Thompson: Vote Perkins Cause God Don't Like Ugly

Bennie Thompson wants Greenwood voters to set the city free by reelecting the current incumbent. It is God's will, because "God don’t like ugly, and with prayer and good lawyers, we can work wonders, and we can even get bad folk off the ballot."

U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson said Tuesday Democrats “are one week from setting Greenwood free again” by re-electing Mayor Sheriel Perkins.

Thompson said Perkins has proven herself as a leader on the City Council and as mayor.

“I’m sure her opponent is a good person, but why would you want to change what you already know for somebody you don’t know?” he said.

Thompson said he had encouraged Perkins to go forward to make sure “you’re not going to be able to look at the streets to tell where black people live.”

“We’re going to have curbs and gutters in all of Greenwood not in certain parts of Greenwood because that’s what the American dream is all about,” he said.

Supporters of education, health care and opportunities for young people should vote for Perkins, Thompson said.

“If you think we need to fix (Greenwood) Leflore Hospital, so they don’t continue to lay people off, close wards, then it is Mayor Perkins who can help support health care in this community,” he said.

Thompson also addressed the former candidacy of independent Curressia Brown, who the Mississippi Supreme Court decided last week would not be allowed on the ballot because of residency issues. He said Brown, who is black, was running only to split the black vote.

“There was somebody else in this race,” he said, “but, you know, God don’t like ugly, and with prayer and good lawyers, we can work wonders, and we can even get bad folk off the ballot.”

A feisty Perkins also spoke, encouraged by a large crowd.

“We’re going to move forward together. I’m going to run the hell over those that’s in my way,” she said to loud applause.

Taylor Stands with Pelosi on CIA Issue

The Mississippi Press - Pelosi briefing secret, says Taylor

U.S. Rep. Gene Taylor, asked Tuesday night during a town hall meeting if he would ask House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to resign if she lied about a CIA briefing, responded, "It is her word against their word."

"If you find out she lied," said Bea Harrison of Vancleave, "would you be willing to ask her to step down?"

"I'm not going to get into 'what ifs' to the fourth degree," Taylor, a Democrat from Bay St. Louis, said during the meeting attended by about 50 people at Gautier City Hall.

Pelosi has said she was misled by the CIA in a secret briefing in 2002 about torture.

"In fairness, when I go into a classified briefing they take my pager," said Taylor. "They take my cell phone. They take all of the paper out of my pockets. I can write notes while in there and they take those notes back before I leave."

"She has no evidence because there is no evidence because everything that was said that day was destroyed that day."

Taylor defended Pelosi when asked what specific policies of the speaker he supported.

"I support her helping us and helping passage of the all-perils bill through the House of Representatives," he said.

Taylor said he disagrees with Pelosi on many issues, but "I appreciate her help on that."

"He is an appeaser," said Harrison, who asked the questions about Pelosi. "He never answers a question directly and will not take a stand when a stand is necessary," she said of Taylor following the meeting.

Harper at Rankin Memorial Day

Gregg Harper at Rankin County Memorial Day event.

It will honor servicemen and servicewomen who have paid the ultimate sacrifice while serving our country.

The ceremony will also recognize the troops who are fighting to protect our freedom today.

“Memorial Day reminds our nation that our sons and daughters, fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters, at times of need have protected America’s freedoms through all of our branches of military service,” said Harper. “That is why I voted in favor of the war supplemental bill that provides our troops the resources they need to achieve their mission and come home safely to their families. Let’s honor their memories and their service this Memorial Day.”

The Rankin County service is set for 2 p.m. Monday at the Rankin County Courthouse. Other services were held in Meridian and other parts of the state.

Harper Blogs: Guantanamo Bay & Cap and Tax

Gregg Harper has two new blog posts at GOP.gov.

He applauded lawmakers for rejecting President Obama’s request for funding to close the Guantanamo Bay detention facility.

“Closing this facility should not even be considered until the administration has a plan to safely detain, prosecute or transfer these detainees.”

As a co-sponsor of the “Keep Terrorists Out of America Act,” Congressman Gregg Harper stands with the people of Mississippi in opposing the release of terrorists at Guantanamo or bringing them onto American soil. This legislation also makes clear that governors and state legislatures must pre-approve the transfer or release of any terrorist or detainee into America."

