Mississippi News Notes: Week Ending 03.19.16

The Secretary of State's Office is shutting down a cancer charity on the Coast.

A news release from Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann said his office has ordered Ocean Springs-based MS Gulf Coast Bluebird Cancer Retreat to stop soliciting donations. He said his office found several violations of state law, including failing to provide exam records and failing to notify Hosemann's office of changes in the organization.

"According to the documents filed with the Secretary of State's office, MS Gulf Coast Bluebird is an adult cancer camp; however, its expenses include personal expenses, auto expenses, food purchases which appeared to be personal, personal clothing and cash withdrawals with no documentation which violates (state law)," the release from Hosemann said. "Additionally, MS Gulf Coast Bluebird failed to produce any records showing that it conducted any board meetings in 2014 and also failed to produce a copy of an agreement outlining the terms and services for which it owed any payment to Gloria Skillestad, executive director of MS Gulf Coast Bluebird." Read more here: http://www.sunherald.com/news/local...

A gas tax hike hasn't been a popular solution for infrastructure problems in years past. But it's being tossed around as an option again this year. The House and Senate Transportation Chairmen spoke at a Mississippi Economic Council event earlier this month.

"We cannot afford to kick this can down the road again," explained Senator Willie Simmons. "Have to do something."

The challenge is to make a gas tax hike an easier pill to swallow for the politicians.

"We need to ensure the public that these new dollars will be focus on the problem," added Rep. Charles Busby. http://www.wlox.com/story/31468165/...

State capitols are often referred to as “the people’s house,” but legislatures frequently put up no-trespassing signs by exempting themselves from public-records laws.

That tendency was apparent when the Associated Press sought emails and daily schedules of legislative leaders in all 50 states. The request was met with more denials than approvals.

Some lawmakers claimed “legislative immunity” from the public-records laws that apply to most state and local officials. Others said secrecy was essential to the deliberative process of making laws. And some feared that releasing the records could invade the privacy of citizens, creating a “chilling effect” on the right of people to petition their government. Mississippi House Speaker Philip Gunn responded with a denial letter asserting his emails and calendars were his personal property, not subject to the Mississippi Public Records Act and protected “under the doctrine of legislative immunity” dating back hundreds of years to English common law.

Read more here: http://www.sunherald.com/news/natio...

The Mississippi Center for Justice is keeping tabs on jobs created with almost $1 billion the federal government granted after Hurricane Katrina.

It's hard to tell just how successful job creation has been because the Mississippi Development Authority stops tracking the jobs once quotas are met and the projects are closed out.

The Sun Herald reports Ryan Ezelle, a Mississippi native and second-year law student from the University of Virginia, came up with some interesting statistics on Katrina job retention and creation.

Taxpayers have so far spent about $81,658 per job for the 7,394 jobs created or retained, although the cost would be higher if MDA reported how many jobs failed to pan out in the long-term.

Monday, the Poplarville School Board discussed Senate Bill 2500, which intends to consolidate nine school districts within the state, one of those being the Lumberton School District into Poplarville’s.

Senate Bill 2500 would dissolve the Lumberton School District, which has 585 students and merge it with Poplarville and Lamar County School Districts, the release stated.

On March 2, Mississippi’s Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves announced the bill will soon head to the House for consideration.

“Consolidating districts is about putting more money in the classroom and less in the office,” Reeves said in the release. http://www.picayuneitem.com/2016/03...

The Biloxi City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to settle a class action lawsuit filed by the ACLU claiming the city was running a modern-day “debtor’s prison” by jailing people who could not afford to pay fines in traffic and misdemeanor cases.

he lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in Gulfport in October 2015. Defendants named in the suit included the city, Police Chief John Miller, City Judge James Steele and Judicial Correction Services, a for-profit company that handled fine collections for the city prior to Mayor FoFo Gilich taking office.

As part of the settlement, the city has agreed to adopt “sweeping reforms” to protect the rights of people who cannot afford to pay fines for minor offenses:

• Private probation companies will not be used to collect fines and fees after June 1, 2016.
• A full-time public defender has been hired to represent indigent people charged with nonpayment.
• No additional fees will be imposed on people who enter payment plans or are required to perform community service.
• A "bench card" detailing municipal court procedures will be used to protect constitutional rights in the fine/fee collections process. The card explains how the municipal court will conduct additional ability-to-pay hearings and lists the legal alternatives to jail.
• "The biggest change that the city court is making is to guarantee indigent defendants will have a public defender and receive follow-up hearings on ability to pay if the defendant fails to comply with the sentence,” said Gilich. “We will continue these and other court reforms that we had already begun making since I became mayor 10 months ago.” http://www.wlox.com/story/31477111/...

U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves has set a Mar. 21 deadline for briefs by Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood, who's defending the state, and Carlos Moore, a private attorney who sued the state seeking to have the flag declared an unconstitutional vestige of slavery.

In his scheduling order filed late Monday, Reeves also told Moore to stop making "false or misleading public statements," such as saying that African-Americans could be entitled to reparations if the flag is found unconstitutional or that Reeves will change the flag because he is African-American. Moore made both statements last week during a rally at the Capitol. http://www.wtok.com/home/headlines/...

Many were in tears after the Alcorn County School Board on Monday night voted 3-2 to close two elementary schools at the end of the school year.

Closing Glendale and Rienzi elementary schools and merging them with other schools could save the district $889,000 a year, Superintendent Larry Mitchell said.

That is money, Mitchell said, that could go toward the school district’s debt and maintenance problems.

Throughout the debate over whether to close the schools or keep them open, parents have said that their children thrive in the small school environments. http://djournal.com/news/parents-up...

“It sounds like if you breathe air, you’re going to be taxed. Let’s look at the government as a whole. How do we get rid of the waste–a double agency here, whatever there–what can we cut to save money.” --Sen Michael Watson on a proposed gas tax to help pay for state infrastructure http://www.newsms.fm/increased-gas-...

A House committee shot down an attempt Tuesday to create a study committee to look at a regional commission to oversee the Jackson-Evers International Airport and instead passed a Senate bill to establish a regional authority over the airport.

"The time has come to make a change," said House Judiciary A Chairman Mark Baker, R-Brandon.

