Mississippi Congress Blog

Harper, Nunnelee file for election

2010-01-05T17:30:00.001-06:00

Republican Congressman Gregg Harper has filed to run for reelection to his Third Congressional District seat.

Republican state Senator Alan Nunnelee has filed to run against incumbent Democratic Congressman Travis Childers in the First Congressional District seat.

Henry Ross Announces Plans for 1st District Run

2009-12-15T08:08:00.001-06:00

Desoto Times Tribune - Ross tosses hat into First District race

Henry Ross, former mayor of Eupora, assistant district attorney and circuit court judge, has announced his plans to run for U.S. Representative in the First Congressional District.

He is expected to officially announce his candidacy after the first of the year.

Ross, a Eupora native, attorney and former U.S. Department of Justice official, will face Alan Nunnelee in the Republican primary election, in the bid to defeat incumbent Democrat Travis Childers in the general election.

"In my travels across the First Congressional District, I have found that the people want somebody who is not wanting to move up or have a second career," Ross said.

"They want a real conservative to restore God-centered government. They want someone who will fight to strengthen their family's security and someone who believes in fiscal responsibility."

Tuesday Roundup

2009-12-15T07:57:00.000-06:00

Y'all Politics - Gregg Harper addresses MSU grads

Majority in Mississippi - Childers Still Relying On Populist Appeal

AP - Childers: Farmers face emergency

Calhoun County Journal - Childers Meets With Farmers In Vardaman

Y'all Politics - Gene Taylor one of 27 who voted against Wall Street regulation legislation

Bennie Thompson Investigations

2009-12-13T06:36:00.000-06:00

Washington Post - House Homeland Security Committee faces ethics inquiry

New York Times - Rules for Congress Curb but Don’t End Junkets

New York Times Editorial - From the Alps to the Pits

Respond Mississippi from Delta Democrat Times - DDT: Thompson puzzled by investigation

TalingPointsMemo - Party Favors: House Staffers' Event Planning Biz Specializes In Bashes For Top Dem Rep

Madison County Journal - Thompson's ethics investigations

Travis Childers, Gregg Harper updates

2009-12-13T06:31:00.000-06:00

Y'all Politics - Democratic Financial Reform Bill - Bennie Thompson and Travis Childers "for"; Gene Taylor and Gregg Harper "against"

AP - Childers plans to lead crop damage tour

Meridian Star - Gregg Harper: “I believe health care reform should help states, families and small businesses address the problem of skyrocketing costs, not raise premiums for private policy holders and burden states with unfunded mandates.”

Gene Taylor Questions Gates on Afghan Corruption, Narcotics

2009-12-08T15:17:00.002-06:00

The New York Times - Obama Aides Pressed on Afghan Graft, Al Qaeda

In a second hearing, Representative Gene Taylor, also a Democrat, questioned how the administration could be serious about tackling corruption and drugs in Afghanistan without addressing the alleged role of Ahmed Wali Karzai, the president's brother, in the drug trade.

"I'm just not going to talk about that in open session. We are dealing with a sovereign government," Gates said.

Taylor insisted, "Someone from the State Department admitted before this committee that it was true."

Gates responded: "Well, we have problems with him. There's no question about it."

"We are putting tens of billions of dollars into Afghanistan, and too much of it is ending up with sticky fingers along the way," added Gates, a former CIA director.

The New York Times reported in October that Ahmed Wali Karzai received regular payments from the CIA. The agency would neither confirm nor deny the payments.

Watch it here.

Bennie Thompson Investigates / Bennie Thompson Investigated

2009-12-05T11:00:00.004-06:00

Chairman of Homeland Security, Bennie Thompson, is investigating the gate crashing of Tareq and Michaele Salahi at the recent White House state dinner honoring the prime minister of India and may issue a subpoena for their testimony. Thompson said. "We're not concerned about agency embarrassment. The security gaps at issue cannot be explained away as missteps by a few frontline employees. There were undeniable planning and execution failures of the entire Secret Service apparatus. We're all fortunate that this diplomatic celebration did not become a night of horror. We must dissect every fact...and after we do these things, we need to give thanks that no lives were lost."

Meanwhile, the Washington Post reports that Bennie Thompson is being investigated for holding hearings on the credit card industry, and then after receiving $15,000 in campaign contributions, failing to act on those hearings. A former aide makes accusations about improper lobbyist requests, as well. Thompson's staff denies any misdoings.

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

2009-11-15T13:54:00.003-06:00

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

2009-11-09T07:08:00.001-06:00

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

2009-11-08T15:07:00.000-06:00

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

2009-11-07T10:58:00.001-06:00

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,

2009-11-06T11:52:00.001-06:00

NJ / VA Elections' Impact in Mississippi

2009-11-04T18:20:00.002-06:00

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

2009-11-03T09:27:00.000-06:00

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."

Friday Digest: Thompson and Security; Campaign News

2009-10-30T12:20:00.005-05:00

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

2009-10-27T14:45:00.002-05:00

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

2009-10-27T09:00:00.000-05:00

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

2009-10-20T08:22:00.001-05:00

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

2009-10-20T06:20:00.001-05:00

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

2009-10-19T16:21:00.003-05:00

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"

2009-10-12T07:05:00.000-05:00

"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

2009-10-11T15:41:00.001-05:00

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

2009-10-09T16:02:00.000-05:00

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

2009-10-08T16:09:00.000-05:00

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

2009-10-07T16:45:00.003-05:00

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

2009-10-07T16:01:00.001-05:00

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?”

Travis Childers announces $1.1mln grant for railroad spur

2009-09-25T06:26:00.000-05:00

DeSoto Appeal - Grant to build railroad spur will roll jobs into Horn Lake

A $1.1 million economic development grant will be used to build a railroad spur line that will service the expansion of Newly Weds Foods in Horn Lake.

The project will create 20 jobs and help save 300 other jobs throughout DeSoto County, officials said.

U.S. Rep. Travis Childers, D-Miss., announced Wednesday that the grant from the Economic Development Administration will pay for the rail spur and infrastructure improvements to handle the expansion of the Horn Lake plant.

"These funds will create and save an estimated 320 jobs throughout DeSoto County by improving critical infrastructure and expanding business," Childers said in a press release.

"During today's tough times, this is a prime example of the kind of project that will spur growth and put North Mississippians back to work."

Gene Taylor on Nancy Pelosi

2009-09-25T06:16:00.001-05:00

The Hill - Dem campaign anxiety: Vulnerables say they lack cover from Pelosi

Between a tough vote on a climate change bill that many don’t expect to become law and a leftward push on healthcare legislation, Pelosi’s (D-Calif.) critics within her caucus say she’s left the so-called “majority makers” exposed.

“She keeps trying to push an unpopular package,” said Rep. Gene Taylor (D-Miss.), a centrist Blue Dog Democrat, referring to healthcare. “I think it’s fair to say they were better at it before.”

Charlie Mitchell on Bennie Thompson's SECURE PAC

2009-09-23T06:09:00.000-05:00

Charlie Mitchell - Thompson’s PAC busily spreading cash

What’s political about domestic security?

Most of us would say nothing.

But wait. The U.S. Congress has a voice in this. And there’s money involved. And where there’s money, there’s politics.

The House elevated the Committee on Homeland Security to permanent status on the last day of January 2005. The chairman is Rep. Bennie C. Thompson, D-Miss.

What would be a top priority for a new committee?

For Thompson it was forming a political action committee to accept cash and to try to use the cash to elect Democrats. The Federal Election Commission got notice that “Secure PAC” was born in May 2005, with Rep. Thompson as its affiliate and his wife, London, as treasurer. Secure PAC’s headquarters is a post office box in Bolton.

Early in 2010, Thompson will file for re-election. He will raise money for his campaign. In fact, his latest report says he has $1.6 million on hand. That’s more money, by the way, than most of the towns in his mostly Mississippi Delta district spend in a year.

Secure PAC is not Thompson’s campaign fund. It’s a separate account for which Thompson can accept donations and, in turn, give away the money any way he pleases.

