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Magnolia Political Report #74
December 26, 2006
YEAR END REPORT
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Rangel talks down, Pickering stands up

Charles B. Rangel, the Democratic chairman-to-be of the House Ways and Means Committee, was all over the news in Mississippi and across the country as the result of a comment he made about the Magnolia State. In a New York Times article about the New York caucus gaining power due to the mid-term election results, Rangel was quoted as saying “Mississippi gets more than their fair share back of federal money, but who the hell wants to live in Mississippi?”

Rangel, who’s stated goal is to get New York a better return from Washington, was speaking to the fact that Mississippi receives $1.77 back for every dollar it sends to Washington while New York only gets $0.79 on the dollar.

Almost immediately after this quote hit the press, Congressman Chip Pickering issued this official response:

“Mr. Rangel owes the people of Mississippi an apology. I hope his remarks are not the kind of insults, slander, and defamation that Mississippians will come to expect from the Democrat leadership in Washington, D.C. I have friends and colleagues from New York that are fine people, and I’ve visited their state and think it is a wonderful place. But I love Mississippi. I would rather live in Mississippi, raise my family in Mississippi, and serve Mississippi - and there are millions of Mississippians who agree with me. From the Coast to the Delta, to the Pinebelt, to the Hills and across Mississippi, there is beauty in every city, charity in every heart, love in every church, and majesty in every countryside. When I travel this state I see it in the resolute handshakes, the hospitable smiles, and the sincere prayers of our neighbors: we love Mississippi and we are proud and happy to live here. Last year, Hurricane Katrina devastated the Mississippi Coast. We have been working hard not only to rebuild our own homes and communities, but also to repair and protect the network of refineries, pipelines, and transmission grids that supply energy, gas, and oil to the rest of the country, including New York. If Mr. Rangel believes those efforts required more than our fair share of federal money, he is welcome to send that energy back to our state and find an alternative supply. At the very least, he should send us an apology.”

In the days to follow, Rangel made a series of apologies saying that he “did not mean to offend anyone,” that he would visit “as soon as [he] can find a food taster,” and that he “just love[s] New York so much that [he] can't understand why everyone wouldn't want to live here."

Graciously, Congressman Pickering accepted his apology and plans to hold Mr. Rangel to his promise to visit. In the end, Congressman Pickering reflected on the whole situation:

"You get a thick skin in politics about what people say about you, but when someone says something about your home, about your family's home, well, those are fighting words. I know for some Mississippians, Mr. Rangel's apology may not be contrite enough, but I trust he is sincere and personally, I accept his apology."

DC shake-up

In 1974, Republicans experienced catastrophic losses in the wake of Watergate. Democrats took a beating in 1994 after the Clinton tax-increases and the overreach on Hillary-care. This year the Republicans found themselves on the wrong side of a wave – albeit one that was nearly as large as those in ’74 or ’94. Even so, after the waters settled, Republicans had lost control of the House and the Senate.
 
What does it mean for Mississippi?
 
Most importantly, it means good-bye Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Thad Cochran and hello House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson. Having the low-key Cochran as chairman of approps was a boon for the Magnolia State. Fortunately for the state, Cochran gets along well with his ranking member, Sen. Robert Byrd of West Virginia, who will take the gavel as chair when the 110th Congress convenes in January. Though he will not be chairman, Cochran will still wield enormous influence as ranking member – especially since he was always attentive to Byrd when their roles were reversed.
 
Thompson, who represents the ag-oriented Delta, caused some consternation when he gave up his seat on the House Agricultural Committee a few years ago for a slot on Homeland Security. In retrospect, it looks like a pretty good move for him. Though he has less seniority than his colleague Gene Taylor, Thompson will be chairing a full committee in the 110th. Taylor, who is approaching his 20th year in Congress, will be the chairman of the Subcommittee on Projection Forces of the Armed Services Committee (the subcommittee that deals with Navy, Marine and Air Force programs that project American power abroad).  
 
The loss of the Republican majority is not welcome news for Reps. Roger Wicker and Chip Pickering. Both have leadership roles on the Republican side of the aisle. Pickering is Vice Chairman of the Energy & Commerce Committee. Wicker is a Deputy Whip and a high ranking member of the powerful Appropriations Committee and was next in line to be a cardinal on the committee. Both will find themselves in the minority for the first time in their congressional careers.
 