But state Rep. Robert Johnson, D-Natchez, asked "Why doesn't Rankin County builds its own regional airport instead of trying to take one?" http://www.clarionledger.com/story/...

A plan to add context to a Confederate soldier statue at the University of Mississippi is a failure because a proposed plaque does not mention slavery as the central issue in the Civil War, the campus NAACP says.

Chancellor Jeffrey Vitter announced Friday that construction had started for a stand to hold the plaque and could be finished by the end of the month on the Oxford campus.

However, the campus NAACP said Monday that the university’s proposed language “woefully fails its students, faculty and staff when it does not acknowledge the true history of the Confederacy.” http://www.clarionledger.com/story/...

“How the legislature conducts itself plays significantly into our ability to write and pass the laws our citizens deserve.

We are grateful for cooperation with the Republican House Leadership in working with us to focus on what is best for Mississippians.” House Caucus leader David Baria said in a statement. Other elements of the agreement include official recognition of the House Minority Caucus, office space and staff and a commitment to regular meetings between majority and minority leadership. - See more at: http://www.newsms.fm/house-democrat...

Some highlights of the Senate's budget bills and proposals, which face a Wednesday deadline to pass the full Senate, include:

• A $40 million increase for the $2.3 billion Mississippi Adequate Education Program. Other K-12 budgets saw small cuts, such as a $10 million reduction in state administration.
• A $13 million increase in universities funding, and a $4.4 million increase for community colleges.
• Accounts for a $20-million drop in revenue from the first year of a 15-year phased in tax cut for businesses and individuals.
• Covers more than $65 million in current-year deficits, the largest $52 million for Medicaid.
• Includes consolidation of Agriculture, Forestry, Soil and Water, Department of Environmental Quality and others into two agencies and the consolidation of Medicaid, Human Services, and Rehab Services into another single department. The budget banks on more than $55 million in savings from the consolidations.
• Cuts the Legislature's budget from $30.97 million to $29.44 million.
• Cuts Mental Health from $242 million to $229 million.
• Cuts Corrections from $328 million to $321 million.
• Provides $20 million a year more for Family and Children's Services to help fix the state's troubled foster care system. Senate leaders said they plan to add $14 million in "one-time" money for the coming year, for a total of $34 million, to the agency per state negotiations with a federal court that has ordered reform of the system. http://www.clarionledger.com/story/...

New state numbers show taxes collected on retails sales in January were down in more than 60 percent of 92 towns across northeast Mississippi.

Experts say it’s not unusual for January. It’s happened in five of the last 10 years.

The January numbers included declines in retail centers such as Tupelo, Amory, Fulton, Louisville and Pontotoc. However, Columbus, Oxford, Starkville, New Albany and West Point all saw increases.

In fact, Columbus, Oxford and New Albany are leading the region since last fall with year-to-year increases of almost 10 percent.

Democratic Rep. Sonya Williams-Barnes of Gulfport is stepping into a new leadership role as chairwoman of the Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus.

#African-American colleagues from the House and Senate elected her last week, and she says she wants to bring more attention to public education, health care and economic development.

#"I want to reorganize and structure the caucus so that we can be more effective, show more presence and represent African-Americans in our state more effectively," Williams-Barnes, 46, told The Associated Press. http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/new...

AP: Small towns could borrow money from the state to revitalize historic downtown areas under a bill passed Tuesday by the House.

The Mississippi Main Street Investment Act, House Bill 1598, passed Tuesday and moves to the Senate. Mississippi Development Authority would establish a program to make loans to cities with 15,000 or fewer residents. Each applicant must submit a revitalization plan approved by more half the property owners in a designated area.

In the wake of Governor Bryant's declaration of Confederate Heritage Month, the NAACP of Mississippi has created a petition calling for "Union Army Appreciation Month."

"It is time for Governor Bryant to honor those brave White and Black men and women of Mississippi who fought for what they believed in, who fought for their freedom, who fought for their country and the preservation of the Union, who made the ultimate sacrifice for this nation and the promise of equality it held. Governor Bryant should proclaim the month of May UNION ARMY APPRECIATION MONTH and finally give those brave soldiers the honor and acknowledgement they deserve." the petition reads. http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/web..

The U.S. Air Force is committed to fully manning the reactivated 815th Airlift Squadron at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, the Air Force Reserve chief told a Senate subcommittee Thursday.

U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran, chairman of the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, said in a press release he brought up the manpower issue at an appropriations subcommittee hearing to review the budget request for the National Guard and Reserve for the 2017 fiscal year. http://www.sunherald.com/news/local...

Small towns could soon borrow money from the state to re-vitalize historic downtown areas under a bill passed by the State House Of Representatives.

The proposed plan would have the Mississippi Development Authority establish a program to make loans to cities with 15,000 or fewer residents. http://www.wxxv25.com/2016/03/17/ma...

Some lawmakers want to kill a Mississippi program that subsidizes shopping centers.

Senators adopted an amendment to Senate Bill 2922 Wednesday that would end the subsidy, which reimburses up to 30 percent of development costs by giving sales taxes to developers.

Lawmakers closed the "cultural retail" program to new applications, but three proposed malls — one each in D'Iberville, Flowood and Ridgeland — applied before the deadline and could get about $175 million. http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/new...

Opponents are still heaping scorn on an empty vessel of a transportation funding package, but the bill remains alive after Mississippi senators passed it.

Senate Bill 2921 (http://bit.ly/1QVn0vq) which needed 60 percent of votes, passed 34-13 Wednesday. It now moves to the House for more work, but it’s unlikely details would be fully fleshed out until after House and Senate negotiators meet toward the end of the session.

The measure could be rewritten to include tax and fee increases or borrowing. Proponents say Mississippi needs to spend hundreds of millions more annually on roads and bridges to keep them from deteriorating.

A Senate committee has passed a bill that would allow places of worship to designate people with concealed carry permits as security and make acting within that capacity a legal defense against charges that they violated the law.

It would also make another change to the Mississippi gun law. This bill would expand how people carry concealed weapons to include holsters and sheaths. Opponents to the bill say it would put more guns on the street, endangering Mississippians. The full Senate gets the measure next.