Leadership PAC money helps party leaders keep lower-ranking members in line. It can also be used to purchase the souls of incoming House and Senate members. Thompson and the others are buying favor with money that’s not even theirs. It’s as close to being Santa Claus as a mortal can get.

During the last two-year election cycle, Secure PAC raised about $250,000 and gave it to Democratic candidates. Rep. William Jennings “Freezer” Jefferson, D-La., now convicted of 11 bribery-related charges, got $14,000, making him the largest single donee.

So far this year -- and voting is 14 months away — Secure PAC has raised $50,063 and spent $66,814, leaving a cash balance of $114,250. The spending included $15,000 for a study (most likely a mailing list of potential donors) paid to a Washington consulting firm, $3,500 for a fundraising party for the PAC in Washington and about $3,000 to Office Depot on Robinson Road in Jackson for furniture and supplies. The balance of this year’s spending to date consisted of $5,000 donations to Democratic House candidates from Connecticut, Ohio, Arizona, New Mexico, New York, California and Nevada and a $10,000 donation to a Senate candidate from Florida. PACs can also hire family and friends for services.

How does any of this spending help Secure PAC help make America more secure? Well, it doesn’t.

Donors to the Secure PAC, by the way, generally mirror donors to Thompson’s own campaign fund. This gives credence to the accusation that PACs are a way around statutory limits because a donor can, in essence, double up by giving a check for the maximum to the campaign and another check for the maximum to the candidate’s PAC. Thompson’s big donors are unions, trial lawyer groups and casino companies. Of the $500,000 he’s raised this year, less than $50,000 came from individuals and businesses in Mississippi.

Bennie Thompson forum on Thursday

2009-09-22T19:07:00.001-05:00

Delta Democrat Times - Congressman to hold forum Thursday

Bennie Thompson will host a forum titled “Renew, Reinvest, Recover: Doing business with the Department of Homeland Security” at the Washington County Convention Center on Thursday.

The forum begins at 1 p.m. in room 140 of the center and will conclude at 2:50 p.m. It is the fifth in a series of discussions offered by Rep. Thompson, and is part of the Congressional Black Caucus’ Annual Legislative Conference.

Ephren Taylor, CEO of City Capital Corporation will be the moderator.

Panelists include Clarence Abernathy, small business specialist for the CBP; Demetria Carter, small business specialist, FEMA; Robert Boone of the TSA; Bonnie Echols, acquisition lead, GSA; Wesley Stith, Clark Construction; Ralph Thomas III, Baker, Thomas & Tolle, LLP; Ted Fells, CEO of Nucore Vision, LLP and Karen Bailey of Resource King International, LLP.

Insurance, Judicial Nomination, and Valley State President

2009-09-16T08:35:00.001-05:00

The Mississippi Press - Still waiting for insurance revolution

After Hurricane Katrina, I made an off-the-cuff prediction. I figured when the rest of the country found out what we know about home insurance here on the coast, there would be a revolution.

It didn't happen. The fact is, the rest of the country didn't find out or at least they didn't listen. They still think they are covered.

That means it's left to our congressman Gene Taylor to wage his lone wolf campaign for insurance reform. And unfortunately, he's not getting very far.

Greenwood Commonwealth - Oliver hailed for making history

U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., set the tone for the almost three-hour program by congratulating Oliver on becoming the first African-American woman to become president of a Mississippi university.

He likened Oliver’s arrival to the Itta Bena campus to President Barack Obama’s election in 2008.

“Just like change came to this country in No-vember of last year, change has come to the Valley,” he said. “Change, not only in the fact that we have a new leader, but the new leader is different from all of the other leaders that we’ve had. I really don’t have say it to you; all you have to do is look for yourself.”

Clarion Ledger - Appellate judge cutting workload

Federal Judge Rhesa Barksdale of Jackson has semi-retired, leaving a vacancy on the active roster of the 17-member 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Normally, U.S. senators make recommendations to the president for a federal judicial appointment.

But with a Democratic president and Mississippi having two Republican U.S. senators, the state's congressional Democrats probably will be asked for input on potential candidates, too.

Thompson's chief of staff, Lanier Avant, has said the trio of Democratic House members- Reps. Travis Childers, Bennie Thompson and Gene Taylor, will become an "echo chamber as well as a springboard" for nominees.

Tegerdine to challenge Gene Taylor

2009-09-16T07:29:00.000-05:00

Laurel Leader Call - Tegerdine plans to run against Taylor

Some 14 months before the 2010 elections, Petal businessman Joe Tegerdine is already hot on the campaign trail. Tegerdine, who is challenging for Gene Taylor’s 4th District U.S. Congress seat next fall, spoke to the Jones County Republican Women Wednesday at Western Sizzlin.

Tegerdine said he was inspired to run after attending a town hall meeting in April that was hosted by Taylor.

“We don’t have the luxury of apathy,” he said. “We need someone with more than name recognition, a pretty face and nice hair. We need someone who will go up there and fight. That’s representation that I feel you deserve and I want.”

Tegerdine, who admitted to being “almost 35,” said he believes he has a better chance than predecessors in defeating Taylor because is working hard to unite the conservative vote.

“Environmentally, the atmosphere is also a lot different than in past elections,” he said. “We don’t need the coast to get elected, but everyone from Clark County to the coast is excited. The Republican party will return if its leaders sit squarely on the conservative platform.”

Childers: County has "kicked the can" for too many years

2009-09-16T07:26:00.000-05:00

Commercial Appeal - Childers welcomes Delta Grassroots Conference

U.S. Rep. Travis Childers, D-Miss., was the last in a series of Delta congressmen to talk local issues with the representatives of the Delta Grassroots Caucus Tuesday night.

But he started off by making an admission: "I am so proud to be in Washington, D.C., in a room full of people who talk like I talk," he said as the crowd roared with laughter. "I talk from one end of this city to the other and most of 'em don't understand a word I say."

He said he'll work to address the disparity in Medicare reimbursement rates between rural and urban settings and is working to increase the enrollment in the state's only medical school.

"For the life of me, I cannot understand why doctors get paid more in Miami, Fla., than they get paid in Tupelo, Miss.," he said.

On health care reform, he said the country has "kicked the can" for too many years. "No one's going to come in on a white horse and save us, except ourselves," he said.

Gregg Harper on Journalist Shield Law

2009-09-16T06:25:00.000-05:00

Washington Post - Senate Weighs New Shield Law

Five senior Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee in their criticism of the measure questioned the amount of lobbying done by media companies to get the bill passed.

"We hear a lot from the media about the evils of lobbying and how Congress is captive to special interests, but media outlets, in a very self-serving way, are lobbying House Members to support H.R. 985 [the House shield law] or face the consequences," wrote GOP Reps. Lamar Smith (Texas), the ranking minority member; F. James Sensenbrenner Jr. (Wis.); Darrell E. Issa (Calif.); Steve King (Iowa) and Gregg Harper (Miss.). They called it "unseemly, and possibly unethical, to make phone calls and write editorials in support of this bill when the motive is so clearly one of self-interest."

The five Republicans said, "There is no way to quantify or report the value of a journalist's 'in-kind' contribution."

Delegation's Votes on Joe Wilson

2009-09-16T06:16:00.000-05:00

Resolution of Disapproval of Joe Wilson

Travis Childers (D) - yea
Bennie Thompson (D) - yea
Gregg Harper (R) - nay
Gene Taylor (D) - nay

DNC thanks Travis Childers for stimulus vote

2009-09-07T06:44:00.001-05:00

DNC campaign commercial thanking Travis Childers for voting for the stimulus.

(Hat Tip Y'all Politics)

The Hill - DNC to run spots on stimulus

As the Obama administration trumpets success from February's economic stimulus plan, its political arm is helping potentially vulnerable members of Congress who backed the bill.

Organizing for America, the offshoot of President Barack Obama's campaign that now resides within the Democratic National Committee, will run advertisements in four districts thanking Democrats for backing the stimulus package.

The ads will run beginning Friday on local cable channels aimed at constituents of Reps. Ben Chandler (D-Ky.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Travis Childers (D-Miss.) and Zack Space (D-Ohio). Heinrich, Childers and Space all have prominent Republican candidates running against them. The ads aimed at Heinrich and Space focus on healthcare reform.

