gap between Johnson and Lumumba is 1,300 votes.

Update on Vicksburg Mayoral race: it's going to absentee ballots

There are reportedly 150 absentee ballots in the Vicksburg mayoral primary. With George Flaggs literally sitting on 50%, he's looking to get 76 of those to win the crowded race on the first ballot without a runoff.