Friday Digest: Thompson and Security; Campaign News

Bennie Thompson writes in The Hill that steps must be taken to protect chemical plants from terrorist attacks. But Bill Allmond, vice president of the Society of Chemical Manufacturers and Affiliates, argues that Thompson's approach is wrong.

However, DHS’s mandate is to secure the assets at these facilities, not substitute or replace them, as the congressman suggests. If proponents for government-mandated product substitution get their way, a shortage or elimination of common products, like ibuprofen, could become reality.

Meanwhile Respond Mississippi praises a recent article by Thompson calling for protection of the nation's electrical grid.

Thompson is also concerned over the nation's preparations in H1N1 cases.

The chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee on Wednesday said health authorities were underprepared for the increase in H1NI cases.

Chairman Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) also said federal agencies would be in bad shape if a mutated strain of H1N1 developed or if the nation faced another public health crisis while dealing with the so-called swine flu.

“If this virus mutates or something else comes along, how is the vehicle to get us going in a manner any different than what we did with H1N1?” Thompson said in an interview.

The Desoto Times predicts "DeSoto a major player in Childers, Nunnelee race." The Picayune Item reports on a visit by Gene Taylor's opponent, "Tegerdine makes whistle stop in Picayune to kick off his congressional campaign against Taylor." And Charlie Mitchell writes about the power of the incumbency, "Congress has evolved so that most seats are safe."

Gregg Harper continues his opposition to the Democratic health care plan.

Gregg Harper: A Government Takeover of Health Care

Tuesday Digest: Thompson in KY, Childers on Health Care, Taylor in Seapower Mag

Bennie Thompson to keynote Louisville Urban League's Annual Report Luncheon in Kentucky on December 4.

Travis Childers "has introduced a bill on the House floor that would extend the first-time homebuyer tax credit and expand the provision to include all homebuyers purchasing a primary residence. The $8,000 federal tax credit is set to expire Nov. 30 and Childers' bill would extend it through 2010."

Opponents of Consumer Financial Protection Bill Got Big Money from Wall Street Interests - Opponents of the legislative proposal received an average of 20 percent more in contributions from financial interests over the past two-and-a-half years than the bill's supporters, a Center for Responsive Politics review has found. Travis Childers voted "no" and received $246,914 according to CRP.

Travis Childers on health care: "The best way to lower costs is to increase competition. A public option is not the only way to do this. I believe a health care exchange will create sufficient competition within the insurance marketplace without a public option. If it does not, then we need to act accordingly to continue to bring down the cost of health insurance premiums.”

Joe Tegerdine of Petal announces run against Gene Taylor: "A 'no' vote is not enough."

Gene Taylor is interviewed by Seapower Magazine (ht Slabbed). He discusses the challenges of aging equipment from the Cold War in a tight budget, and the anticipation of greater Congressional oversight on shipbuilding.

Politico Questions Gregg Harper

Politico - Get To Know A Congressman - Gregg Harper

Freshman Gregg Harper (R-Miss.) tells us what he learned from his mentors Haley Barbour and Trent Lott — and what exactly happens in the Sportsmen’s Caucus.

Why do you think the majority of congressional representatives are lawyers, like yourself?

I could tell you, but then I’d have to sue you.

What’s the best advice your pal Haley Barbour ever gave you?

Maintain your old contacts, and stay in touch with your local leaders back home. Continue to work on your grass-roots efforts. No one “gets it” more than Haley.

Trent Lott?

Learn the rules of the House and always stick with your friends. Trent has always been there for me and has been a living example of what loyalty means.

What in the world does the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus do?

We hunt liberal, tree-hugging Democrats, although it does seem like a waste of good ammunition.

You’re an avid autograph collector. Who’s your dream signature?

I would like to acquire a document autographed by John Witherspoon, who signed the Declaration of Independence and is one of my American heroes. Witherspoon was a Presbyterian minister, was the president of the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University) and influenced many of our early political leaders.

Ole Miss or Mississippi State?

Yes.

Have you broken your streak of not introducing any bills yet?

Bill who?

What’s the biggest misunderstanding people in Washington have about folks from Mississippi?

Folks have a common misconception that Mississippi is strictly a rural, outdoors state. While we are famous for our hunting, sport fishing and year-round golf, we also have leading manufacturers like Peavey Electronics and Viking Range Corp.

Who is your favorite Mississippi literary great: Eudora Welty or William Faulkner?

Neither. I’ll take my law school classmate John Grisham any day.