Though the advertisements will be small — a Democratic National Committee spokesman called the ad buys "significant for the markets," but local cable advertising, especially in Mississippi, Kentucky and rural Ohio, is very cheap — the new advertisements mark the next step in both parties' efforts to brand the stimulus package as a winning issue for their side.

"Times are tough, but Congressman Ben Chandler is fighting for us. He supported the jobs and Economic Recovery Act which rescued our economy from the brink of disaster and provided the largest middle-class tax cut in American history," says the advertisement running in Kentucky. "The Recovery Act is providing millions in funding for projects right here in Kentucky, creating and preserving jobs here instead of shipping more American jobs overseas."

The government said 570,000 Americans filed for jobless benefits in the week ending Aug. 29, higher than the 564,000 economists forecasted. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate remains at 9.4 percent.

Childers: NRCC Challenge, Health Contributions

2009-09-02T17:36:00.000-05:00

Y'all Politics - NRCC dares Rep. Travis Childers to oppose Nancy Pelosi for Speaker

Respond Mississippi - Democrats Criticize Health Contributions...to people like Travis Childers?

Thompson on Swine Flu; Taylor on Afghanistan

2009-09-02T17:34:00.001-05:00

AP - Homeland Security, Miss. leaders discuss swine flu

U.S. House Homeland Security Chairman Bennie Thompson says Mississippi's health and emergency leaders appear prepared to handle the swine flu.

Thompson and U.S. Department of Homeland Security Deputy Secretary Jane Holl Lute met privately Tuesday with health, education and emergency management officials to discuss the H1N1 flu virus.

"We came to hear what the issues were and learn what the challenges were in getting prepared," Lute said a news conference after the meeting. "What we heard was a great deal of awareness about the flu. That's a real strength as the flu season approaches."

When asked if Mississippi appeared to have its swine flu efforts under control, Thompson replied: "At this point, yes."

Mississippi has 586 confirmed swine flu cases and two deaths as of Tuesday. Hundreds of other suspected cases have been reported on school and college campuses.

Thompson said the swine flu vaccine is expected to be available by mid-October. He said one of the concerns raised in Tuesday's meeting was the cost of getting a swine flu shot.

"One of the things we're making quite clear is that it will be free," said Thompson.

He said in some cases a $10 administrative fee may be charged.

Hattiesburg American - Taylor: Sooner troops withdrawn the better

American troops in Afghanistan might feel some relief in the words of Rep. Gene Taylor touting "the sooner, the better" for troop withdrawal from the war-torn country.

"It's a part of the world where corruption is the norm," he said. "You're not going to change the way they are. The best you can hope for is some kind of Magna Carta agreement of shared powers."

"We're going to have to kill the guys that are determined to kill us and don't want to see any semblance of an Afghan nation, and then cut a deal with the rest of them," Taylor said.

Gregg Harper at Editorial Boards

2009-09-02T17:31:00.000-05:00

The Meridian Star:

It has been a little bit of a whirlwind. Obviously there have been a whole bunch of issues. But the overriding topic right now is health care reform.

And there's another piece of legislation that's just as bad, which is the cap and trade, basically the national energy tax. That's out there. There are still issues on what's going to happen with card check. And there's that the President in effect said that if you don't see a path for people that are in the country illegally to get citizenship then you're a demagogue.

Underneath all this, I think, is the spending. It's a major part of what we see when we come home in the district or we get e-mails or phone calls, the big concern seems to be how can we spend at the level we're doing, how can you do deficit spending at this level. Bush's deficit was $400 billion his last year. Well this year, it's projected to hit $1.8 trillion. Almost 4 and a half times what it was the last year of Bush's term. So that to me is something. You know that when the Republicans were in control and we had the deficit spending even with the war situation going on the Democrats complained about it. Now the Democrats are doing it and the Republicans are complaining about it. I would really prefer that the Republicans and Democrats both complain about it and you realize that we cannot do the level that we're doing at this point.

Laurel Leader Call:

I believe we already have good health care in this country. Do we trust the government to come in, take it over and make it better? Will they help reduce costs, increase coverage and not lead to rationed health care?

Mississippi just had three special sessions to handle a $90 million deficit. What do you think will happen with $297 million? Unfunded mandates always trickle down, even to local communities.

The top spending in the country is Medicare/Medicaid, Social Security, national defense and then interest on the national debt.

We were told that if we didn’t pass the stimulus, unemployment would hit 8 percent. Of course, now it’s on its way to 10 percent. It created 33 new federal government programs and the National Health Care Officer. It’s not done anything to help us at this point. The only jobs it’s created are federal employees, and that’s not doing anybody any good.

Greggg Harper on Energy

2009-09-02T10:03:00.002-05:00

Gregg Harper recently spoke to the Meridian Star Editorial Board on energy issues. He supports expanded nuclear, clean coal, but says while we need an all of the above approach, wind and solar won't alone be a solution for Mississippi.

The energy issue would be the number one issue. We have a failed energy policy. If you look back, when gas hit $4 a gallon a year ago this past June, it hurt a lot of small businesses. When I talk to manufacturers and ask when their business started to drop off they say it was about a year ago. Well, that was a couple of months after the prices hit $4 a gallon. It really shook the confidence of folks — seniors, people on fixed incomes, people who are poor, any small business. It had a profound impact.

And it kind of fluctuates. What is it, about $2.50 a gallon right now? And nobody knows why, nobody can get their arms around that. And we're dealing with a President whose stated goal is to reduce the use of fossil fuels. Well, we're all conservationists. We all want clean air and clean water. We don't want to pollute. We want what's right. But from a government policy standpoint, we need our policy to be to make America energy independent as a country. So you have a number of tax incentives and benefits that go to help domestic oil production of independent drillers in this country that will expire in the not too distant future. And if that happens, we're going to further suppress domestic production, which we need, and make us more dependent on foreign oil.

We're not doing anything to expand safe nuclear. We're talking about clean energy, nothing's cleaner than that. So what's the concern of nuclear power? Waste. What do you do with the waste? Well, the plan was to send it to Yucca Mountain. Energy companies have been paying for that to happen for years and years. And now senator Harry Reid got him a nice high speed rail to run from Las Vegas to Los Angeles but they're shutting down Yucca Mountain other than to keep the licensing. So, we're back to the drawing board. Where are you going to put it?

Wind and solar may work in some places. They don't work in Mississippi. We should have an all-of-the-above energy approach. Whatever will work to make us independent. But in the meantime don't put us in a situation where we're at an economic disadvantage competing with emerging markets, China and India and other countries that are going to use cheap fuel. By doing this, if it happens, we will push the pollution to other parts of the world.

Clean Coal technology, what they're trying to do in Kemper County, is a great thing. And we need to figure out a way that we can do it in the best manner possible. And we fully support what they're doing in Kemper County. It's a great thing for that county and for East Mississippi and for the energy needs in this country.

We cannot continue funding some of our enemies in the Middle East, for instance, with the foreign oil. Let's go get the natural gas, whatever we can get, whether it's offshore, whether it's in some federally protected lands or in Alaska, we can do it in an environmentally safe manner, and we need to go get that.

Blogs on Gene Taylor

2009-08-27T16:30:00.004-05:00

Southern Live Oak: Questions for Gene Taylor

Citizen Liberty: The Case Against Gene Taylor In Under 2 Minutes

FireGeneTaylor.com: Video: Gene Taylor Cast His Vote In Support Of Nancy Pelosi

FireGeneTaylor.com: Gene Taylor Can Live Without Major League Baseball

Respond Mississippi: Gene Taylor Rejects ObamaCare; Suggests He Will Not Again Vote for Nancy Pelosi

Respond Mississippi: Dem Congressman Calls Blue Dogs "Brain Dead"

Gene Taylor Against Healthcare, Cap & Trade in Laurel

2009-08-26T16:36:00.001-05:00

Laurel Leader Call - Taylor: ‘Blue Dogs have done America a great favor’

U.S. Rep. Gene Taylor (D-Miss.) received two standing ovations Tuesday from the Laurel Rotary Club as he voiced criticism of President Obama’s drive to reform health care.