He also describes "cap and trade" as "Cap and Tax: More Taxes for Fewer Jobs and More Government."

As the summer months quickly approach and families across the Third Congressional District start to plan vacations, our state and country continue to struggle with high energy costs. That is why the Democrats’ cap and trade energy plan – which should be called “cap and tax” – is a reckless proposal that will do more harm than good. The simple truth behind the Democrats’ energy plan is that it is nothing more than a national energy tax.

The Democrats’ energy plan is a $624 billion tax that will hit nearly every American family and business. If it becomes law, this new national energy tax will be paid by anyone who turns on a light switch or plugs in an appliance. According to a MIT study that looked similar to the Democrats’ plan, this legislation could increase your family’s energy costs by more than $3,100 a year.

An even greater disappointment is that those hardest hit by this massive tax will be the poor, who experts agree spend a greater percentage of their income on energy consumption than do higher income groups. So while every American will be paying more for energy, low-income households already living on the edge will be hurt even more.

Shockingly, President Obama understands the negative impact his energy plan will have on the families in Mississippi and America. While campaigning to be president, then-Senator Obama said, “Under my plan of a cap and trade system, electricity rates would necessarily skyrocket,” and continued by noting those costs would be passed along to consumers.

Congress should never put your family in a position of choosing between paying for food or paying your light bill. Republicans believe there are better solutions than paying more taxes for fewer jobs and more government. That is why I support an “all of the above” energy strategy that harnesses new technologies, like solar and wind, and increases American energy production from oil, natural gas and nuclear power in an environmentally-safe manner.

Patsy Brumfield on Travis Childers

Childers: Year one

Voting to re-authorize the State Children's Health Program, U.S. Rep. Travis Childers says, has been the highlight of his first 12 months in office.

"I was pleased to support SCHIP. What kind of a nation are we if we won't support our children who have less fortunate parents?" asked Childers.

Childers strongly rejects predictions by some national pundits that he'll become a Republican to avoid that party's crosshairs when he seeks re-election in 2010 in the previously GOP district.

"Absolutely not," he said.

"I'm a Southern Democrat - I vote what's best for Mississippi," which may not fit neatly into a party cookie-cutter, he noted.

Tupelo's state Sen. Alan Nunnelee is one Republican name circulating as a possible opponent. Nunnelee has said he's considering a race for Congress as well as future options in state government.

Childers is optimistic health care reform is on the way: "This is the year to make it happen. I don't think it will be a radical approach. And we must have both parties at the table."

Gene Taylor on FEMA, Boating

Two weeks before hurricane season starts, President Barack Obama's pick to head the Federal Emergency Management Agency made his debut, stressing the importance of disaster preparedness at home. Gene Taylor: "The nation is better prepared than for Katrina, starting with communications, which were horrible. Now people have satellite phones. Katrina was a learning experience." Taylor said that Fugate's experience dealing with four hurricanes in 2004 meant that "he presumably learned" how to direct responses. "I'm hoping his time in Florida served him well. Most of the folks who went through Katrina are still with the National Guard, so I feel good about that. I think we're better prepared than we were. Thank God Michael Brown is gone. The nation is better off."

Meanwhile, on May 7 Congressmen Ron Klein (D-Fla.) and Henry Brown (R-S.C.), along with Congressional Boating Caucus Co-Chairs Candice Miller (R-Mich.) and Gene Taylor (D-Miss.), introduced House Resolution 410, designating July 1, 2009 as National Boating Day.

Bennie Thompson on Extremism Report

Democrats joined Republicans on a key House panel Tuesday in voting for a formal inquiry into the development and distribution of a contentious Homeland Security Department report that described military veterans as possible recruits for extremists. Bennie Thompson:

"When this DHS-produced assessment first surfaced in April, like many Americans, I had issues with its content. Certainly its definition of 'right-wing extremism,' which did not clarify that extremist violence was the department's true focus, raised considerable concern. So did the suggestion that returning war veterans posed a potential threat to the homeland. I am interested in getting all of the facts that went into this report. I would expect the department to provide without prejudice whatever information is available."