Lott rises
 
Perhaps the most significant change for Mississippi in the 110th Congress is Sen. Trent Lott’s remarkable return to the Senate leadership. A year and a half ago Lott was apparently headed for retirement. After Katrina, Lott decided to stay on to help the state recover from the worst natural disaster in American history. When his protégé Rick Santorum (R-PA) lost his re-election campaign, Lott jumped into the Republican Whip race that Santorum had been planning to make. When the votes were tallied, Lott had beaten Lamar Alexander (R-TN) by one vote.
 
Lott’s return to the Senate leadership will put him in a good position to help the Magnolia State at a time when the state has lost some clout in Washington. After a whipping nationally, his colleagues, at least a majority of them, apparently decided the Senate sorely needed Lott’s legislative prowess and mastery of the Senate political process.

Analysts pointed to a variety of reasons for Lott's return. After the GOP took a drubbing in the mid-term elections, many pundits believe a majority of GOP Senators chose Lott because of his mastery of the arcane Senate rules process and his ability to forge consensus.

Others thought it was a sign GOP Senators were declaring independence from a White House they believe led them to disaster in the mid-terms. Outgoing Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) is seen by many to have been a failure as Republican Leader. Frist was handpicked by Bush accolyte Karl Rove after the White House pointedly refused to support Lott in the wake of his remarks at the now infamous birthday party for Sen. Strom Thurmond. As Leader, Frist stuck to Rove's White House script. Lott and Alexander provided a stark contrast. Alexander is a moderate Tennessee Republican like Frist. Lott has not hesitated to criticize the adminstration when he deemed it in order. His sharpest criticism came when Lott's home and thousands of others were destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.

The most interesting take on Lott's rise was from the New Republic magazine. According to it, Sen. Gordon Smith (R-WA) gave an emotionally charged nominaton speech for Lott in which he talked about Lott's character and the concept of redemption. In the past four years, Lott had experienced two great losses - the Majority Leader's post and his family home in Pascagoula - yet both times "he had come back fighting, a stronger and better person than before." For Republican Senators looking for their own redemption after a disasterous election cycle, Lott seemed just the man to lead them from the wilderness.
 
On a final note, it is interesting to consider what Lott’s fate would have been had the GOP not lost control of the Senate. Sen. George Allen (R-VA) had the closest loss of any Senate Republican. Had he hung on to win, the Senate would have been tied 50-50, with Vice President Cheney again in the role of tie-breaker. Allen and Lott had a well publicized falling out when Lott stepped down as Majority Leader in 2002. The assumption would have to be that Allen would not have voted for Lott, leaving the race for Whip deadlocked between Lott and Alexander at 25-25.

Corinthians clean out city government

Citizens of Corinth voted in an almost entirely new slate of elected officials to run their city for the next four years. The only incumbents who survived the city's recent election are the mayor and one alderman who ran unopposed. Mayor Jerry Latch (D) defeated Jimmy "J.D." Copeland (I) by gathering 59% of the votes. The only other familiar face remaining on the council is that of Bill Plaxico, the Democratic Alderman of Ward 2.

In Ward 4, Steve Hill (D) and Leroy M. "Mike" Hopkins were elected to Alderman and Alderman at-large in the Democratic Primary since there were no Republican or Independent candidates running. In Ward 5, Jimmy Hathcock lost to fellow Democrat David Roberts 122 to 309.

Wards 1 and 3 saw partisan changes. In Ward 1, Jimmy Mitchell (D) lost to Republican Joe Vann, an insurance agent by 186 to 282 votes. In Ward 3, John Graham, a Democrat and the longest-serving alderman on the board, fell to Republican A.L. "Chip" Wood III by a vote of 147 to 308.

"I ran on the position of what the city needs to be doing to move forward," Wood said. "We're losing a lot of our fire and police officers because we're not doing what other surrounding cities are doing to keep them. Mr. Graham is a fine man who is well loved, but people are ready for a change. I knocked on a lot of doors and shook a lot of hands."

This marks the first time since Reconstruction that Republicans have won alderman seats in Corinth.

Up in smoke?
 