“The Blue Dogs (Democrats who often vote Republican) have done America a great favor by delaying the vote,” said Taylor, a member of the group, who noted he is voting against the bill. “I don’t think we have the money for that. I’ve always thought something worth doing is worth paying for.”

“The tipping point for the Medicare trust fund was scheduled to be in 2019,” he said. “That’s when the money collected will not be enough to cover the bills coming in. Because of the economy and medicine keeping people alive longer, that date moved to 2017 within a one year period. Obviously there’s a concern, but we can’t add another trillion dollars to the national debt for health care.”

In addition to insurance, Taylor discussed “cap-and-trade” emissions laws, which he called a Ponzi scheme, and technologies being used in the U.S. Military.

As chairman of the Subcommittee on Seapower and Expeditionary Forces, Taylor oversees spending for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps.

Taylor said the military is currently working on better mine-resistant vehicles to help save the lives of soldiers. He also discussed a move to make all aircraft and carriers run on nuclear power.

When pressed about Iraq, Taylor said the goal is to come out of the country “very quickly.”

However, Afghanistan is a different story, Taylor added.

“You couldn’t pick a worse place to fight a war,” he said. “It’s a 20-day truck ride just to get food and supplies to the soldiers through Pakistan. We’ve lost 135 contract drivers who were just delivering food. I’m afraid we’ll be there for awhile.”

Bennie Thompson on Kennedy

2009-08-26T16:34:00.000-05:00

AP - Kennedy's civil rights work remembered in Mississippi

U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., said in an e-mailed statement that he was the Mississippi co-chair for Kennedy's 1980 presidential bid. Thompson first met Kennedy when he was a student at Tougaloo College.

"Over the years, our staffs collaborated on a number of issues ranging from health care to education," Thompson said. "The legacy of Sen. Edward Kennedy will without question live on, and I think the first act will be through Congress passing health insurance reform legislation."

Gregg Harper: Mid-Session Review

2009-08-26T16:22:00.000-05:00

HARPER: MID-SESSION REVIEW PROVIDES HARSH EVIDENCE OF DEMOCRATS’ SPENDING BINGE

“Americans expect better than more taxes for more government spending and less jobs – and they deserve it.”

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Representative Gregg Harper (R–Miss.), freshman Member of the House Committee on the Budget, has called for order to the chaotic deficit spending after the White House’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released updated economic and budgetary projections.

“When the 111th Congress convened, President Obama and Congressional Democrats promised fiscal responsibility,” said Congressman Gregg Harper. “Now, after eight misleading months, America is learning directly from the White House that the federal deficit will soar to nearly $1.6 trillion this year alone.”
Harper’s comments came after the August 25, 2009 release of the Mid-Session Review, which is an annual economic and budget forecast provided by the President. This year’s numbers reveal disturbing figures with the OMB estimating that the ten-year deficit will reach $9.05 trillion or a 27 percent increase over the White House’s original estimate of $7.1 trillion. The 2009 deficit is projected to reach $1.58 trillion alone, more than tripling last year’s deficit of $459 billion. According to The Heritage Foundation, more than 43 cents of every dollar Washington spends in 2009 will have been borrowed.

These deficits are driven by an increase in government spending. The OMB and CBO forecast that the increase in federal spending over the next ten years could range from 2.7 percent – 6 percent even without the President’s proposed $1 trillion government health care reform. This year alone, the President and the Pelosi-led Democratic controlled Congress have passed a $408 billion fiscal year 2009 omnibus appropriations bill and a $787 billion so-called “stimulus” package. This has resulted in a 22 percent spending increase for 2009 which represents the largest government expansion since the 1952 height of the Korean War.
Also, jobless figures are significantly higher than the President’s analysis earlier this year. The OMB predicts that unemployment will average 9.3 percent in 2009 and peak at 9.8 percent in 2010. However, the nonpartisan CBO expects this figure to reach an average of 10.2 percent for 2010, a number that far exceeds the President’s expectations of 5.2 percent – 8.1 percent as a result of the so-called “stimulus” package.

“Americans expect better than more taxes for more government spending and less jobs – and they deserve it,” added Congressman Harper. “The majority of jobs in Mississippi and our country are created by small businesses. This is why Congress must begin to allow families and small businesses to keep more of what they earn instead of continuing with this trend of explosive government spending.”

# # #

Gene Taylor & Nancy Pelosi

2009-08-18T19:09:00.001-05:00

FireGeneTaylor.com - Gene Taylor Votes With Nancy Pelosi 71% Of The Time

Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi is one of the far-left liberal members of Congress and she represents San Francisco, California, the most far-left liberal districts in America.

According to OpenCongress.org, Gene Taylor votes with Nancy Pelosi 71% of the time. So, it shouldn’t be any surprise that he cast his vote for her to be Speaker of the House over all other members of Congress.

So my question to you is, do you feel represented when your congressman sides with Nancy Pelosi 71% of the time and supports her ambitious effort to lead the most liberal Congress we’ve ever seen?

Y'all Politics - YP EYEWITNESS at Gene Taylor’s Town Hall Meeting - “No” on Obamacare - Doubtful to support Pelosi

Taylor was questioned about his vote to install Pelosi as Speaker of the House and said she had promised him she would support his efforts on catastrophic insurance coverage, which he said she did not. He strongly suggested he would not vote for her again as Speaker of the House.

Blogs on Taylor, Childers

2009-08-11T08:47:00.000-05:00

Y'all Politics - CBS (national) NEWS - Covering a Gene Taylor town hall … says he’s opposed

Majority In Mississippi - To Travis Childers: Remember What Hillary Clinton Said?

FireGeneTaylor.com - Gene Taylor Voted For The $2 Billion Cash For Clunkers

Childers Chides Panolian

2009-08-07T15:27:00.004-05:00

Travis Childers tells The Panolian: "You know better than some of those things and you shouldn’t be trying to publish stuff like that."

‘Read the bill,’ advises Blue Dog congressman - The Panolian

P: During the August recess, some Democratic congressmen are hearing testy opinions from the public over your party’s proposals for healthcare reform. Are those concerns justified?

TC: Certainly the concerns are justified. Now, if a person is willing to speak to me in a civil tone, and talk about concerns they genuinely have, I want to hear from them. What I’m not interested in, and what I don’t appreciate, is when the other party is busing people to try to be disruptive. That’s what’s unnecessary. We’re trying to help the situation.

P: Are there any misconceptions about the Democrats’ healthcare plan that need to be corrected?

TC: There a lot of myths out there being spread by those who enjoy spreading falsehoods. I would urge people to go to the Web site and look at the bill. Just because someone sends you something on the Internet, that doesn’t mean that it’s true. This is only a proposed bill. There are about 10 steps before a bill will ever get to the President’s desk for his signature.

P: Can you describe what you refer to as “myths” that are being circulated?

TC: I don’t want to get off into the weeds, but (citing an example) that they’re trying to euthanize the elderly. That’s ridiculous. I’m amazed, honestly, that people would fall into a trap and believe that stuff. Please look at the bill. Do not believe mess that people send across the Internet with nothing to back it up.

P: Do you think some people are using the bill’s description of “end-of-life” issues to reach that conclusion? The Blue Dogs, in your own proposal, also refer to “end-of-life” issues. Maybe that definition deserves further explanation.

TC: Well, it probably does. But here’s the thing: we think the patients should be involved and know what their options are. We just think a patient deserves to know what their options are in their end-of-life care and, quite frankly, doctors are not compensated to sit down and answer questions right now. And they should be. A doctor’s time and advice are his stock in trade as well, and we think that should be an allowable charge for a physician to sit down with a person when the end of life is near.

P: Getting back on track about “myths” being spread, can you cite any misinformation put out by the Republicans, or conservative talk radio, that deserves to be refuted?

TC: I’m not going to address those. You know what those are. You’re an educated person. You know what every one of them are. I’m not going to address that.

P: What I’m asking is if that’s untrue, why not get the word out –

TC: Here’s the thing. All anyone has to do is pull that bill and look at it. The people of North Mississippi are smart…You know better than some of those things and you shouldn’t be trying to publish stuff like that.

