Video asks why didn't Gene Taylor vote to kill the health care bill

This video from iCaucus.org acknowledges Gene Taylor voted against the health care bill, but notes that less than 20 minutes earlier he had a chance to kill the bill on a procedural motion and voted in line with Nancy Pelosi. It also discusses how Taylor voted against TARP but voted for the GM/Chrysler bailout. It is painfully long at seven and a half minutes.

Monday Digest

Respond Mississippi - Obama, Childers...I want my money back

Bennie Thompson supports publicly funded congressional campaigns.

Travis Childers opposes Democrats's health care bill.

Gregg Harper votes to extend unemployment benefits.

Gregg Harper introduces online voter registration legislation.

Laurel Leader Call - Residents send Rep. Taylor the ‘pink slip’

WLOX - Jones County residents protest health care reform

Bennie Thompson does Delta USDA tour.

Election Updates: MS01 and MS04

Majority in Mississippi - MS-01: Huckabee Endorses Nunnelee

Y'all Politics - Former Eupora mayor Henry Ross considering testing Nunnelee for Childers seat

Majority in Mississippi - Ross Still Interested In MS-01

Hattiesburg American - Tegerdine to take on Taylor

JoeTegerdine.com - 15 County Sprint

Bennie Thompson's Reading List

The Hill asks Bennie Thompson what he likes to read.

What magazines do you read regularly?
North American Hunter. Mississippi Game & Fish.

What books have most influenced your political philosophy?
The Autobiography of Malcolm X. All the King’s Men. George Orwell’s 1984.

Which author do you most often reference?
I usually reference politicians, like Woodrow Wilson and Lyndon Johnson.

What are your favorite novels of all time?
All the King’s Men.

Gregg Harper on 10.2% unemployment: "disturbing" numbers,

NJ / VA Elections' Impact in Mississippi

Majority in Mississippi asks whether last night's elections have an impact on the reelection of Congressman Travis Childers in the First District. The post concludes,

"What we knew before has not changed: the voters are conservative, they have a history of supporting local Democrats and national Republicans, and want someone who can appeal to them. The one thing I would be nervous about if I was Childers is turnout. Black voters made up about 20 percent of the Virginia electorate in 2008 with Obama on the top of the ballot. That was down to around 15 percent this time around without Obama. It is no secret that Childers benefited from that turnout a year ago. And signs indicate it will not be there for him in 2010."

It is interesting the day after those elections, Travis Childers announces he will NOT vote for the Democratic health care plan,

"First and foremost, I cannot vote for legislation with this big of a price tag in today's economic climate. I would also like to see legislation that contains stronger language to prohibit federal funding for abortion and provides equal access to care for individuals in rural communities. My concerns in these areas have not been sufficiently addressed by this legislation."

If that isn't clear enough, Gene Taylor spells it out for the Democrats,

"The House leadership needs to pay attention to what happened in Virginia."

Tuesday Digest

The Commercial Appeal writes about the upcoming anticipated Childers-Nunnelee race: Nunnelee, GOP take aim at Childers. Majority in Mississippi posts Nunnelee takes a swing at Pelosi-Care. Human Events says if Childers joins the Democrats in supporting the House health care bill, he will be one of Pelosi’s Kamikazes.

Respond Mississippi posts an update on the ethics investigation regarding Bennie Thompson's travel.

Charles Dunagin from the McComb Enterprise Journal writes:

Third District U.S. Rep. Gregg Harper probably will remain the McComb area’s congressman as long as he wants to be -- barring significant realignment of his district. But some of the other flippant answers given by Harper in the interview, as reported on the Internet, would make good advertising fodder for an opponent, if Harper ever has a serious one.

Meanwhile, Y'all Politics posts that Harper will have a teletown hall tonight for people in Oktibbeha, Winston, and Noxubee Counties.

Gene Taylor opposes the FDA's new Gulf Coast oyster regulations in the Sun Herald and Press Register. He also opposes the Richton Salt Dome project funding. But he supports the "Interstate 10 connector road that would tie the shopping mecca of Sangani Boulevard to Washington Avenue north of I-10."