***BREAKING*** - HB 488, the House anti-immigrant bill, skipped in Senate committee; appears dead

Sen. Hob Bryan (D - Amory), chairman of the Senate Judiciary B committee, has skipped HB 488 on the calendar.  The Republican anti-immigrant legislation will die at midnight.

In never-ending insurance battle, Rep. Chism channels his inner Valvano

Regular readers know that Rep. Gary Chism (R-Columbus), your House Insurance Chairman, has spent the better part of the last 15 years pushing insurance products from the State Capitol.  His efforts to force Mississippians to buy auto insurance, a product he sells as an independent insurance agent, have been well documented here.  So it should come as no surprise that Chism again finds himself in the center of a bloody legislative fight involving . . . wait for it . . . an insurance product-- this time workers' compensation.

During Monday's floor fight in the Mississippi House, Rep. Chism made a motion to foreclose debate on Senate Bill 2576, a measure known around these parts as the "Workers Compensation Destruction Bill".  This maneuver marked the fourth of five floor votes Chism has lost on this subject this session.  Two of his other losses came on a bill he co-authored, House Bill 555.

Having watched an insurance salesman doggedly pursue bill after bill pertaining to the sale of insurance products at the State Capitol, it's hard to know whether to cry over self-dealing run amok or simply tip your hat to one of the best examples of shameless persistence you'll ever see.  It is nice, however, to have a contrast in Rep. Tom Miles (D-Forest), an independent insurance agent from Scott County.  While his colleague fights tooth and toenail for every bill bearing even a whiff of insurance profits, Rep. Miles has heeded House Rule 26 and prudently voted present on Senate Bill 2576 and its House companion.

Regardless of how this protracted battle plays out, it'll be interesting to see if Rep. Chism demonstrates the same determination for something that won't profit insurance companies and the people who sell their products like, I don't know, school kids or Mississippi's elderly.  I know, I say crazy things sometimes.

 

***BREAKING*** - Charter schools bill not brought up in committee

The forces behind the charter schools bill have been unsuccessful in gaining a majority of votes in the House Education Committee, it appears. Chairman John Moore (R - Brandon) did not call the bill up in committee today, with the deadline looming.

This may be the end of the charter schools debate for this year.

***BREAKING*** - Workers Compensation Destruction Bill laid on table subject to call

After the Motion to Reconsider the Workers Compensation Destruction Bill, Rep. Gary Chism (R - Columbus) moved to lay the bill on the table subject to call.  That motion passed 61-58.  That means that those in favor of the bill have time to work the switchers.

***BREAKING*** - Motion to Reconsider passes in House on Workers Compensation Destruction Bill

Motion to reconsider passes 60-58!!! Bill is back before the House!

***BREAKING*** - Motion to table the Motion to Reconsider Workers Compensation Destruction Bill may be voted on again

This is wild.  The Motion to Table the Motion to Reconsider failed because it tied (with reports that one member voted Rep. Trey Lamar incorrectly).  The vote moves to the Motion to Reconsider.  If it passes, then the bill will be back before the House for another vote on final passage.

***BREAKING*** - Workers Compensation Destruction Bill lives on?

59-59 vote ties the motion to table the Motion to Reconsider.  Parliamentary inquiry from Rep. Bobby Moak (D - Bogue Chitto) leaves the question open.

All eyes on the House this afternoon

The House is set to take up the Motion to Reconsider SB 2576, the Workers Compensation Destruction Bill, when it returns to session this afternoon at 4 p.m.  In addition, the House also has the following items to deal with in short order:

Congratulations to former Hinds County Sheriff Malcolm McMillin for being named new Chairman of Parole Board

At a press conference today, Gov. Phil Bryant (R) chose former Hinds County Sheriff Malcolm McMillin (D) to chair the State Parole Board.  This is an excellent choice.  Congratulations to Sheriff Mac on his new job, and to Gov. Bryant for reaching across the aisle and naming a Democrat to this position.

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.