A state lawmaker’s response to an email from a Gulfport woman is causing a stir on social media.

Becky Guidry posted the exchange with State Rep. Karl Oliver that included the Winona lawmaker telling Guidry he’d like to see her leave Mississippi and return to her native Illinois.

Guidry emailed Oliver about Senate Bill 2858, or the “Taxpayer Pay Raise Act,” which would phase out some income taxes and eliminate the corporate franchise tax. The senate has passed the bill.

In her email, Guidry took lawmakers to task writing “it is irresponsible of our leadership to suggest eliminating income and corporate franchise taxes when revenue and projections are already down, budgets for various services are being cut across the board and funding for public education and other critical services such as child care, foster care and roads/bridges are underfunded.” http://www.wlox.com/story/31512421/...

A bill that would raise the qualifying fees to run for political office has passed a Mississippi House committee.

Senate Bill 2167 would require independent candidates to start paying qualifying fees and increase the fees party candidates already pay.

Candidates for governor would pay $1,000, up from the current $500. Candidates for state senator and state representative would pay $250, up from the current $15. Independent candidates would pay the Secretary of State’s office and party candidates would pay their party. http://wjtv.com/ap/legislators-appr...

The Mississippi Board of Education is moving forward with a statewide policy that for the first time regulates when students can be physically restrained or placed in private spaces because of behavior problems.

The board had proposed a policy last year, but pulled it back for more consideration after objections that it didn’t do enough to curb abuses against students.

The board approved the policy Thursday, and the public can comment for the next 30 days. The board must vote again before enacting it. wjtv.com/2016/03/18/mississippi-to-...

Some Mississippi schools have received flawed Common Core practice tests. The statewide math tests are to assess students' knowledge of Mississippi Common Core-linked standards.

This is the first year schools are supposed to use the tests that were produced by Questar Assessment Inc. after Mississippi PARCC consortium last year.

Mississippi pulled out of the Partnership for the Assessment of Readiness for College and Career (PARCC) consortium following increasing pressure from state officials and lawmakers. http://www.wdam.com/story/31499838/...

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MEME REPORT:
#CRUSHTRUMP

 

Mississippi News Notes: Week Ending Mar 12, 2015

Both of these bills are now dead:

House Bill 738 would have required Attorney General Jim Hood to get approval from an oversight commission before starting cases that would seek more than $250,000 in damages and legal fees. The bill previously passed by a margin of one vote but was held for more debate.

House Bill 1386 would have set aside more than $50 million for road and bridge improvements. The money would have come from a settlement with British Petroleum for the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The bill passed by a margin of 81 votes but was held as lawmakers debated where in the state to focus the repairs.

The Governor of Mississippi announced he is supporting Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz.

This endorsement comes on the day Cruz visited the Magnolia state before Mississippi’s primaries.

Cruz made a stop at Berry’s Seafood in Florence, MS Monday afternoon. Cruz was scheduled to speak in the Pine Belt on Monday but canceled that appearance Sunday because of an illness.

Gov. Phil Bryant has ordered for flags to fly at half-staff in honor of Former First Lady Nancy Reagan.

Reagan died Sunday at the age of 94 from congestive heart failure at her Los Angeles home. Former President Ronald Reagan died on June 5, 2004.

The executive order on the flags was issued Monday.

He said the First Lady was known for her elegance and her “Just Say No” to drugs campaign.

Bryant asked for all U.S. flags and state flags to be flown at half-staff on all buildings belonging to the State of Mississippi and other areas under its jurisdiction. The flags should be lowered immediately and will remain that way until Sunset on the day she is laid to rest. http://wjtv.com/2016/03/07/gov-brya...

The Mississippi Department of Education has awarded a $1.2 million grant for math teachers in public schools.

The grant has been given to the University of Mississippi Center for Mathematics and Science Education. It will fund a development initiative that will help 120 math teachers across the state over the next three years.

The initiative is called Creating Continuity and Connections across Content of C4 Project. The goal is to improve students achievement in math from kindergarten to eighth grade

- See more at: http://www.newsms.fm/math-teachers-...

Jackson County supervisors on Monday afternoon voted to keep flying the state flag on county property and at county buildings.

The vote was 4-1.In a resolution, they referred to a previous statewide vote 2001 to keep the flag and said that until the state addresses the issue, the county will continue to fly the flag.

Board President Melton Harris, who is black, strongly opposed the vote. The others, who are white, Barry Cumbest, Troy Ross, Ken Taylor and Randy Bosarge voted for it. Read more here: http://www.sunherald.com/news/local...

Pearl River County: Where Do My taxes Go:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5...

Melanie Sojourner:

Republicans in MS Congressional District 3...

We've all been so focused on the presidential race we haven't discussed the House races.

Harper has one of the worst conservative scores of all House Republicans. He has not been fighting for us.

He'll win by a landslide today because, everyone knows he's name and no one has discussed his record. It's time we do so! He is a part of the DC problem! https://www.facebook.com/sojournerf...

 

 

Last week the Mississippi House passed a bill that would allow any licensed U.S. physician who has examined a child to grant a medical exemption from the vaccines required for school and licensed day cares.

To stay alive, the bill must pass out of Senate health committee by March 22 and be considered by the full Senate by March 30.

Current law requires exemptions to be submitted by Mississippi-licensed pediatricians, family physicians and internists, who have examined the child, and approved by the health department’s district health officers, who are licensed physicians. The health department has said it is willing to work with out-of-state physicians.

Mary Jo Perry, co-director of Mississippi Parents for Vaccine Rights, said that the state’s laws are out of step with practices in the rest of the country and add unnecessary hurdles for parents and physicians. http://djournal.com/news/docs-vacci...

The latest fascination by the Tupelo City council with the possibility of a downtown entertainment district would likely stir relatively little concern or controversy did it not include legal strolling around with alcoholic beverages in certain areas.

Tupelo, in various guises, has flirted with that idea for many years, but has never fully embraced the concept.

A bill in the Mississippi Legislature, if approved by the Senate and signed by Gov. Phil Bryant, would allow Tupelo to have an entertainment district.