Tuesday Digest: Gene Taylor, Bennie Thompson, Childers v Nunnelee

Sid Salter Blog - Gene Taylor: Calls it like he sees it

Y'all Politics - RollCall - Travis Childers likely an underdog if political shift continues

Y'all Politics - Cook Report puts Childers, Nunnelee race as a toss up

Clarion Ledger - Childers-Nunnelee race gains national attention

Sun Herald - Gene Taylor: Stennis could be home to Riverines

Roll Call - Bennie Thompson Column: Computers Present Security Challenge

2009 3rd Quarter FEC Reports

Childers for Congress
Raised: $274,464.26
Spent: $49,650.04
Cash On Hand: $507,220.73
Debt: $100,000.00
Note Contribution Includes: $1000 from Ronnie Musgrove and $1000 from Musgrove for U.S. Senate

Nunnelee for Congress
Raised: $219,954.00
Spent: $38,790.63
cash On Hand: $181,163.37
Note Contributions Include: $1000 from HALEYS PAC and $1000 from Friends of Phil Bryant

Friends of Bennie Thompson
Raised: $305,482.53
Spent: $146,760.55
Cash On Hand: $1,738,288.68
Note Transfer to DCCC: $100,000.01
Report Not Yet Posted at FEC.gov for Second District PAC or Secure PAC

Gregg Harper for Congress
Raised: $142,792.60
Spent: $47,807.53
Cash On Hand: $155,800.67
Note: GREGG PAC also raised $5000; Spent $2000; and has $4,301.01 Cash On Hand

Gene Taylor for Congress
Raised: $65,234.98
Spent: $49,185.55
Cash On Hand: $216,492.64

Gene Taylor calls Michigan Governor Granholm's remarks against Mississippi "stupid"

"That was a really stupid thing for her to say and she should come and visit Mississippi before she says a stupid thing again," Congressman Gene Taylor said joining Treasurer Tate Reeves, Senator Dean Kirby, Senator Roger Wicker, and Lieutenant Governor Phil Bryant in responding to Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm's remarks about Mississippi.

Bennie Thompson Opposes Roger Wicker's Amtrak Gun Provision

House leaders decry measure allowing checked guns on Amtrak - Daily Herald

House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson protested the gun proposal in a letter to colleagues who will play important roles in deciding whether the plan is attached to a transportation spending measure. Senator Roger Wicker, a Mississippi Republican who sponsored the provision, has said hunters can't use Amtrak because there is no way to take guns along.

Bennie Thompson Backs Online Gambling

Eog.com - Online Gambling: Barney Frank Online Gambling Bill Hits Sixty Co-Sponsors

Representative Barney Frank reached a milestone on Thursday when he picked up his sixtieth co-sponsor for proposed legislation that would change the online gambling laws in the US. Representatives Bennie Thompson and Adam Smith became co-sponsor numbers fifty-nine and sixty on Thursday.

Congressman Thompson has joined the battle on Thursday when he became the fifty-ninth co-sponsor. Thompson represents the Second District of Mississippi, further showing that support for Frank's Bill is coming from all parts of the US.

Gene Taylor Academy Day Saturday

Hattiesburg American - Academy Day to be held at USM

Rep. Gene Taylor will host a session Saturday for high school students to gather information on the United States’ five military academies.

The 2009 4th Congressional District's Academy Day will be from 8 a.m.-noon Saturday at the University of Southern Mississippi's Student Union. Representatives from Army, Air Force and Navy ROTC will make presentations and cadets from the service academies will be on hand.

Registration is from 8-8:30 a.m.

Nunnelee Claims $220,000 raised in two months

Y'all Politics - Nunnelee Raises $220,000 in first two months of Congressional Campaign

It will be interesting to see the names on his report, and to see how Travis Childers has been doing on fundraising.

The Sunlight Foundation's PoliticalPartyTime.org lists 15 recent fundraisers for Childers in and around Washington DC since the summer of 2008 including one by the NRA, one by the DCCC, six breakfast fundraisers at the National Democratic Club, and two at DNC HQ.

At the end of 2009's second quarter Childers reported $289,006.51 cash-on-hand which does not include $100,000 in outstanding campaign debt.

Mississippi Dems on Rangel: Thompson With; Taylor Against; Childers Half-Way

Politico.com - Charlie Rangel retains Ways and Means gavel

Democrats easily rebuffed another Republican attempt to remove Rep. Charles Rangel from his chairmanship of the Ways and Means Committee on Tuesday. But there was a small sign of eroding support for the embattled New York Democrat: Mississippi’s two House Democrats voted against him.

Reps. Gene Taylor and Travis Childers joined nearly all of the Republicans on a vote that effectively killed a resolution by Rep. John Carter (R-Texas) calling for Rangel’s removal while the ethics committee undertakes a sprawling investigation into his finances.

On the first vote, Childers sided with Rangel. His spokeswoman did not immediately return POLITICO’s request for comment.

Asked before the vote whether Rangel would see an erosion of support, Taylor said “I guess we’ll know in a few hours, won’t we?”