 
The Partnership for a Healthy Mississippi’s days may be numbered. Since we last reported, the Mississippi Supreme Court voted 6-1 (Graves and Diaz recused themselves) to prohibit the PHMS from spending any more of the $20 million a year it has gotten from the state’s tobacco settlement proceeds. The Court hasn’t made a final ruling yet as to whether the funding arrangement is legal, but odds are heavy that they’ll say it is not. If they do, the Partnership will have to survive on private donations or fold up completely.
 
If the high court does rule, as expected, that the order granting the PHMS $20 million is illegal, look for the school nurse program and a few other Partnership functions to be funded through the legislative process. Governor Barbour has proposed spending the $20 million on several priorities -- $5 million each to smoking cessation programs, drug enforcement, the UMC Cancer Center and expanding the school nurse program.
 
When Governor Barbour first filed his lawsuit, former Attorney General Mike Moore ridiculed it as frivolous and said it would happen over his “dead body.”  Turns out Moore either wasn’t the lawyer he’s cracked up to be or he was bluffing. We’re not sure. It was apparent to most from the start that only the legislature can appropriate state dollars.
 
Of course, the Clarion Ledger’s editorial page doesn’t seem to mind if something is illegal as long as it seems like good public policy to them. They’ve editorialized ad nauseum that Barbour and Treasurer Tate Reeves were wrong to file the suit. Somehow we think they’d have held the rule of law above all else if the players and cause had been different. Sid Salter, it should be noted, broke with the editorial page on the issue by questioning the Partnership’s spending and funding arrangement all along.

Barbour still perfect in special sessions

Governor Haley Barbour called the legislature back to Jackson for the second special session of 2006 to discuss reducing the state tax on modular housing. The legislation voted to reduce the tax on modular housing from 7% to 3%- equal to the tax on mobile homes. This proposed tax reduction will translate to somewhere between $4000 and $6000 in savings per home.

This measure failed to pass during the first special session. Though it passed unanimously in the Senate, it died in the House when House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Percy Watson (D- Hattiesburg) chose not to bring it up.

More than 240,000 housing units were damaged during Hurricane Katrina, and, because of this, the Governor feels very strongly about this bill coming to fruition. "The number one priority and challenge in Mississippi caused by Katrina is housing," Barbour said in a news release. "We must act now to remove barriers to building housing on the Gulf Coast, and reducing the tax on modular homes is a necessary step toward that end."

Supporters of the bill agree widely that, apart from the obvious savings to Coast residents, this bill is a good one because it may increase the state's tax revenue. Several modular housing manufacturers are lined up to open ship in Hattiesburg and on the Coast if the bill passes.

Before the legislation was called in, though, there was a fairly large dissenting voice coming from House Democrats. They openly criticized the proposal for saving the manufacturers money instead of the homebuyer. "We don't want to do something just to put 3 percent in the pocket of a dealer," Speaker Billy McCoy said. "We have been having very thorough discussions with the tax commissioner. The fact that we waited until this date to [bring this up] will ultimately benefit the homeowner."

This criticism from the Democrats is partially in response to the slowness of Governor Barbour's federal housing grant program. In fact, several Democrats wanted to attach a state grant program to the modular housing bill to help speed things up. The Democrats seemed not to want to give this bill to the Governor too easily since Coast housing has been the only spot on his otherwise untarnished Katrina record.

Senate Finance Committee Chairman, Tommy Robertson (R-Moss Point) agreed that passing the savings directly to the homebuyer would be nearly impossible. "The only way you could do that would be to make the homebuyer pay the full 7 percent, then give them a rebate," Robertson said. "I don't think anybody would want that." His solution was to have the dealer itemize the taxes and agree to pass the savings on to the homebuyer.

When all was said and done, all the partisan debate before the fact turned never spilled over into the chambers. The tax cut passed unanimously in the Senate and by a vote on 114-1 in the House. The bill passed in just two hours which marked the fastest special session ever for any current legislator and one of the fastest in the state’s history.

"The people of Mississippi, especially those on the Coast, thank you," said House Speaker Billy McCoy, D-Rienzi.

Governor Barbour praised the Legislature as well, saying the bill "will save Mississippians who must build new homes because of Katrina... This will significantly help the reconstruction efforts of many thousands of our neighbors in South Mississippi."