The bill passed the state House last week, and it must pass the Senate in identical form before it goes to the governor for his signature.

If approved, the designation of a leisure and entertainment district would allow customers to walk out of establishments with alcoholic beverages. It also could foster the sale of liquor and mixed drinks at festivals. http://djournal.com/opinion/our-opi...

Crews are working across the city of Jackson, making repairs on streets that have been backlogged since 2007.

The utility cut repairs are part of the Operation Orange Cone initiative that addresses problem areas on roads in the city.

“This is Jackson’s 1 percent dollars at work,” said Mayor Tony T. Yarber. “In coming weeks, Jackson citizens will see the City break ground on a number of projects included in the City’s infrastructure improvement plan.”

Operation Orange Cone was launched in 2015 as part of the Yarber Administration’s push to address the condition of the city’s streets and eliminate the presence of orange cones throughout the city where potholes exist.

While this initiative was first discussed in relation to the 1% Sales Tax program, it is part of the City’s Bold New Infrastructure Improvement Program. http://www.msnewsnow.com/story/3141...

The Department of the Navy and Mississippi Power, a Southern Company subsidiary, broke ground March 2 on a large-scale solar facility at Naval Construction Battalion Center (NCBC) Gulfport.

The facility will have roughly 13,000 panels, providing enough electricity to supply the equivalent of 450 homes. To be installed on 23 acres of base land, the facility will generate up to four megawatts of direct current power once operational. Mississippi Power estimates grid connection by the end of 2016. http://www.navy.mil/submit/display....

Mississippi

MS01: Incumbent freshman Republican Congressman Trent Kelly defeated challenger Paul Clever 89-11. Kelly will meet Democrat Jacob Owens in the general election.

MS02: Neither party's candidate was opposed. Incumbent Democrat Congressman Bennie Thompson will face Republican John Bouie in the general election.

MS03: Incumbent Republican Congressman Gregg Harper defeated challenger Jimmy Giles. Democrat Dennis Quinn defeated Nathan Stewart 66-34. Unofficial results show Harper, who was first elected, with a wide lead over Giles (89-11), a beekeeper. Giles is also a white supremacist and supporter of Donald Trump. Both men are Pearl residents. In November, Harper will face the winner of a Democratic primary Tuesday between Dennis C. Quinn and Nathan Stewart, as well as Reform Party member Lajena Sheets. http://www.wapt.com/politics/gregg-...

MS04: Neither party's candidate was opposed. Incumbent Republican Congressman Steven Palazzo will face Democrat Mark Gladney in the general election.

A South Carolina lawmaker, who should stay out of Mississippi’s business, is joining other black leaders in calling for Mississippi to change the last state flag that includes the Confederate battle emblem.

Democratic Rep. Justin Bamberg spoke Tuesday to more than 200 people at a change-the-flag rally outside the Mississippi Capitol — an event organized by attorneys suing Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant in federal court. The suit asks a federal judge to declare the flag an unconstitutional vestige of slavery.

"If your governor needs to see an example of what it means to lead as governor, maybe he should look at South Carolina's very own Republican governor, Nikki Haley," said Justin Bamberg, who is from the same hometown as Haley. http://www.gulflive.com/news/index....

A bill that would cut state revenues by $575 million over the next 15 years is on its way to the House.

S.B. 2858, otherwise known as the Taxpayer Pay Raise Act of 2016, eliminates the corporate franchise tax, reforms the state’s self-employment tax and creates a five percent flat individual income tax.

The bill is aimed at cutting the state taxes by about 575 million dollars over the next 15 years and was passed by the Senate by a vote of 38 to 10, yesterday.

Republican Senator Joey Fillingane of Sumrall is the Chair of the Senate Finance Committee. He says cutting the taxes would allow for greater state revenue growth in the form of sales taxes. http://www.mpbonline.org/blogs/news...

The Mississippi state flag no longer flies at the Oregon Capitol.

The flag was removed from the Capitol's Walk of Flags display, which included all 50 states and the flags of Oregon's nine federally recognized Native American tribes.

The presiding officers in the Oregon House and Oregon Senate sent a letter to their counterparts in Mississippi to notify them of the action this week. http://www.wlox.com/story/31442495/...

Local legislators are working on bills that focus on the area they represent and are facing a legislative deadline in April.

Both Sen. Sally Doty and Rep. Becky Currie have bills and efforts concerning the new baseball complex in Lincoln County. The deadline for local and private bills that are not revenue bills in the Mississippi Legislature is April 15. Sen. Sally Doty said local and private bills have extended deadlines to allow action to be taken throughout the session. Generally, Doty said, these types of bills are handled in the last week or two of session. Doty said she is working on bills to do with tax credits affecting historic efforts downtown, King’s Daughters Medical Center and the new baseball complex.

Mississippi News Notes: Week Ending 03.05.16

The Mississippi Senate passed Senate Bill 2306 which reinforces that local police officers follow federal immigration laws.

It passed 33-14 Thursday and will now be considered in the House.

The bill requires officers to contact federal agencies if they believe someone who is committing a crime or has committed one is an illegal immigrant. They are allowed to make these arrests only if they have probably cause and immediately transfer them to federal custody. See more at: http://www.newsms.fm/senate-passes-...

An attorney is making additional arguments in a federal lawsuit that seeks to remove the Confederate battle emblem from the Mississippi flag.

In papers filed Thursday, Carlos Moore says the emblem violates the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which outlawed slavery. He says the emblem used by some Confederate troops during the Civil War is a “vestige” of slavery.

Moore filed his lawsuit against Republican Gov. Phil Bryant on Monday, saying the flag violates equal protection guaranteed by the 14th Amendment. http://msbusiness.com/2016/03/updat...

The Jackson Municipal Airport Authority has hired Phelps Dunbar lawyer Fred Banks Jr. to handle litigation that could arise over a possible state takeover of governance of Jackson’s airports, state Sen. John Horhn says.

Neither Banks nor the Airport Authority would confirm the hiring. Horhn said the Airport Authority has retained the former Mississippi Supreme Court justice specifically to challenge a state takeover. “The airport has already enlisted” his services, Horhn said a day after the state Senate voted 29-18 to hand policy-making control of Jackson Medgar-Wiley Evers International Airport and Hawkins Field to a state-created governing board. Under the proposal, the governor would appoint nine representatives from the metro region, including two nominees from Jackson. http://msbusiness.com/2016/03/horhn...