McGlowan and Guns

2009-08-06T15:25:00.002-05:00

Fox News contributor Angela McGlowan (R-Oxford) who has said she is considering a run for the First Congressional District seat created a controversy when she came out for gun control on Supertalk's Paul Gallo Show.

Gallo Rewind E-mail - 8/5/09

Angela McGlowan created a firestorm this morning. I answered a listener request for update information on the "Blair-Holt Act". Senate Bill 2099 would require us to put on our 1040 federal tax form, all the guns that are in your possession. I informed the audience that the Bill still had no cosponsors and it looked as though it would go nowhere. Ms. McGlowan, a potential congressional candidate agreed with the need for gun registration. Needless to say, a vast majority disagreed.

Y'all Politics - 8/5/09

This morning, regular FOX NEWS contributor Angela McGlowan, author of Bamboozled, made an appearance on Paul Gallo's show. As someone who serves as a voice in the wilderness for African American conservatives from Mississippi, she is a sought after speaker and pundit.

In the middle of her segment this morning, the topic turned to gun control, which McGlowan basically said she was for. Specifically, she stated her support to have guns registered with the government. As someone who has been mentioned on the far periphery for a MS-01 candidacy, presumably as someone who had interest in running in a Republican primary, McGlowan certainly shot herself in the foot (pun intended). Her gun control comments lit Gallo's line up like a Christmas tree from folks across Mississippi who didn't "jeehaw" with McGlowan's take on guns. In probably one of the most "pro-gun" districts in America, those comments made on a statewide broadcast probably removed her from even the periphery of that consideration.

As one conservative pundit pointed out to YP, "it's not everyday you hear someone commit political suicide on the radio while you're eating breakfast".

Gallo Rewind E-mail - 8/6/09

Update on the Fox Commentator Angela McGlowan interview. Since the broadcast was on the road Thursday, I didn't have a lot of opportunity to address the McGlowan issue. I did receive a press release from the McGlowan camp today asking for some sort of an apology for the Gallo Rewind yesterday. After reviewing the email and the interview, here's my reply.

I both like and respect Angela for her work and the way she has represented Mississippi. As with anyone who is seriously engaged in the political process, they're will be some areas where we disagree; the gun registration as it pertains to the Blair Holt Bill is one. That said, I find many other areas where we do agree in promoting Mississippi and conservative causes.

I must honestly say that I would have responded in the same manner-and asked the same followup questions-regardless of who the guest might have been. Blair Holt's Firearm Licensing and Record of Sale Act of 2009 - Amends the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act to prohibit a person from possessing a firearm unless that person has been issued a firearm license under this Act or a state system certified under this Act and such license has not been invalidated or revoked. It also mandates much tougher license application, issuance, and renewal requirements. It also requires mandatory listing on your Tax Form of all guns in your home.

RNC, Healthcare, Taylor and Childers

2009-07-30T06:01:00.000-05:00

Majority in Mississippi - RNC Targets Childers and Taylor In Healthcare Ads

Representatives Gene Taylor and Travis Childers are among a group of 60 moderate to conservative Democrats that the RNC will target with radio and television ads urging them to oppose healthcare “reform” proposals being proposed by the Democrat leadership in Congress and the president.

David Landrum and Voter ID

2009-07-30T05:56:00.000-05:00

Because this blog followed that campaign so much in 2008:

Ipse Blogit - David Landrum Lectures Us On The Importance of Voting

Sid Salter has an interesting blog post about an email he received from David Landrum, businessman and former candidate for the Republican nomination for Mississippi's Third Congressional District seat. Seems that Mr. Landrum is raising money for a ballot initiative to amend the State Constitution to require voter identification.

Is this the same David Landrum who lost all credibility when the voting records showed that HE HADN'T VOTED AT ALL in past elections?

And then claimed that the voting records had been tampered with?

And then didn't dispute that the records his own campaign used to "prove" he had voted were false?

Yep, I think it's the same person.

Maybe Mr. Landrum isn't the best guy to take the lead in the fight for the integrity of the election rolls in Mississippi?

Gene Taylor townhall in Waynesboro

2009-07-29T06:56:00.001-05:00

Laurel Leader Call - Taylor to host Waynesboro town hall

U.S. Rep. Gene Taylor (D-Miss.) will host his annual town hall in Waynesboro from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Monday at Waynesboro City Hall, located at 714 Wayne Street. The event is free and open to the public. Beau Gex, Taylor’s chief of staff, said the congressman hosts two hall meetings each month with one in Waynesboro every year.

Gregg Harper on Fragile X on Fox

2009-07-29T06:21:00.001-05:00

Gregg Harper Discusses Fragile X Syndrome and Health Care Reform on Fox News

Childers' Opinion on Healthcare Vote: "not one I’m willing to share with you"

2009-07-29T05:48:00.000-05:00

Y'all Politics posts these two NRCC catches on Travis Childers and healthcare.

Travis Childers in TMZ-like moment - won’t answer on his Obamacare position

NRCC calls out Rep. Travis Childers (D) on Obamacare

The first post has the following video.

Nunnelee In 1

2009-07-27T16:04:00.001-05:00

Associated Press - Nunnelee readying for potential 1st District race

Republican state Sen. Alan Nunnelee of Tupelo has filed a statement of candidacy with the Federal Election Commission announcing his intention to run for Congress in Mississippi's First District.

Nunnelee is not qualifying for the 2010 election. That would come later. The FEC filing means Nunnelee is beginning to raise money.

Nunnelee has toured the north Mississippi congressional district over the past few weeks to gauge his support.

The post is now held by Democrat Travis Childers of Booneville. Childers won the post after Republican Roger Wicker was appointed to the U.S. Senate.

The 50-year-old Nunnelee is chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. He has been in the Senate since 1995.

FireGeneTaylor.com goes live

2009-07-26T13:31:00.000-05:00

Will Gene Taylor face coordinated opposition in Miss-4?

FireGeneTaylor.com is a new web site looking to do just that.

Bennie Thompson unites lobbyists and congressmen in Tunica

2009-07-26T07:24:00.002-05:00

USA Today - Fine line when lobbyists, lawmakers mingle

Others include a four-day conference next month in Tunica, Miss., organized by the Congressional Black Caucus Political Education and Leadership Institute. The agenda includes policy forums, a golf outing, and a concert by hip-hop pioneer Grandmaster Flash. A recent Congressional Black Caucus Foundation event included a golf and tennis tournament at a Virginia resort and spa.

"These corporations and lobbyists lavish favor on elected officials so they can come back later on and get access," said Bob Edgar, a former Democratic congressman from Pennsylvania who is president of the watchdog group Common Cause.

Under ethics rules passed in 2007, lobbyists must report their contributions to non-profits connected to federal lawmakers twice a year. Spending in the first half of 2009 won't become public until later this month, but interviews show the donations have continued to pour in.

The Nuclear Energy Institute, for instance, is among the sponsors of the Tunica gathering, planned for Aug. 13-16.

The event is organized by Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., a member of the Congressional Black Caucus and chairman of its leadership institute, a non-profit that helps blacks get elected.

Lanier Avant, Thompson's chief of staff, said the goal is to involve a broad group in discussions about policy and economic development. The money raised helps pay for programs, such as a "boot camp" held at Morgan State University in Baltimore for candidates and campaign aides.

"If there is a trade association or a company or labor union that wants to participate, they are welcome," he said. "If there's an individual who wants to attend, they are welcome, too."

An association of rent-to-own stores donated $50,000 worth of equipment and, in exchange, sent six of its members to a June golf and tennis tournament organized by the spouses of Black Caucus members, said Richard May of the Association of Progressive Rental Organizations.

May said the group's donations supported education programs. However, he said, "the ability to be at places where we are able to be with members or others to explain our industry and demonstrate our contribution to society is an added benefit."

Madison Lobbying and Special Olympics

2009-07-25T11:33:00.000-05:00

Madison County has hired Barbara Blackmon as a lobbyist to use her relationships with Congressman Bennie Thompson.

Congressman Gregg Harper will serve as master of ceremonies for Special Olympics Mississippi on August 22.