Gregg Harper on Ray Mabus

Former Mississippi governor, Ray Mabus, has been confirmed as secretary of the U.S. Navy. Gregg Harper:

"As a former governor and U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Secretary Mabus’ experiences have contributed to his outstanding career in public service. I commend the Senate for unanimously confirming his nomination and am confident he will represent Mississippians well in his service to the Navy and the Department of Defense. I look forward to working with him for many years on issues that impact the Navy and the Marines, particularly the Naval Air Station in Meridian.”

Nunnelee's Tax Payer Pledge

Alan Nunnelee, often suggested as a potential challenger to Travis Childers, is catching some heat for breaking his Mississippi Taxpayer Protection Pledge when he voted for the recent cigarette tax increase.

Obama Opposes Taylor's Wind Insurance Bill

Obama rejects federal wind insurance for hurricanes

The Obama administration has quietly told Congress that it "strongly opposes" federal wind insurance legislation — surprising a Mississippi lawmaker who lost his home to Hurricane Katrina and who's spent more than two years fighting for wind coverage.

A shell-shocked Rep. Gene Taylor, D-Miss., said he learned just a few days ago that Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Craig Fugate, the nominee to head the Federal Emergency Management Agency, had written lawmakers in opposition to Taylor's legislation.

"I'm obviously extremely disappointed," Taylor told McClatchy," that an administration that ran on 'change you can believe in' did this without taking the time to talk to us."

"I'm particularly angry that they're bailing out AIG, but when it comes to the excessive cost of wind coverage, they're not helping the people of coastal areas," he said. American International Group is one of the nation's largest insurers.

Taylor settled a lawsuit with State Farm Insurance over compensation for wind damage to his waterfront home, which the 2005 hurricane destroyed.

Taylor, however, isn't giving up, and wants to meet with Napolitano.

"I've just got to believe they're not in touch with coastal homeowners," he said. "This is the right thing we're pushing for."

Thompson's "Campaign" Travels

Respond Mississippi Blog is on Bennie Thompson again for his travel tendencies. This time it is his $23,000 in travel for the first quarter of 2009 spent from his campaign fund

to locations like the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada; the Kingsmill Resort in Williamsburg, Virginia; the Myrtle Beach Marriott in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; and the Fontainebleau Resort in Miami, Florida.

In other news, Gene Taylor and Travis Childers both announce appointments to military academies, and Gregg Harper announces art competition winners.

Friedeman on Greg Harper's first 100 Days

Matt Friedeman - Harper passes test after his first 100 days in House

If U.S. presidents can have an examination of their "first 100 days," can U.S. representatives? Because Mississippi 3d District U.S. Rep. Gregg Harper just sailed past his.

Harper feels he is on a roll, even as he and his party colleagues are pummeled daily by the awesome advantages of Democratic numbers.

Harper feels particularly blessed with a designated freshman leadership position on the National Republican Congressional Committee, good committee assignments (House Administration, Budget, Judiciary), a staff he is comfortable with, and a nice office location.

Frustrations aside, some on the underpopulated Republican side of the aisle impress the new represenatative. Republican leader John Boehner "has a commanding presence" but is "extremely approachable." Pete Sessions of Texas has a special needs child like Harper, which affords them some emotional common ground. Randy Forbes of Virginia has "been a genuine friend." And Harper also sings the praises of Mike Pence of Indiana, chairman of the Republican Conference.

So - the 100 day accomplishment thing. What does the 3rd District have to show for Harper's leadership? Well, says the congressman, "The great thing about being a freshman is that I have not been blamed for anything yet." However, it is always important to remember why the GOP fell out of power. They didn't, he observes, control spending. "It is easy to get caught up in the Washington life ... it is imperative to stay grounded and remember why folks elected you."

As one of only two freshmen on the executive committee of the national Republican Congressional Committee, Harper seems confident that the Republicans will be humbled back to their conservative roots and, as the Democrats dig a deeper hole in deficit spending, regain Republican control of the House in 2010.