 

 

Mississippi's attorney general says he will defend the Confederate-themed state flag against a lawsuit that seeks to remove the banner, even though he thinks the flag hurts the state and should change.

Democrat Jim Hood said Wednesday that his opinion about state laws won't prevent him from fulfilling his oath to defend them. Carlos Moore, an attorney from Grenada, Mississippi, filed a federal lawsuit Monday that says the Confederate X on the flag puts him and other African-Americans in danger. He cited the slayings of black worshipers at a church in South Carolina last summer. The white suspect in that case had previously posed for photos with a rebel flag. http://www.wlox.com/story/31371458/...

Biloxi Sun Herald editorial Board says: One more time! BP money is for the Mississippi Coast

We knew this was coming. And the unwarranted raid on money from the BP settlement has begun. The House passed by a wide margin a plan to spend $50 million of the BP money to repay bonds on statewide projects such as the repair of the state's highways and bridges.

That's a terrible idea.

Just ask Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves, who opposes the bill and has the power to kill it in the Senate. We suggest he kill it three times, then bury it just to be sure.

Read more here: http://www.sunherald.com/opinion/ed...

Sixty-one percent of Mississippi’s Republican voters want the state’s flag left alone, an automated telephone poll of 995 “likely” GOP voters shows.

The poll conducted Monday by Magellan Strategies BR for the right-leaning political website Y’allPolitics said 609 of respondents oppose removing the Confederate battle flag from the state’s flag design. Another 198 survey respondents wanted a new design.

White voters made up a huge number of the GOP voters polled. The poll included 909 people identified as white and 51 black, five Hispanic and 19 “other” racial origins. http://msbusiness.com/2016/03/poll-...

 

 

The bills in state Senate passed Wednesday includes:

• Senate Bill 2495 that combines districts of Montgomery County, which has 273 students; Carroll County, which has 1,035 students; and Winona, which has 1,123 students.
• Senate Bill 2497 that consolidates Houston School District, which has 1,781 students, and Okolona Separate School District, which has 690 students, into the Chickasaw County School District, which has 512 students.
• Senate Bill 2500 that dissolves Lumberton Public School District, which has 585 students, and merges it with neighboring Poplarville and Lamar County districts, which have 1,927 and 9,996 students, respectively.

A group of bills that would consolidate nine school districts in Mississippi is one step closer to passing, and one of those would impact the Lumberton School District. “The Mississippi Senate consolidated the administration of nine school districts, allowing the newly formed entities to eliminate duplicate services and direct more tax dollars into the classroom,” Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves said Wednesday in a press release.

The bill is now headed to the House for consideration. http://www.wdam.com/story/31369646/...

The Mississippi House has voted to consolidate the Holmes County and Durant school districts. Representatives passed House Bill 926 on Tuesday.

The bill passed 75-46 mostly along party lines, with Republicans in support and Democrats in opposition.

It was held for the possibility of more debate before it can go to the Senate. http://www.wapt.com/news/central-mi...

Rep. Steven Palazzo was one of nine Republicans who voted Tuesday against naming a post office after the late author, poet and civil rights activist Maya Angelou.

“He just felt that it was too controversial,” said Jill Duckworth, a spokeswoman for Palazzo.

The House voted 371-9 to pass the measure naming a post office in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, the “Maya Angelou Memorial Post Office.” One lawmaker voted “present.”

Angelou, who died in 2014, is best known for her debut memoir, “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.” She also was a singer, actress and poet. Angelou was invited to read a poem at President Bill Clinton’s inauguration in 1993, and she was awarded the 2010 Medal of Freedom by President Obama. She also is one of the few African-American women to be commemorated on a stamp.

Palazzo said some GOP colleagues had expressed concerns about Angelou’s support of Cuban President Fidel Castro, according to Duckworth. She noted that the House also voted 381-0 to name a post office in Camp Pendleton, California, the “Camp Pendleton Medal of Honor Post Office.” http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/...

Mississippi News Notes This Week [Feb 24 through Feb 27, 2016]

Top budget writer in the Mississippi House says the state's Medicaid program needs another $52 million during the budget year that ends June 30.
 Appropriations Committee Chairman Herb Frierson also says one way to plug that hole, and to cover other deficits, is to use $66 million in lawsuit settlements announced by Attorney General Jim Hood Legislators will spend the next two months filling holes in the current budget and writing a more than $6 billion budget for fiscal 2017, which begins July 1. http://www.newsms.fm/bill-to-ban-fe...

Work in the Mississippi House of Representatives was delayed because black caucus members were having bills read aloud as a form of protest.
Caucus members did this to challenge a redistricting bill they say could hurt the chances of black or democratic candidates from being elected to the State Supreme Court, public service commission, or transportation commission. After a machine generated voice spent several hours on Thursday reading a 293 page bill, the house voted later that night to limit its own members’ ability to make speeches if they think their integrity is called into question. http://www.newsms.fm/bill-to-ban-fe.

.House Representatives approved the Mississippi Unborn Child Protection from Dismemberment Abortion Act that would end abortion by the dismemberment of a fetus. - The bill still seeks approval from the Senate.  http://www.newsms.fm/bill-to-ban-fe...

The Mississippi Senate passed a bill that would allow domestic violence to be added as a legal reason to file for divorce.
 "Abuse is a cycle," said Sara Holifield, executive director of the Domestic Abuse Family Shelter. "It's a cycle. A lot of the time it's more of a comfort thing for these people, and they're scared. We have children in shelter as small as two weeks old. We've had some women in shelter that have had a baby in shelter and have come back to shelter. I mean, that is a huge deal for us. We keep these people safe. So when we look at it, yeah, we're like 'this is a home run.'" Senate Bill 2418 would make domestic abuse the thirteenth cause for divorce in Mississippi. Right now, only "Habitual cruel and inhuman treatment" is listed.  http://www.wlox.com/story/31317703/...

Remember that bill that passed? Well, it didn’t pass.