Taylor Opposes Obamacare; Childers 'wait and see'

2009-07-25T06:20:00.002-05:00

Clarion Ledger - Blue Dogs stall health care

Fiscally conservative House Democrats, including Mississippi's Gene Taylor and Travis Childers, thrust themselves into the middle of the health-care debate this week, blocking legislation drafted by their own party's leadership.

"Trying to help people with health-care problems is not a bad idea. The problem is as a nation we're going to have trouble paying for the promises we've already made," Taylor said.

Taylor, who met with several fellow Blue Dogs after their meeting with Obama, said he was disappointed.

"I felt that some of them were wavering, whereas a week ago they were solidly against it," said Taylor, who represents the 4th District. "The whole purpose of the Blue Dog (Coalition) is fiscal responsibility. We have to be the ones who have to ask, 'Can we afford it? Can we pay for it?' "

Taylor said he wouldn't vote for the House health-care bill as written because it doesn't go far enough to address issues such as the possibility that Medicare will run out of funds sooner than predicted.

He said the bill should change Medicare to allow the federal government to negotiate with pharmaceutical companies over drug prices, provide more incentives for seniors to rely on cheaper generic drugs and create more competition for health insurance companies. "None of them is really going after trying to contain cost," Taylor said of the House bill and a similar one in the Senate.

Childers, D-Booneville, said he's still waiting to see a final version of the bill.

"No matter how the congressman votes, he's going to do what's best for north Mississippi and not based on party affiliation," said Dana Edelstein, a spokeswoman for Childers, who represents the 1st District.

Taylor said he hasn't been approached by Republicans but would "welcome some outreach from them or anyone else who has concerns about the bill."

Childers and Taylor on Obamacare

2009-07-24T06:38:00.000-05:00

Congressman Gene Taylor's opposition to Obama's healthcare plan is based on the cost.

“I Don’t Think We Need To Make More Promises Until We Can Figure Out How We Are Going To Pay For The Ones We Have Already Made.” “Rep. Gene Taylor (D-Miss.), who also signed the ATR pledge, believes the tax provisions in the healthcare reform bill will place additional financial burdens on the country at a time when it is already overburdened. ‘We can’t afford the promises that we have already made,’ Taylor said. ‘Between the prescription drug benefit and the Medicare trust fund running out in the next seven years, I don’t think we need to make more promises until we can figure out how we are going to pay for the ones we have already made.’”

Congressman Travis Childer's opposition to Obama's healthcare plan is based on abortion.

Pro-life advocates in both political parties, as well as leading anti-abortion organizations, are calling for abortion coverage to be explicitly excluded from health-care reform legislation, with some warning the current proposals present the greatest threat to unborn children since the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision.

On June 25, 19 pro-life Democrats wrote Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi to say they would not support health-care reform "unless it explicitly excludes abortion" from any government-subsidized plan.

Among the signers were Southern Baptist congressmen Bobby Bright of Alabama, Travis Childers of Mississippi, Lincoln Davis of Tennessee and Heath Shuler of North Carolina.

Letter-to-the-Editor Questions Taylor's leadership

2009-07-23T22:44:00.000-05:00

Dan Lindsay of Hattiesbug - Letter-to-the-Editor - Hattiesburg American

When I moved to South Mississippi in 1979, I was taken aback by the leadership that this area had in Congress.

I could turn on the Sunday talk shows or the news clips and there was Trent Lott speaking his mind and providing leadership to our nation. It seemed that the people of this nation listened to the guide from South Mississippi.

I was proud that my new home took this lead in guiding our nation.

This leadership stopped about 20 years ago when a young salesman told us how he would fill those shoes and even though he was a Democrat, would remain conservative and true to South Mississippi values.

Can you believe that Gene Taylor has been in Congress for 20 years? Time sure flies when you go unnoticed.

He is such a nice boy!

In those 20 years, I can only recall one time that I saw Gene Taylor on national television. He was proudly standing next to Nancy Pelosi for whom he voted for Speaker of the House.

Conservative? Mr. Taylor claims his finest hours followed Hurricane Katrina. Bobby Jindal, our neighboring Congressman, was demanding action. Gene Taylor was excited that Nancy Pelosi came to visit. Where was the leadership?

Conservative? Mr. Taylor actually seems to avoid the media when he announced on television that he was just "too busy" to find why taxpayers are still paying today, almost four years later, for hotels and catered meals being supplied by FEMA to Gulf Coast Katrina victims.

Is that the leadership that was promised to us? Do we need to continue supporting Pelosi/Taylor?

We have heard of Blue Dog democrats showing their conservatism. Is Gene Taylor a member? If he is, he sure hasn't been "manning up" and getting in front of the national media protecting South Mississippi.

Or maybe I wasn't watching? Were you?

Tegerdine to Challenge Taylor

2009-07-20T06:11:00.000-05:00

Joe Tegerdine appears to be ready to challenge Gene Taylor in 2010. And Citizen Liberty has criticized Taylor for his recent gun issue votes.

GENE TAYLOR C RATING WITH GUN OWNERS OF AMERICA

Congressman Taylor the wrong way on this bill 4 different times; either against good amendments, to protect firearm owners on new public lands; or a yes vote for the bill as a whole. Don’t let him lie and say he is pro-gun. Congressman Taylor should be challenged.

National Parks Gun Ban (2). On March 25, 2009, the House of Representatives voted 242-180 to prevent a pro-gun amendment from being offered by Representatives Doc Hastings (R-WA) and Rob Bishop (R-UT) — an amendment that would have fully repealed the National Parks Gun ban. Without the amendment, the underlying bill, HR 146, greatly expands NPS lands, thereby expanding the gun ban. A “no” vote is rated as a pro-gun vote and is listed as a “+”.

Status Name of Legislation Date Voted Score
P National Parks Gun Ban (2) 03/25/2009 Yea Voted Wrong
P National Parks Gun Ban (3) 03/25/2009 Yea Voted Wrong
F Gun Control In The Lands Bill 03/11/2009 Yea Voted Wrong
F National Parks Gun Ban (1) 03/11/2009 Yea Voted Wrong
P Anti-gun Bailout Bill 02/13/2009 Nay Voted Right

Congressman Taylor 1 out of 5 is not a good record. Please wake up and support our constitution!

Bennie Thompson target of congressional ethics investigation

2009-07-16T20:56:00.000-05:00

WLBT - Bennie Thompson target of congressional ethics investigation

WASHINGTON, D.C. (WLBT) - The office of congressional ethics has launched an investigation into Congressman Bennie Thompson's 2008 trip to the Caribbean.

Mississippi's veteran lawmaker along with Rep. Charlie Rangel, (D - New York) and others attended privately sponsored trips in 2008 and 2007.

The watchdog committee will look into whether corporations paid for the trip which would violate house ethics rules.

Congressman Thompson has said the ethics committee approved the trip before he left.

Wednesday his chief of staff said Thompson followed the letter and spirit of the law which requires members to ask for permission to go on the trip.

New house rules bar lawmakers from accepting travel lasting more than 2 days if corporations that "employ or retain a registered lobbyist" are underwriting or organizing any part of the trip.

The trip was sponsored by the Carib News Foundation, a New York based newspaper.

Bennie Thompson's chief-of-staff defends Homeland Security oversight attempts

2009-07-16T11:53:00.002-05:00

The Center for Public Integrity - Is Congress Failing on Homeland Security Oversight?

“We spent the better part of the last two plus years fighting for more jurisdiction,” Lanier Avant, the staff director of the House Homeland Security Committee, explained recently. At the end of 2008, Representative Bennie Thompson, a Mississippi Democrat and the panel’s chair, submitted a proposal to expand the committee’s legislative jurisdiction. “The truth is that when we sat down with committee chairmen, and staff directors — there were about 15, 16 of us in a room on a December night for probably four or five hours — if you look around the room and look at other committee chairmen, you say well, this is what I want to take from you, it really doesn’t happen like that,” Avant said.