Thompson: Homeland Security a 'work in progress'

This video comes from "In Case of Emergency, Read Blog." House Homeland Security Chairman says protecting the homeland continues to be a work in progress.

Friday Roundup

Congressman Travis Childers (D-MS) joined a majority of his colleagues today in voting for the Mortgage Reform and Anti-Predatory Lending Act of 2009 (H.R 1728) to help curb abusive and predatory lending, a major factor in the current financial and economic meltdown.

Second District U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Bolton, said he will back Obama's budget request. "The original $100 million was not a cap, it was a beginning,'' said Karis Gutter, Thompson's deputy chief of staff about paying thousands of black farmers as part of a discrimination settlement with the Department of Agriculture.

President Obama pledged to allow unionization at TSA during his campaign last year, and Reps. Nita Lowey, D-N.Y., Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., and Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, introduced a bill last month that would give screeners bargaining rights and move them to the government's general pay schedule.

Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., who chairs the Homeland Security Committee, called a national identification system for animals "essential" to protecting the nation's food supply. He said the participation rate should be at least 70 percent, though a rate of more than 90 percent would be ideal. Thompson and others stopped short of calling for a mandatory system, saying they were open to working with the livestock and poultry industry on a remedy.

Brian Martin, the policy director for U.S. Rep. Gene Taylor, said that Taylor has been involved with Wayne County for some time to improve rail service in the county and that Taylor is supporting this project.

Which better reflects American values – Fox’s “American Idol” or PBS? Rep. Gregg Harper (R-Miss.), meantime, held out for another option. “How about c): none of the above,” Harper said. “‘American Idol’ is very much a cultural phenomenon, and certainly there are more viewers of that than the PBS system, but I enjoy both of them.”

"I am hopeful that the department and its contractors have learned from previous failed attempts and will apply those lessons to the deployment (of the new system). We will be watching closely until SBInet is complete," Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee and a critic of the initial virtual fence efforts, said via e-mail Thursday.

Harper on National Day of Prayer

Gregg Harper speaks on the National Day of Prayer and symbols of Christianity in the U.S. Capitol.

Harper on FOX on Chrysler Bankruptcy

Congressman Gregg Harper joins FOX on Chrysler Bankruptcy

Taylor for Wind Insurance; Harper for $1 million Jackson erosion

Taylor pushes national wind insurance

Adding wind coverage to the nation's flood insurance program will pass the House this year, but once again faces hurdles in the Senate, said Rep. Gene Taylor, D-Bay St. Louis.

Jackson, Hinds seeking federal funds for flood, erosion control

Third District Rep. Gregg Harper is seeking almost $1 million in the fiscal 2010 budget. The funds also would go toward correcting a drainage problem at Eubanks Creek.

Gene Taylor on Disasters

Forecaster warns hurricane meeting participants: 'Remember our errors'

Recalling the days after Katrina, U.S. Rep. Gene Taylor, D-Bay St. Louis, said, "You first-responders did a great job, but you could also see a difference in people's eyes when uniformed military personnel started showing up."

Taylor said the increased U.S. military presence in Afghanistan will create a shortage of everything from generators to temporary morgues.

One positive development since Katrina, he said, is a clear line of command for a military response to a major disaster.

Gene Taylor warns: Another terrorist attack will happen

"The next time it may not be a natural disaster," Taylor said. "I know this is a hurricane conference, but you need to keep this in the back of your mind.

"There are 35 nations in the world that have some form of weapon of mass destruction," the congressman continued. "A lot of those nations, like Pakistan and the former Soviet Union, are very unstable. It is entirely possible that if terrorists get to the right general, the right admiral, they can get hold of one of these weapons."

"It is going to happen. I pray it doesn't happen, but it is just logical with that many loose weapons laying around that, at some point, bad actors are going to get hold of them," he said.

Taylor said he had asked an Arab analyst why terrorists had not used improvised explosive devices on American soil and was told "in the Arab mind anything less damaging than Sept. 11 would be considered a failure."

The attitude may have stopped smaller attacks, Taylor said, but "the flip side of that coin is that means the next will be worse than Sept. 11."

Taylor said there is no guarantee an attack would target New York or Washington, D.C., although it is likely "they would go after something uniquely American, but we can't count on that."