A requirement for third-graders to score higher on a reading test, which officials initially said had passed the Mississippi Senate by one vote, actually failed. Senate President Pro Tem Terry Burton, a Newton Republican, said Thursday that votes were miscounted and that Senate Bill 2157 lost on a 25-24 vote. http://msbusiness.com/2016/02/after...

This legislative session, District 108 Representative Mark Formby introduced two bills regarding vaccinations for school-age children.

The first bill, House Bill No. 939 died in committee, Formby said. “We are trying to get parents the right to choose which vaccinations they want their children to have,” he said. “It’s the same right that parents have in 47 others states. I don’t know why parents in Mississippi should be considered less intelligent.” The second bill, House Bill No. 938, would allow parents or guardians of school-age children to obtain letters of exemption or limiting the number of vaccinations from a physician for medical reasons. http://www.picayuneitem.com/2016/02...

The Mississippi House voted Wednesday to revise the state Supreme Court districts.

But only after a racially charged debate about whether the bill is meant to prevent African-Americans from being elected to the court. House Bill 868 passed 71-50 on a largely party line vote, with Republicans in favor and Democrats against. The measure was held for the possibility of more House debate before it can go to the Senate for more work.

It would move Simpson County from the Southern District into the Central District. House Judiciary A Committee Chairman Mark Baker, R-Brandon, said the change would give all three districts an even population and racial makeup. The change also would affect districts for members of the state Public Service and Transportation commissions.

Read more here: http://www.sunherald.com/news/state...

The heads of the Mississippi Legislature's transportation committee are considering raising the gas tax to maintain the state's highways and bridges.

The joint House-Senate committee heard a presentation from the Mississippi Economic Council Thursday that called for $375 million a year to meet the repair needs. The committee heard from state transportation head Melinda McGrath earlier this month. She called for $526 million more a year to repair more than one-third of highways and nearly one-fourth of bridges in the state. Read more here: http://www.sunherald.com/news/state...

The House removed a procedural hold from a bill it passed Friday, sending it to the Senate.

House Bill 1523 says state officials, private business owners and others who provide services to the public couldn’t be punished for acting on religious beliefs that marriage should only be between a man and a woman. Also:

•The Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 2418, which would add domestic abuse as a 13th ground for divorce. The bill moves to the House.

-The House passed House Bill 880, which would allow state employees to qualify for pensions in four years, not the current eight years. The bill moves to the Senate.

•House Appropriations Committee Chairman Herb Frierson said the Medicaid program needs another $52 million during the budget year that ends June 30.

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HB 1044: An act to authorize open enrollment in charter schools

Sponsor: Rep. Charles Busby, R-Pascagoula

With this act, students could attend a charter school operating in a school district in which they don't live. Debate over this bill ignited controversy in the House Education Committee, with Rep. Jarvis Dortch, D-Raymond, throwing pretenses to the wind and motioning to amend it to open charter schools in all school districts—not just D and F ones, like the current law allows.

House Education Committee Chair Rep. John Moore, R-Brandon, also authored a bill seeking charter-school enrollment across district lines.

HB 943: An act to rename the 'Equal Opportunity for Students with Special Needs Act" to the "Equal Opportunity for All Students Act."

Sponsor: Rep. John Moore, R-Brandon

As presented by Rep. Joel Bomgar, R-Madison, the bill revises eligibility for Education Savings Accounts to include low-income as well as special-needs students, with special-needs students still receiving the $6,500, and students from low-, middle- and high-income families receiving $5,000, $4,000 and $3,000, respectively. As of the beginning of the year, families utilize 131 of the 433 vouchers available under the current program.

HB 76: An act to require county school-board members to declare party affiliation

Sponsor: Rep. John Moore, R-Brandon

Legislation so far in 2016 has called for the appointment of superintendents—except for the office of state superintendent, which Sen. Joey Fillingane, R-Sumrall, thinks should be elected—and the reduction of school-personnel participation in politics, except in the case of county school-board members. SB 2743, authored by Sen. Gray Tollison, R-Oxford, also requires the nonpartisan election of county school board members.

HB 1481: An act to implement juvenile-justice reforms

Sponsor: Rep. Linda Coleman, D-Mound Bayou

This 113-page bill outlines juvenile-justice reform measures to be implemented as "per task force reports." The bill tasks DPS to "adopt rules setting standards for juvenile-detention facilities" and requires MDE to bring juvenile-detention centers up to par regarding education licensing standards. The bill would execute mock reviews of juvenile-detention facilities by Oct. 1, 2016.

 

Hey, maaaaa!...it’s that Stokes dude again!!

Councilman Stokes said he wanted to name the building in honor of civil rights icon Rosa Parks. But one woman suggested naming it after local resident ElPort Chess. Stokes attempted to speak to the woman but Melvin Priester cut him off saying he would not allow Stokes to disrespect the woman.

“But you’re going to sit here and disrespect me? I'm not going to let you disrespect me,” Stokes told Priester. Priester said he was responding to Stokes’ disrespect and told him he could leave.

“I felt it should be named after a Jacksonian because I felt our children should know our history,” the woman said. http://www.wapt.com/news/central-mi...

 

 

Senate Bill 2146 would increase the sales tax diversion to cities to be used for infrastructure. Information Here:

http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/…/pdf/history/SB/SB2146.xml

Bussing from Lumberton

Sen. Gray Tollison, who is the chairman of the Senate Education Committee, introduced Senate Bill 2500, which would "abolish the Lumberton School District and send students to Lamar or Pearl River County Schools. This is following the administrative consolidation and provide for the transfer of school district assets and liabilities" starting July 1, 2018. The bill has passed through the Senate Education Committee.

The Barbours. Theeeyyyy're baaaack!

The Barbours, or Henry Barbour in particular, has joined the efforts to curb a conservative from getting a Republican nomination by endorsing Marco Rubio over Ted Cruz. The Republican establishment is apparently going to push a plan similar to what they did against state Senator Chris McDaniel when they went out of their way to make sure a conservative did not get elected, and keep it in the hands of liberal Republican Thad Cochran. The Clarion-Ledger reports the endorsement comes one week ahead of the so-called SEC Primary of 11 states, though Mississippi does not hold its primary until March 8.