GOP captures three of four special elections
 
If there’s any doubt that national discontent with Republicans didn’t spill over to Mississippi, the notion should be put to rest by the fact that Republicans won three out of four special elections for the legislature last month. Two House districts were pretty much decided on qualifying deadline because one was solidly Republican and the other was solidly Democrat. The state GOP picked up both Senate districts, increasing their numbers in the Senate to 25.
 
House
 
Republican Steven Palazzo easily won House District 116, which was vacated by Leonard Bentz (R-Biloxi) when he was named Southern District Public Service Commissioner. Palazzo is a Biloxi CPA who was able to get enough votes in a three-person field to avoid a run-off. Democrat Linda Whittington had a tougher time winning the District 34 seat left open when her cousin Mae Whittington passed away from cancer earlier this year. Linda Whittington was also in a three-person field on Election Day, but couldn’t get over the magic 50 percent plus one number to win outright. In the run-off, Whittington bested Greenville farmer Marvin Cochran, a Republican, by about 200 votes.
 
Senate
 
Two seats were up in the Senate due to the deaths of Sen. Bunky Huggins (R-Greenwood) and Billy Harvey (D-Prentiss). Both represented swing districts. Small-business owner Lydia Chassaniol (R-Winona) won her run-off election against former Jim Hood staffer Hiram Eastland (D-Greenwood/Belhaven). Chassaniol has been a longtime GOP activist and was a Fordice appointee to the parole board. State Rep. Joey Fillingane (R-Sumrall) handily defeated City Councilwoman Deborah Delgado (D-Hattiesburg) in the race to succeed Billy Harvey. After the two survived the five-person field to make the run-off, Hattiesburg TV station WDAM ran several unflattering stories about Delgado’s disbarment and her so far unsuccessful ten-year effort to regain her law license. The stories, combined with Fillingane’s popularity in his native Lamar County, turned the race into a rout.
 
With the Republican pick-ups, they are now one seat shy of gaining parity with Democrats in the 52 member State Senate. Effectively, the GOP already has control of the chamber by virtue of Republican Amy Tuck being Lieutenant Governor. If they did lose the LG’s office next year but the membership stayed essentially the same, the chamber would still be right-of-center because the Senate may be Mississippi’s last bastion of truly conservative Democrats.

Who's in; Who's out: Qualifying deadline less than three months away

Governor: Dems are still looking for a candidate to challenge incumbent Governor Haley Barbour. After the Democrats took control of the U.S. House and Senate, some hacks figured they’d be emboldened to look anew to knock off former RNC Chairman Haley Barbour. What better way for Democrats to gain momentum nationally going into 2008?  The problem is that the tidal wave that swept Republicans out of office nationally didn’t hit the deep South. Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue and Alabama Governor Bob Riley were re-elected handily. Outgoing Florida Governor Jeb Bush will be succeeded by Republican Attorney General Charlie Crist. Only in politically fickle Arkansas did a governor’s mansion switch from the GOP to the Democratic Party.  
 
As of now, John Arthur Eaves looks like a good bet to run. The ads for his law firm look to be politically calculated to set him squarely in the God and country camp. Former State Senator Terry Jordan (D-Philadelphia) has said he’ll run if no one else does. Jordan retired from the Senate in 1999 after a bout with cancer. Former Musgrove Chief of Staff Bill Renick of Holly Springs is also rumored to be looking at the state’s top job.
 
Lt. Governor: State Auditor Phil Bryant and Senator Charlie Ross are clearly off and running for the GOP nod for Lieutenant Governor. With just three months to qualifying deadline, it looks like this field is set. Anyone who got in at this late date would be at a huge disadvantage in fundraising. On the Democratic side, State Rep. Jamie Franks (Mooreville) is the only person who looks like a sure thing to run as of now. Secretary of State Eric Clark hasn’t let his intentions be known yet. Barbara Blackmon (Canton) is running a TV show statewide but hasn’t made any other clear moves toward running. Former Governor Ronnie Musgrove was a hot prospect until his toe-sucking scandal hit the newspapers a few months ago. Since then, he’s been very quiet.
 
Secretary of State: State Rep. Mike Lott (R-Petal) is probably the most likely GOP challenger if Eric Clark decides to run for re-election.