Taylor, who serves as chairman of the Armed Services Committee's Subcommittee on Seapower and Expeditionary Forces, urged the emergency officials to consider what they would do if a biological, chemical or nuclear attack occurred.

Taylor on preparedness

“I don’t want to be gloom and doom,” Taylor said. “I just want people to be aware.”

2000: Bennie Thompson complains of Mississippi medicine to Castro

Houston Chronicle - Junket to Cuba provides just what doctor ordered

During a visit to Cuba by the Congressional Black Caucus in June 2000, U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., told then-Cuban President Fidel Castro about the severe shortage of doctors in his home state.

“Every county I represent is classified as medically under­-served,” Thompson said. He said two students from Mississippi are applying to enter the Cuban school next year.

Letter To Editor: Taylor turning into a politician?

Hattiesburg American - Taylor turning into a politician?

I attended the local meeting with Rep. Gene Taylor on April 14. I met Rep. Taylor about 20 years ago when he was running for Congress for the first time. I was totally impressed with his freshness and desire to do a good job. We spoke for several hours and we agreed and disagreed on subjects. I voted for him then and I voted for him in the last election. I will probably vote for him again.

I was not happy with his demeanor at the meeting. We had a larger than normal crowd because of the Tea Parties and other local groups along with individual involvement. Twice, the congressman brought up Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh as the reason a lot of us were attending. I expected better from him. That should be a positive comment, that people are taking an interest in government and not a negative observation. I respect Beck, Limbaugh and Taylor, but Taylor is the only one who got my vote to work for me.

I sadly saw a change in the congressman from 20 years ago. He had the talking points down pat. He knew to provide lengthy answers to answer fewer questions. He dwelled on the past, and as is done by all politicians, blamed the other side.

He does a great job of representing us and I believe that bushy-tailed young man is still in there but if he continues to buy into the blame game, I would be greatly disappointed. I am not affiliated with any party. I voted for Roger Wicker and Thad Cochran and as I said, I voted for Taylor. If the Gene Taylor we sent to Washington comes back to us, I would vote for him for senator over Cochran or Wicker. We can't afford the pork they are providing. I sure haven't seen any of it.

I am sure we have a great young man in Hattiesburg named Joey Fillingane who is just about ready for that congressional seat. 534 more to go.

Dan Lindsay
Hattiesburg

Friday Roundup

Mississippi atheists want to know if Gene Taylor criticizes Obama, does he have a better idea?

The Congressional Black Caucus is not happy about President Barack Obama's policies regarding black farmers. “At a minimum, the CBC should meet with the Obama administration and clarify this filing,” said Bennie Thompson.

Gene Taylor has approached House Republican Rep. Walter Jones Jr. (N.C.) to consider switching parties. "I had certain members talk to me, saying, 'Would you consider it?'" Jones said, naming Rep. Gene Taylor (D-Miss.) as one of those who approached him. But Jones, who is conservative on most issues, said he had no interest in making a switch.

Travis Childers announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has allocated nearly $2 million for rural water projects in North Mississippi through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Mt. Comfort Water Association, Inc. in Bruce will receive $1,624,000 and Coontail Water Association, Inc. in Aberdeen will receive $332,000.

House Homeland Security Chairman Bennie Thompson and Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Chairman Joseph Lieberman will introduce legislation to address what they call unacceptable security vulnerabilities of information networks at the nation's electrical power plants. The bill would give the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission increased authority to regulate cybersecurity at electrical power generation facilities.

Travis Childers will be the keynote speaker at the 93rd graduation exercises held at Northwest Mississippi Community College on Friday, May 15.

London Thompson, wife of Bennie Thompson, joined other spouses and First Lady Michelle Obama volunteering at a food bank.

Gene Taylor speaks out on Obama's Pakistan policies: "I do come from a part of the world where $400 million is still a lot of money. It seems to me that the Pakistani government considers India the primary threat, the Taliban not to be a threat."

Dorothy Benford on running for Jackson Mayor: "In Jackson, if you’re not a part of the Bennie Thompson machine or some other political machine, you are a threat."