So far Barbour efforts this year have failed as he was an adviser to Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who dropped out of the race before the Iowa caucuses. You'd think he might support the same guy Perry is endorsing (Ted Cruz) but it just goes to show that when it comes to the Barbour clan..it's all about them...nothing more nothing less. His brother, Austin Barbour, ran Perry's super PAC, then joined former Gov.

He is the nephew of former Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour. Henry Barbour came under fire from tea party members in 2014 for his role in getting black Democrats to help re-elect Sen. Thad Cochran by urging them to vote in a Republican primary runoff to help beat back a challenge from state Sen. Chris McDaniel.

 

The Mississippi House has passed a bill that would cut the years state employees must wait to qualify for retirement benefits.

House Bill 880 would cut the wait from eight years to four years to be a member of the state Public Employees Retirement System.

The bill passed 113-7 Wednesday and moves to the Senate for more work. The cut would give more state employees retirement benefits and shorten the time future workers must wait to get those benefits.

The changes to the retirement program wouldn’t cost much more than the program costs now, according to a joint committee of the House and Senate. The committee says the change would have a “negligible” financial effect while attracting potential new employees. http://msbusiness.com/2016/02/bill-would-cut-wait-time-to-qualify-for-mississippi-pension/

 

The design of the Mississippi state flag will not be addressed this year.

It is one of many bills that died in committee before getting an actual debate. Lawmakers say it’s because they couldn’t decide on a replacement. Suggestions from a whole new design the replace the confederate emblem, to reinstating the former Magnolia Flag were offered.

Another bill also suggested separate-but-equal flags which would allow the state to keep the current flag and also have a second one flown with the image of a magnolia tree on it. www.newsms.fm/state-flag-design-will-stay-the-same-for-now/

If you leave in Jackson, Mississippi and drink the water, you might want to rethink it.

Officials at the MSDH say that after consultation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Environmental Protection Agency, is advising all residents who receive their drinking water from the City of Jackson Water System to take the following precautions:

• Before using tap water for drinking or cooking, run your tap on cold for one to two minutes; for more detailed information visit the CDC's website;
• Households should never use hot water for drinking or cooking;
• Any child five years of age or younger and any pregnant woman should use filtered water or bottled water for drinking and cooking;
• Baby formula should be “ready-to-feed” or prepared using only filtered water or bottled water; and
• Parents with children six years or younger should contact their child’s pediatrician or primary care provider to ensure adequate lead screening and blood testing have been performed.

Finally #JusticeFor Jessica??

A Mississippi man already suspected in a separate murder has been indicted in the December 2014 burning death of a 19-year-old woman. Quinton Tellis was indicted on capital murder charges yesterday by a special grand jury in the death of Jessica Chambers. Tellis is currently being held in Monroe, LA. On charges connected to the august 2015 death of a university of Louisiana Monroe exchange student.

The state economist says Mississippi continues to have “sluggish” growth that trails the Southeast and the nation as a whole.

Darrin Webb tells lawmakers Wednesday that he expects data will show Mississippi’s economy grew about 1 percent in 2015, following two years of contraction. That compares to 2.4 percent growth last year for the nation — the same rate as 2014 and slightly higher than 2013. State Treasurer Lynn Fitch says Mississippi is well below its constitutional debt limit.

However, the state ranks 14th highest in the nation for tax-supported debt per person. She says that’s a list where being 50th is best. Fitch says credit agencies see low education attainment and high poverty as challenges for Mississippi. Webb also says because of education, the state has “limited human capital.” http://msbusiness.com/2016/02/mississippi-continues-sluggish-growth-economist-says/

 

If you show up to vote in Harrison County and instead find a consignment sale--your polling place was moved

Just two weeks before the March 8 presidential primaries, one of Harrison County's largest polling places has been moved because of a conflict with a consignment sale. And election officials aren't happy the polling place has been moved from the D'Iberville Civic Center to the nearby multipurpose building. Some worry there won't be room for Democratic and Republican voting machines, and what's expected to be a large turnout.

A consignment sale is being advertised for the Civic Center by Twice As Nice Kids Resale on election. The decision to move the polling place apparently was made by Supervisor Beverly Martin from District 1, which includes the North Bay precinct. Martin did not respond to an email but the Sun Herald obtained an email from her to county officials.

"I don't see this as a problem that we can't all compromise on at this late date with proper signage and such," she wrote. "I am working to remedy this situation so as to not have this happen again."

Tim Holleman, attorney for the Board of Supervisors, said he was asked to research whether it was legal to move the polling place from one building to the other. He said it was, according to the Attorney General's Office, because both places have the same address -- 10395 Automall Parkway. Circuit Clerk Connie Ladner said she's not happy with the change because it could discourage some people from voting. North Bay, with 5,500 registered voters, is one of the county's largest.

"I don't want to end up on national news," she said. "Imagine the number of people who will walk to the door, see the sign and say I'm not going to walk 30 feet to go vote. Or I'm not going to get in my car and drive 30 feet to this other precinct, I'm going home. You know how frustrated voters get on election day.http://www.sunherald.com/news/politics-government/election/article62117117.html

Read more here: http://www.sunherald.com/news/polit...

“25 years ago today, a U.S. led coalition began a massive ground offensive in the Persian Gulf War. I was on the Saudi Kuwait border with the Marines 3rd Force Recon Company, preparing for war.I've always been proud to serve and defend our country, but I never thought I would have to defend it against our very own Commander in Chief. 25 years after fighting and winning a war in the Middle East, I’m co-sponsoring legislation to prevent our president from closing Gitmo and bringing terrorists into our country. I not only find his decision completely outrageous as an American citizen and as a Congressman, but as a Marine veteran who fought for this country. --Congressman Steve Pallazo

Disgraceful Democrat Ad Hits MS Homes in the 11th Hour "Jim Hood needs to condemn this. Now"

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 2nd, 2015

CONTACT:
Michelle Williams: michelle@msgop.org; (601) 948-5191

JACKSON. Just hours before Mississippi voters go to the polls tomorrow, Mississippi Democrats have sent a racially-charged and divisive ad into Mississippi homes. The audio of the ad can be found by clicking here.

