But both solid plans are endangered. Good legislative work grounded in fair play, compromise and collegial respect is being shot down. Why?
Because Phil Bryant is running for governor, and for two years now he has been pandering to a constituency within his party that demands politicians either give them everything they want or blow the whole place up trying. I would say to Mr. Bryant, sir, leadership is far different from simply jumping in front of a mob. It is time for the adults in this Capitol and in Mississippi politics to stand up and demand cooperation, respect, and compromise.
So the Lieutenant Governor’s two sticking points are really that a Republican speaker couldn’t get elected under the House plan and that all three Senate seats in Hattiesburg should be Republican. Here he is running for governor, but apparently he would really rather be chairman of the Republican Party. All the taxpayers pay him, but apparently only the Republicans count.
But maybe not even all Republicans count. Suburban Metro Jackson and Desoto County, both areas where Republicans do well, have grown in population and are currently underrepresented in the Legislature. Bryant’s stalemate would deny them full representation for at least another year.
It is a shame that with all their ideas, organization, political power and money the Republicans under Phil Bryant failed to field strong candidates for the Legislature in vast majority of the African American majority districts. If the Bryant faction has faith and confidence in the strength of their ideas and organization, why don’t they field candidates in all fifty-two senate seats and all 122 House seats? Sure, it's hard to elect a Republican speaker when the Republicans concede about 1/3 of the seats before the election even starts.
You know, today is Ash Wednesday. I challenge Phil to give up demagoguery for Lent.
The full statement is after the jump.