Attorney General: Don’t expect 2003 GOP nominee Scott Newton to try again. Newton is too deeply involved in several matters at the law firm in Jackson where he’s a partner. Supreme Court Justice Mike Randolph is still decidedly undecided. The shocker for politicos around the state could be the entry of former State Rep. Bubba Pierce (D or R? – Leakesville) into the race. Pierce, who once was the darling of the Democratic Party, was appointed by Governor Haley Barbour to a chancery judgeship in the southeast corner of the state. Pierce has always had a “Tuck-like” strong rural appeal. If he could hold those votes and get the GOP vote, he’d be a tough opponent for AG Jim Hood.
 
Treasurer:  If anyone is looking to challenge Treasurer Tate Reeves, they are being very quiet about it.
 
Auditor: Senator Stacey Pickering (R-Laurel) is almost a sure thing to run. Mayor Knox Ross (R-Pelahatchie) had been rumored to be considering a bid but apparently has decided against it.
 
Other races with developments:
 
Northern District PSC: Though you haven’t seen it in state papers, Bo Robinson has had two harassment suits filed against him. One was settled out of court and the other is still pending. The Magnolia Report has read both. Suffice it to say, if they ever hit the papers, Robinson will be hard-pressed to carry his own precinct. Knowing this, two North Mississippians are considering the race. Former Appalachian Regional Commission Director Mabel Murphree is said to be very serious about a run. Though she was appointed to the ARC by Governor Musgrove, Murphree will apparently run as a Republican if she enters the race. Nettleton Mayor Brandon Pressley is also said to be looking at the race.  Pressley ran as a Democrat for mayor, but it is possible he could make the race under the GOP banner.
 
Central District Transportation Commissioner: Madison County Supervisor Tim Johnson’s named has cropped up as a possible challenger to Commissioner Dick Hall. Johnson, who is maybe best known as an Elvis impersonator, was in the State Senate until his district was drawn out in redistricting. He ran for supervisor at the urging of Madison Mayor Mary Hawkins-Butler and has been a staunch ally of hers on the Board of Supervisors. There’s no love lost between Hall and Hawkins-Butler, so the rumor about Johnson running against Hall is an intriguing one.
 
Southern District Transportation Commissioner: Commissioner Wayne Brown had a relatively close race against an under-funded opponent in 2003. Add to it coast discontent with MDOT during Katrina recovery and you have a recipe for a very tough re-election campaign for Brown. Senator Ed Morgan (R-Hattiesburg) looked like a good possibility for a run until a few months ago. While he was flirting with running against Brown, Forrest County Board of Supervisors President Billy Hudson had made up his mind to run for Morgan’s seat. Once Morgan decided to run for re-election, Hudson – who is one of those candidates who can self-finance – appeared to be staying put in the race anyway. Now comes word that he’s being encouraged to run against Brown. Hudson would make an interesting choice. In most races, candidates who can self-finance would just as soon keep it quiet. However, the transportation commission may be one race where you can brag being wealthy is an asset. Considering Mississippi’s history of MDOT Commissioners who’ve ended up behind bars, publicly making the statement (or better – having it made about you) that you’re too wealthy to be bought by anyone could be a strong selling point.

Lott's son releases album to benefit coast

Chet Lott, the son of U.S. Sen. Trent Lott, has released an album featuring several songs written about Hurricane Katrina and the state of Mississippi. Proceeds will benefit the American Red Cross. To find out more, visit www.chetlott.com.

November results

Mississippi had its General Election on November 7th. Federal positions as well as non-partisan, state-wide judgeships were chosen.

United States House of Representatives

First Congressional District

Second Congressional District

Third Congressional District

Fourth Congressional District

Court of Appeals Judge

Fourth Court of Appeals District; Position One

Chancery Court Judge

District 1, Place 1

District 4

District 5, Subdistrict 5-1

District 5, Subdistrict 5-2

District 6, Place 2

District 8, Place 3

District 9, Subdistrict 9-3

District 10, Place 2

District 10, Place 4

District 11, Subdistrict 11-2

District 12, Place 2

District 13, Place 2

District 14, Subdistrict 14-2

District 20, Place 1

Circut Court Judge

District 1, Place 1

District 2, Place 1

District 3, Place 2

District 4, Subdistrict 4-1

District 7, Subdistrict 7-1

District 7, Subdistrict 7-4

District 9, Subdistrict 9-2

District 11, Subdistrict 11-3

District 14, Position 2

District 15, Place 2

District 16, Place 1

District 22

Movers and Shakers