"This ad appeals to the lowest common denominator in dirty politics," said Joe Nosef, Chairman of the Mississippi Republican Party. "It is frankly sad to see Mississippi Democrats steep this low. With their continued losses at the polls, it's no secret that Mississippi Democrats have now turned to tactics other than winning elections to bring liberal policies to our state. The level of desperation has apparently gotten so bad that they are resorting to shameful race-baiting in a way that demeans all those exposed to it. The people of Mississippi deserve better than this, and Jim Hood needs to call on his Party to stop this disgraceful ad and apologize for sending this kind of sleeze into people's homes."

Joe Nosef continued, "Thankfully, I am confident that the people to whom the ad was sent will reject it, seeing it for what it truly is: a condescending and demeaning attempt by Democrats to stir up racial passions in order to save their jobs in Jackson."

Sen Melanie Sojourner: EDUCATION... my position and a few FACTS you should know.

From FaceBook:

 

I've been quoted saying, "I don't believe public education is a constitutional right. I believe it is a privilege paid for on the backs of hardworking Mississippians."
And I strongly believe we have an obligation to make sure every child has access to a quality education.

Education should focus on the needs of students and teachers. And parents should have choices in what's best for their children.

I have faith in teachers and principals. We should empower them and give them the resources needed to teach. We must get Jackson and DC bureaucrats out of their classrooms and allow them to do their jobs. They know what is best for our children.
In the past four years I've supported the bills that are now funding education at the highest level in state history. Including, the states 2nd largest teacher pay raise.
Out of every dollar you pay in state taxes roughly 45 cents goes to K-12. It jumps toroughly 60 cents when you include colleges and universities.

I believe this shows the commitment lawmakers and taxpayers have to education. But, the legislature has a responsibility to be accountable with your money.
During the past 8 years the administration portion of student cost has risen by 47%. While the instructional portion has only risen by 6%.
This is INEXCUSABLE. More money is simply not the answer. Getting money to the right places is. Money without education reform is not going to address our needs.

Also, I have supported every appropriations bill to fund our colleges and universities the past four years. I've just only supported borrowing money for them when it was responsible to do so.
I'm committed to our children. To our teachers and the future of education in our state. But, I'm also committed to the taxpayers and we must manage education responsibly.

MEME REPORT:
THE MARTIAN

Saturday Read 10.29.15

I havent paid much attention to the news surrounding Ben Carson's involvement with the SDA's any more than I paid attention to the news surrounding Mitt Romney's involvement with Mormonism. As candidates they run to be president of the USA, not president over just Christians who will reject Carson as they did Romney because of their church affiliations. There were many evangelicals who rejected John Kennedy because of his Catholicism. The attached article is extreme, as I have known SDA's who do not follow word for word the teachings of Ellen White even though she essentially founded the church. Heck I know Lutherans who don't know anything about Martin Luther for that matter. When Walter Murphy wrote his famous book "Kingdom of the Cults," he struggled as to whether or not to include the SDAs in it. I might also even though I was once married to one and know her SDA beliefs played a part in the rather quick end to our marriage. That being said, however, it is the content of character that is more important to me as opposed to ones personal views about a religion that someone might be involved with when they dont even know to what extent he/she does believe in it. In short, as a Christian and theologian I have no problem with Ben Carson and his SDA affiliation.
http://cowgernation.com/2015/10/24/newsflash-evangelical-christians-ben-carson-follows-a-cult/


As his surge in heavily evangelical Iowa puts a spotlight on his faith, Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson is opening up about his membership in the Seventh-day Adventist Church. He embraces it as right for him while also framing his beliefs in broad terms that aim to transcend divisions among Christians.
In an interview with The Associated Press, days after GOP rival Donald Trump criticized Carson's church, the retired neurosurgeon said his relationship with God was "the most important aspect. It's not really denomination specific."
Carson discussed a brief period as a college student when he questioned whether to stay in the church. And in his own criticism, he said it was a "huge mistake" that the top Adventist policymaking body recently voted against ordaining women. "I don't see any reason why women can't be ordained," he said.

From Newsmax.com http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/ben-carson-seventh-day-adventism/2015/10/31/id/699956/#ixzz3qBc9fzma

 

New results are in from NAEP, the test known as the “report card” for the nation’s schools. They’re not good.
New results are in from the test known as the “report card” for the nation’s schools, and they’re not good.
The U.S. Department of Education just released data from the 2015 National Assessment of Educational Progress, a nationally representative test measuring student achievement in mathematics and reading. The NAEP, administered every other year in math and reading, often is called the nation’s report card.
There no doubt will be numerous analyses of all the data that NAEP provides, including student subgroups, achievement gaps, state-specific results, charter performance, and progress (or lack thereof) over time.
But at first glance, the new results paint a picture of continued lackluster academic performance.
Math and reading achievement declined for both fourth- and eighth-graders from 2013 to 2015. Mathematics achievement declined at both the fourth- and eighth-grade levels, and reading achievement declined significantly for eighth-graders.


 - Even as President Barack Obama sent U.S. troops back to Iraq and ordered the military to stay in Afghanistan, he insisted Syria would remain off limits for American ground forces. Now the president has crossed his own red line.
His deployment of up to 50 U.S. special operations troops into northern Syria to assist in the fight against the Islamic State is the kind of incremental move that has defined Obama's approach to the Middle East in his second term.
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2015/1 /31/with_syria_deployment_obama_crosses_own_red_line_128613.html



Arthur C. Brooks writes in the New York Times:

Scholarly studies have piled up showing that race and gender diversity in the workplace can increase creative thinking and improve performance. Meanwhile, excessive homogeneity can lead to stagnation and poor problem-solving.
Unfortunately, new research also shows that academia has itself stopped short in both the understanding and practice of true diversity — the diversity of ideas — and that the problem is taking a toll on the quality and accuracy of scholarly work.

The ideological imbalance that pervades academia fosters groupthink and undermines critical thinking. The dominance of left-leaning perspectives in academic institutions compromises their commitment to open inquiry and effective education.

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MEME REPORT:
INITIATIVE 42 IS A FAILED REACTION; NOT A RESPONSE