Let me point out Republican hypocrisy…
Year after year, Republicans rail against House Democrats who generally kill Voter ID in committee. They go to the talk radio airwaves and campaign stumps (and now blogs) chanting, “Let us vote!”
(Now, I know. The easy hypocrisy here is to talk about how after being allowed to vote Senate Republicans killed voter ID. But that’s just old hypocrisy. I want to talk about the newest hypocrisy…)
That would be the fact that From Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant is unlikely to let the Senate vote on reversing the governor’s decision not to accept all of the federal stimulus money.
From the Clarion-Ledger:
Eleven Democrats encouraged Senate leaders today to allow consideration of Senate Resolution 615. The resolution has stalled in a Senate committee.
Barbour is one of a handful of governors, mostly Republican, who have voiced reluctance to accept all of the money.
At issue in Mississippi is about $50 million to expand unemployment pay to part-time workers.
Barbour has said it would require the state to tweak current laws and raise taxes on businesses once the federal money runs out. Democrats counter Mississippi needs all of the $2.8 billion expected to come to the state and that changes to the law could be repealed after the funding ends.
Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant, a Republican who presides over the Senate, has said he agrees with the governor. A Bryant spokesman said today he has not changed his mind.
The truth is that Bryant doesn’t want to expose his fellow Republicans from having to vote on turning down part of the stimulus money. He knows that will not play well among rural voters who are hurting.
But Bryant doesn’t care about the rural voters who are hurting. He cares about the voters who are on his side and will try to elect him governor in 2011.
The Clarion-Ledger looked at the Senate’s failed attempt to revive a killed voter ID bill:
Efforts to revive legislation that combines voter ID with early voting failed Monday in the Mississippi Senate, even after four Republicans who helped kill the bill last week reversed course.
GOP Sens. Merle Flowers of Southaven, Billy Hewes of Gulfport, Joey Fillingane of Sumrall and Chris McDaniel of Ellisville angered many in their own party by nixing House Bill 1533 in a committee last week. They decided to support the bill’s resurrection, although Hewes and Republican Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant stressed they still oppose an early voting provision included in it.
Others in the GOP, including Gov. Haley Barbour, are open to allowing early voting as long as the process is secure. But Republicans downplayed their disagreements that resulted in the apparent death of voter ID - one of the party’s top legislative priorities.
The interesting statement comes in the next paragraph:
“It doesn’t mean there’s a rift in the party. (Early voting) is an issue that’s going to take some discussion and understanding and education,” said Senate Elections Committee Chairman Terry Burton, a Republican from Newton who opposed killing the bill.
So what does it mean? It could be one of three things.
Option 1: It means there is a new sheriff in town, and that Gov. Haley Barbour is quickly becoming a lame duck when it comes to legislative maneuvering.
Option 2: This was all thought up by Barbour’s brain trust, then passed on to the Lt. Gov. for execution and credit. And let’s face it… that’s not outside the realm of possibility. After all, there should be little question that Barbour’s political skills far exceed those of Bryant.
Option 3: Two enterprising young legislators (Republican Sens. Merle Flowers and Joey Fillingane) came up with some hair-brained scheme that blew up in their face. Then, as luck would have it, Bryant found a way to pick up the pieces and take credit on his way to trying to score big political points with a statewide referendum at the same time he’s running for governor.
In other words, Bryant stumbled into it after two of his senators bumbled the whole thing in righteous fashion.
My money is on Option 3, but I would believe Option 2 as well. I don’t, however, believe Gov. Barbour is yet a lame duck when it comes to legislative affairs. I just don’t believe Bryant is his own leader and continues to take marching orders from above.
by Sam Hall on March 10, 2009
in Linkage
Today we begin with Jere Nash’s observations on Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant and Voter ID:
Bryant was quoted as saying, “I favor putting the issue on the ballot, and I will assure you it will pass overwhelmingly.” Well, duh. I suspect it will pass by the same margin that the 1894 state flag was approved in the 2001 special election. I don’t guess it matters that we could have had voter ID this year and we could have saved all the money it will take to hold a statewide referendum on the issue, if only the Lt. Gov. would have supported his own committee chairman.
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The Jackson Free Press brings us word of AG Jim Hood warning of stimulus scams:
Attorney General Jim Hood, along with the Federal Trade Commission, is warning consumers about bogus web sites and emails promising to help them qualify for a payment from President Obama’s economic stimulus package. The scammers tell consumers they can help with only a little information or for a small payment from the consumer.
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The city of Jackson is expecting $13M in stimulus funds:
The city of Jackson is expected to get at least $13.2 million in federal stimulus money, city officials told the Jackson City Council today.
The money will be dedicated to programs throughout the city, from road repairs to public buses to law enforcement. It is part of the $787 billion federal stimulus bill signed into law last month.
Marcus Ward, the chief of staff for Mayor Frank Melton, said the $13.2 million was set aside in federal formulas. He said the city is also applying for competitive grant money.