Nunnelee Links Childers to Pelosi

2009-07-15T20:15:00.000-05:00

The Hill - Democratic initiatives lead to Republican enthusiasm

Some of the GOP’s strongest recruits are running in heavily Republican districts lost in the landslides of 2006 and 2008. They include Iraq war veteran Vaughn Ward (R), running against Rep. Walt Minnick (D-Idaho); Winter Park City Commissioner Karen Diebel (R), taking on Rep. Suzanne Kosmas (D-Fla.); and state Sen. Alan Nunnelee (R), who is challenging Rep. Travis Childers (D-Miss.).

In those districts, some candidates have signaled they will use President Obama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) as national bogeymen to demonstrate their policy disagreements, even though many more conservative Democrats may have voted against controversial legislation.

“With or without Childers’s vote, [Democrats are] passing legislation because of the leadership team that he supported,” Nunnelee told The Hill this week. While Childers may not have voted with Democrats every time, Nunnelee stresses Childers’s ties to Pelosi, noting “he has voted for her 100 percent of the time on the critical vote” to make her Speaker.

Gene Taylor "would not be opposed to" campaign help from Sarah Palin

2009-07-15T12:12:00.002-05:00

When asked whether he would want outgoing Alaska Governor Sarah Palin to campaign for him, Mississippi Congressman Gene Taylor said:

“I hadn’t given it a lot of thought,” said Rep. Gene Taylor, a Blue Dog Democrat from Mississippi’s Gulf Coast, adding: “I would not be opposed to it.” But right after opening the door, Taylor quickly closed it. “I generally don’t bring in other folks to campaign for me,” he said.

So how could she be an asset?

“Like I said, I hadn’t given it a lot of thought,” Taylor reminded, allowing only that Palin is “popular” and that “people like her.”

“OK?” he asked, or pleaded, wanting to be done with the subject.

Thompson's First Pick for US Attorney Out?

2009-07-14T19:10:00.000-05:00

MainJustice.com - Candidate With Scruggs Case Ties Appears Out in Mississippi

We now have two independent sources telling us that Oxford, Miss., criminal defense lawyer Christi McCoy’s candidacy for Northern District of Mississippi U.S. Attorney appears to have run off the rails. We’re now hearing that Assistant U.S. Attorney Curtis Ivy in Oxford is the leading candidate.

McCoy and Ivy didn’t return phone calls, and a spokesman for Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), who reportedly recommended McCoy to replace Bush-appointed U.S. Attorney Jim Greenlee, won’t comment. “We have not made any of our recommendations public in order not to prejudice the White House vetting process,” Thompson’s deputy chief of staff, Karis Gutter, told me Tuesday.

After we posted this item back in May saying McCoy had hit a “snag” in the vetting process, Mississippi legal reporter Patsy Brumfield reported June 16 that Thompson had formally recommended McCoy to the White House.

Later, we learned that snag was related to McCoy’s professional connections to two figures in the famous Dickie Scruggs case.

McCoy once worked at the law firm of Joey Langston, who pleaded guilty to conspiring with Scruggs to bribe a judge. McCoy also represented former State Auditor Steve Patterson, who pleaded guilty in another Scruggs-related judge bribery case.

We also heard about something else on McCoy’s application that wasn’t quite in order, but couldn’t confirm the information.

Can Harper Investigate Thompson?

2009-07-14T15:07:00.003-05:00

Gregg Harper has been named to the House Ethics Committee.

The House Ethics Committee is investigating Bennie Thompson.

Mississippi politics just got more interesting.

Blogs Criticize Gregg Harper

2009-07-14T06:06:00.000-05:00

Thats My Congress - Gregg Harper Is A Rep Without A Cause

In the six months that the 111th Congress has been in session, Representative Harper hasn’t written a single bill to make things better for the American people. Harper hasn’t even cosponsored any bills that were written by other members of Congress.

Irregular Times - Congressman Gregg Harper Goes Back And Forth

The 2009 Award for the Most Incoherent Fourth of July Speech goes to U.S. Representative Gregg Harper, who advised people gathered yesterday at the Kemper County courthouse down in Mississippi to “go back and celebrate Independence Day and carry forward and let us know to never forget the responsibility we have to others that have gone before us.”

Bennie Thompson on Black Committee Staffers

2009-07-13T14:53:00.001-05:00

The Congressional Black Caucus conducted a suvey on the number of black staffers on U.S. House Committees.

Their conclusion: black staffers are most prevalent when African American chairmen do the hiring.

The 31-person Democratic staff of the House Agriculture Committee and the 24-person Democratic staff of the House Rules Committee, for example, each have a single black aide. Conversely, the Homeland Security and Oversight and Government Reform Committees — both run by African American chairmen — have Democratic staffs that are 45.5 percent and 44.4 percent black, respectively.

Bennie Thompson says:

“I think people tend to apply where they think the greatest opportunities lie,” Bennie Thompson, the chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, said in an interview on Thursday. “We are, in many instances, where we live, where we go to church and what our experiences have been.” Those experiences, he said, influence hiring decisions.

Mr. Thompson, who is a member of the Congressional Black Caucus and a Democrat from Mississippi, added that he believed there is a similar survey in the works looking at the administration’s cabinet secretaries.

Renters Seek Help from Bennie Thompson

2009-07-13T14:50:00.004-05:00

Tennants at the Delta Regional Housing Authority have reached out to Bennie Thomspon after seeing an increase in their rental rates for low-income housing.

Harper and Poultry; Taylor and Insurance

2009-07-08T07:19:00.000-05:00

While Mississippi’s 3rd Congressional District celebrates its new No. 1 status in poultry production, industry insiders know Mississippi State University’s support made this achievement possible. “Mississippi’s poultry producers should be proud to lead the nation,” Harper said. “We are really lucky to have a great educational support system in place for our industry because of the MSU Department of Poultry Science.”

Gene Taylor has again urged President Obama to support his multi peril insurance plan.

Travis Childers announces $820K for district projects

2009-07-07T10:18:00.000-05:00

Travis Childers announces $820,718 in community facility projects for his district:

City of Eupora, Road Repairs, loan $274,300; grant $147,700; total $422,000
Choctaw County Board of Supervisors, Backhoe, grant $44,880
City of Sardis, City Maintenance Service Truck, grant $4,900
Town of Ackerman, Tractor, grant $25,190
Town of Oakland, Tractor, grant $37,085
Town of Vardaman, City Maintenance Service Truck, grant $7,923
Town of Walnut, City Maintenance Service Truck, grant $12,130
United Community Action Committee, Inc., School Bus, grant $81,906
Benton County Board of Supervisors, Fire Truck and Equipment, grant $120,000
Town of Tishomingo, Police car, grant $19,704
Cayce-Marshall County VFD, Fire Truck, grant $45,000

Bennie Thompson on Slavery Apology, Taxpayer Trips

2009-07-06T08:15:00.001-05:00

Bennie Thompson continues to stand against an apology for slavery as currently worded, "Respectfully, all of us [Congressional Black Caucus] are members of the NAACP, probably. But the vote is vested with us, members of Congress. If they bring the resolution up and it still reads as it does, I'm going to vote against it."

The Wall Street Journal reports that Congress has increased spending on taxpayer-financed trips in recent years, including a Homeland Security trip led by Bennie Thompson to Brazil, Argentina, Peru, and Panama. "This trip further solidified the message that homeland security does not begin or end at our borders," says Mr. Thompson's spokeswoman.

Gene Taylor: "Spotlight on Jackson County"

2009-07-05T15:13:00.000-05:00

Gene Taylor, "the most handsome man in Washington," makes an appearance on "Spotlight on Jackson County" on WKFK-7.

Gene Taylor supports $550 billion defense bill

2009-07-04T17:10:00.000-05:00

Sun Herald - Taylor supports defense bill

U.S. Rep. Gene Taylor, D-Bay St. Louis, is a booster for the $550 billion defense authorization bill the House approved last week and for good reason — it includes billions for Navy shipbuilding that will help the Gulf Coast.

But the bill also has a provision with a distinctly local flavor — an investigation into the Armed Forces Retirement Home beachfront land deal that involves Gulfport Mayor Brent Warr.

The bill makes a major step in getting the Navy to a fleet size of 313 by authorizing funds for 18 ships — eight new ships; three under construction; and seven in the pipeline. The fleet is now at 287 ships.

