Rep. David Baria (D - Bay St. Louis) speaks on PEER report criticizing the Port of Gulfport

From Rep. David Baria:

The PEER Report is disappointing to say the least. The permanent jobs estimate has been significantly reduced and they will not materialize until 2027 or later. At least it appears that the projections are more in line with reality now. Perhaps more troubling than the job creation numbers is the matter of the state potentially being called upon to repay the federal dollars already spent. If the governor can't supply documentation required by HUD, we could also lose the addition funds allocated to this project. The governor/MDA needs a workable plan and needs it quick.

Notes from the Bar Convention

From Facebook earlier today:

David Baria Campaign

I just ran into Haley Barbour at the MS Bar Convention and he reminded me that the MS Senate voted for a state-run health insurance exchange 5 times under Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant. Now Phil is against it.

Mississippi Republican PAC sued for libel

In a developing story, Rep. David Baria (D - Bay St. Louis) has filed suit against Advance Mississippi PAC, a front group for Republican candidates in the 2011 legislative elections.  The lawsuit also names Steve Simmons, the director of Advance Mississippi, as a defendant.  Dwayne Bremer of the Sea Coast Echo broke the story last week, and Geoff Pender of the Clarion-Ledger wrote about it on Saturday.

The lawsuit seeks damages for libel, and points to mailers from Advance Mississippi PAC that claimed Baria cast votes to raise his pay and raise taxes on food.  Those claims were demonstrably false.

This will be interesting to follow.  I can't recall a lawsuit similar to it in recent Mississippi history.

Despite national outcry, no changes likely to Mississippi's pardon process

When he ruled Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 2195 not germane to the legislation, Speaker Philip Gunn (R-Clinton) became the latest in a long line of Republicans who have have denied modification to Mississippi's pardon process, a process that drew nationwide scrutiny following then Governor Haley Barbour's pardon of hundreds of Mississippi felons in January.

Among the bills that were killed during the 2012 session were House Bill 27, a measure that would require the parole board to provide a non-binding recommendation on pending pardon requests; House Bill 29, a measure that would prevent murderers from serving as trustys; House Bill 36, a measure that would require pardon applicants to give notice to local law enforcement officials so that a public hearing could be arranged; and House Bill 182, a measure that would make certain offenders ineligible for additional earned time.

It will be interesting to see if Governor Barbour's pardons coupled with his party's unwillingness to work with Democrats to develop any meaningful reform will create problems for legislators in districts where some of the more notable crimes occurred. 

Randy Walker, a victim of one of the recipients of a Barbour pardon had this to say last week, "The elected officials sit in their air-conditioned offices and collect a check we provide.  They're not listening to the voice of Mississippi."  Expect to hear more statements like this one when legislators are back on the ballot.