What Did Gunn Say?

During yesterday's debate over the Initiative 42 alternative, House Speaker Philip Gunn interrupted the remarks of House Democratic Leader Bobby Moak and Rep. Steve Holland when these two mentioned that they heard speculation that the Speaker may have applied stronger-than-normal pressure upon Republicans to pass their bill. There were nearly a dozen Republicans who were prepared to defeat the alternative language. Only two Republicans ended up voting against the bill. Upset that no one can keep a secret, Gunn wanted to know from Moak and Holland who has been talking to the press and other members.

Here are the questions that we should be asking instead: what did Philip Gunn say to his fellow Republicans? Which members did Gunn, Greg Snowden, and House staff have contact with about this bill, and what was said during the conversation? Did the Speaker, in any way, shape, or form have contact with an individual or others to discuss funding opposition to fellow Republicans who voted no?

The Speaker claims to be a man of high integrity so for him to maintain that standard, he should come forward and explain what was said - or not said - to his caucus members prior to the vote. Gunn said his job as Speaker is to maintain decorum; here is his chance. The best way to get the story right is to get it from the source.

Privatizing Child Support: Follow the Money

It seems that every day there is a new program that Mississippi legislative Republicans suggest need privatization. Whether it's PERS, Medicaid, or public schools, it seems like these state Republicans would prefer to do just about anything to offer a few more kickbacks to corporations.

So, it should come as no surprise that the house passed a measure that would privatize child support today, and would allow a company to "rake in millions."

What is somewhat surprising, though, is that this one has been done before. And failed miserably.  From The Clarion Ledger:

Mississippi used a Virginia-based company, Maximus Inc., to collect overdue child support from 1995 to 2000.
"I remember the disaster that Maximus was," Sen. Hob Bryan, D-Amory, said during the debate Wednesday.
Maximus spent more but collected less money for overdue child support payments in Hinds and Warren counties, on average, than DHS did in the rest of the state from 1996-2000, according to a report issued in October 2000, by the Joint Legislative Committee on Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review.

What's the definition of insanity again?  Trying the same thing over and over and expecting a different response.

Or perhaps it's not about functionality. Perhaps we should just follow the money. As Rep. Steve Holland (D-Plantersville) suggested:

"It's a greased pig already. Somebody up on high already knows who's going to get this contract"

Read more here: http://www.sunherald.com/2013/02/12/4464951/top-republicans-push-child-support.html#storylink=cpy

Rep. Steve Holland: Issue the bonds and fulfill our obligations

The following is a Letter to the Editor from Rep. Steve Holland (D - Plantersville):

I continue to lament the reality that the leadership of the 2012 Legislature failed to allow a compromise on issuing bonds for the myriad of critical needs our State has. Almost without exception in the last 29 years that I have been privileged to serve in the Mississippi Legislature, we have fulfilled what I consider to be a valid annual responsibility in budgeting–that of issuing bonds to build and repair buildings on our University and Community College campuses, provide economic incentives for prospective industries and grow existing businesses, provide fire trucks for fire fighting and prevention for volunteer departments, build bridges in rural counties over our creeks and waterways, enhance the growth and development of our small municipalities, build cultural tourism–and the list goes on. The State is no different than we as individuals and families are in this category. We rely on long term credit to purchase our homes, buy the necessities of our families and promote the well being of our quality of life.  

Never in the history of lending has interest rates been lower and never has there been a better time to get on with the needed growth and development of our State’s infrastructure. The needs are inarguable. And you will pay as citizens one way or another. A classic example is the ever increasing burden on middle class Mississippians with tuition increases at our Institutions of Higher Learning. Why, even buckets were strategically placed throughout your Capitol Building in Jackson to catch the rain from its leaking roof this year!! Approximately $240 Million in Bonded indebtedness was retired this year-a significant figure. We could renew at least this amount and make a tremendous stride in meeting so many of our State’s critical needs. 

Call Governor Phil Bryant (601-359-3100), Lieutenant Governor Tate Reeves (601-359-3200), Speaker Phillip Gunn (601-359-3300) and your local Senator and Representative and tell them you want what’s best for Mississippi - you want real leadership, not campaign rhetoric - in securing a more stable and inviting quality of life for all Mississippians. Tell them to get on with the needed business at hand immediately.

Well said, Rep. Holland.

2012 Legislative Session: How do you measure success?

In an article titled "Key leaders in the four-month 2012 Legislative Session," the Clarion Ledger listed notable Republicans and Democrats and their 2012 accomplishments.  It's a telling piece that provides some insight into the differences between the agendas of the state's largest parties and how these parties measure "success."  Here are some highlights:

Republicans

• Gov. Phil Bryant: "revising workers' compensation law to protect employers"
• Speaker Philip Gunn: "Supported passage of conservative legislative priorities, like the Sunshine Act to limit the [A]ttorney [G]eneral's power in hiring outside counsel, led House to pass illegal immigration enforcement bill and several anti-abortion measures"
• Rep. Andy Gipson (R-Braxton): "Championed anti-abortion legislation, such as the [new] law requiring abortion physicians obtain hospital admitting privileges, passed bills enforcing illegal immigration and outlawing abortion where a fetal heartbeat is detectable"

Democrats

• Bobby Moak (D-Bogue Chitto): "Worked to unite House Democrats in opposition to" charter school bill and workers' compensation bill.
• Rep. Steve Holland (D-Plantersville): "Worked to restore level funding for Medicaid and public health, including securing $2.5 million for the Ryan White HIV/AIDS federal matching dollars"
• Rep. Cecil Brown (D-Jackson): "Worked to restore level funding for public education and successfully proposed removing immigration provision requiring schools to check status of students"

If we were to extrapolate party platform planks based on the 2012 session, it might go something like this: 

Workers' compensation

• Republicans support a workers' compensation program that protects employers by limiting payments to injured Mississippi workers. 
• Democrats support a workers' compensation program that pays injured Mississippi workers fairly.

Attorney General

• Republicans disagree with the constitutional provisions outlining the office of the attorney general and believe that this officer should be more restricted than any other statewide office and only act where all agencies and the legislature agree 
• Democrats agree with the constitution and believe it is important for Mississippi to have a chief lawyer

Illegal immigration

• Republicans do not believe that there can be too many laws referencing illegal immigration
• Democrats passed a law that placed restrictions on employers who create an incentive to break the law and do not support unfunded mandates that create unwarranted problems for law enforcement and municipalities in the name of fighting illegal immigration

Budget

• At the beginning of the session, Republicans, through Governor Bryant's budget recommendation, proposed $70 million cuts to public education and significant cuts to public health.
• Democrats offered an alternative budget that provided level funding for education and public health and were largely successful in making these changes during the budgeting process. 

Get your popcorn ready: Rep. Steve Holland (D - Plantersville) begins to question Rep. Bill Denny (R - Jackson) about his map

Rep. Holland starts off by talking about how he and Denny have been good friends for a long time.  Holland says that he wrote Denny a letter back on March 16th asking to give input on the Denny map.  Denny admits he did not let Holland give input on the map.

Holland then begins to ask Denny about communities of interest and the changes to Holland's district.  Holland's district has remained fairly the same geographically for the last 40 years, according to Holland.  Holland then finishes with a question about Snowden's district moving from a majority minority district to a district that has less than 20% BVAP.

No big fireworks from Holland.