Taylor is chairman of the House Armed Services Committee’s Seapower and Expeditionary Forces Subcommittee and has been concerned about building up the size of the Navy’s fleet.

Angela McGlowan in 1st District?

2009-07-03T10:12:00.001-05:00

Majority in Mississippi speculates that Fox News analyst Angela McGlowan might run against Travis Childers and notes she will be speaking at Fourth of July TEA PArty events in Hernando and Tupelo. State Senator Merle Flowers, who announced he is not running for Congress, will also be speaking.

Reparations, Abortion Funds, an Ethics Investigation, Walking the Plank and more

2009-07-01T12:54:00.005-05:00

WND claims Bennie Thompson is using "reparations" code words when discussing an American apology for slavery. Thompson said, "I feel that some method other than just an apology should be made – people should be whole."

Gene Taylor and Travis Childers reject Obamacare if it includes abortion funding.

Former Bennie Thompson aide Trina George will serve as Mississippi state director for USDA Rural Development. George has worked in Thompson's office since 1994 as a special projects coordinator and office manager.

Travis Childers files a bill to suspend the ban on "real estate agents, lenders and others from directly hiring appraisers to prevent influencing their appraisals and result in more accurate home values."

Gene Taylor's thoughts on the climate bill: "A lot of people walked the plank on a bill that will never become law." And Taylor's opinion of Republican Majority Leader John Boehner's speech against cap and trade: "If I were the average Joe listening to this at home I’d think, ‘That was a pretty good speech.'"

Majority in Mississippi posts this about Travis Childers and the climate bill: Rep Travis Childers (D-Fence)

WLBT reports Bennie Thompson (D-Mississippi) and four other Democratic lawmakers are under investigation for possibly receiving improper gifts. Respond Mississippi continues following the story here, here, here, and here.

Homeland Security Chairman Bennie Thompson Calls to End "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"

2009-06-24T07:06:00.001-05:00

In a joint letter to President Barack Obama, House Homeland Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson calls for the end of Clinton's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" homosexual policy in the U.S. Armed Forces.

Although we are confident that you will remain true to your campaign promise to end Don´t Ask, Don´t Tell, our LGBT [gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT)] service members and our country´s national security will continue to suffer if initial action is delayed until 2010 or 2011...This bilateral strategy would allow our openly gay and lesbian service members to continue serving our country and demonstrate our nation´s lasting commitment to justice and equality for all...we stand ready to assist you in repealing this dishonorable and debilitating law as soon as possible, and in restoring justice and equality in our Armed Forces.

MiM: Where is Childers, Taylor on Cap and Trade?

2009-06-23T21:01:00.000-05:00

Majority in Mississippi asks "Where Do Taylor and Childers Stand on Cap and Trade Taxes?" Gene Taylor appears solidly opposed.

Nunnelee and Childers look to 2010

2009-06-23T15:53:00.003-05:00

Politics Magazine - June 2009

Despite Childers' conservative stances on abortion and gun rights (he makes some of the more moderate members of the caucus look like lefties), he should get a run for his money next year...Childers pollster John Anzalone thinks despite the favorable territory, challengers are reluctant. "[Childers] defies party labels and that's always been our message," says Anzalone. "So even though it's a really tough district [for Democrats], he has run strong in more than one election. That should give even strong Republican challengers pause." Last cycle, the DCCC spent more than a million dollars to help Childers win the seat...observers are convinced natinonal Dems will open their pockets again to keep Childers in the House. "They have an investment in him," says Anzalone, "and they are going to protect that investment."

Nunnelee makes tour stop in Southaven - DeSoto Times Tribune

Sen. Alan Nunnelee, R-Tupelo, ended a four-day "listening tour" of north Mississippi on Monday, making an appearance in Southaven before more than 60 DeSoto Countians.

Elected to the state Senate in 1994 and current chair of its Appropriations Committee, Nunnelee focused his comments during the event on his disappointments in decisions recently made in Washington.

"What they have done is engage in the crime of generational theft," he said about Congress' approval of the economic stimulus package.

Nunnelee, who is considering a run for the First Congressional District seat currently held by Democrat Travis Childers, also addressed state spending during Monday's event.

Nunnelee said state legislators have taken an approach to budget based on existing revenue rather than spending requests.

"That's what you expect of your state government," he said.

Flowers Out

2009-06-18T12:02:00.003-05:00

Roll Call - GOP Looks to Avoid Primary in Race Against Childers (HT: Y'all)

After the GOP’s stunning 2008 special election loss in Mississippi’s Tupelo- and Southaven-based 1st district, on Wednesday the party took a big step toward avoiding another divisive regional primary fight in the Magnolia State.

State Sen. Merle Flowers, who hails from Southaven and was in Washington, D.C., earlier this month meeting with National Republican Congressional Committee officials, has decided to forgo a Congressional bid. His decision clears a major obstacle from the path of state Sen. Alan Nunnelee (R), who is from Tupelo and is now the clear favorite of party leaders among the announced candidates.

Still, Flowers’ decision doesn’t exactly gift-wrap the primary for Nunnelee. There is no lack of excitement in GOP circles to challenge Childers, and there’s talk of other potential GOP candidates getting into the race before the state’s January filing deadline. Former Eupora Mayor Henry Ross (R) has signaled his interest in seeking the nomination, and there is speculation about interest from political commentator Angela McGlowan, millionaire businessman Sam Haskell and former NFL star Wesley Walls.

No Twitter or Facebook for Gene Taylor

2009-06-15T16:26:00.000-05:00

Gene Taylor is doing YouTube, but not Facebook or Twitter.

Some lawmakers, including Rep. Gene Taylor, a Democrat from Mississippi, have no plans to turn to Facebook or Twitter. Instead, Taylor has ramped up his Web site and opened a YouTube account.

Taylor also meets with constituents twice a month at town hall meetings in his district.

"It may be old-fashioned, but it's extremely effective," said Ana Rosato, a spokeswoman for Taylor.

I guess we'll see no Twitter updates from The Tune Inn.

Gene Taylor and Military Spending

2009-06-15T16:25:00.000-05:00

The Hill - Wrangling starts over presidential chopper

Rep. Gene Taylor (D-Miss.), who chairs the Armed Services Seapower and Expeditionary Forces subcommittee, told The Hill that lawmakers have to tackle too many Pentagon procurement challenges in the fiscal 2010 budget and a new presidential chopper does not appear to be a priority for Obama.

“If the president can wait, I can wait,” Taylor said in a short interview. “We have to put the money where the priorities are.”

The House Armed Services Committee is starting its 2010 budget approval process Thursday. Taylor’s subcommittee is slated to mark up its portion of the defense authorization bill Friday. His panel has jurisdiction over Navy programs. The Navy runs the presidential helicopter program.

Taylor’s position on the new presidential helicopter, also known as VH-71, is likely to spark some intense debate on the committee and could place him at odds with defense appropriators who are weighing the possibility of salvaging the VH-71.

However, Taylor indicated he would favor either an existing military helicopter or one in development for the president. Additionally, he supports spending money on upgrading the existing fleet of decades-old presidential helicopters to enable them to fly for as many as 10 more years.

Government Executive - House panel reverses cuts in aircraft programs

At Friday's Seapower Subcommittee markup, lawmakers responded to a Government Accountability Office warning in March that aircraft carrier catapult development costs were exceeding its budget and that one portion of the testing program is two years behind its original schedule.

Navy officials are committed to the electromagnetic system, which has been touted as more powerful and less stressful for the rest of the ship.

If the new catapult doesn't work, the ship essentially will be "a $7 billion helicopter carrier," said Seapower Subcommittee Chairman Gene Taylor, D-Miss. That would leave the Navy with just nine fully functional flattops.

His panel also took aim at the Navy's management of the troubled Littoral Combat Ship program, though members essentially agreed to relax a $460 million per ship cost cap by removing government costs from cap calculations.

Each LCS -- the Navy wants 55 -- originally was to cost no more than $220 million. The ships are smaller and faster than the Navy's $1 billion destroyers, designed for close-to-shore missions like mine-hunting and counterterrorism.

"I will not propose one penny more," Taylor said. The markup gives contractors Lockheed Martin and General Dynamics a "take it or leave it" offer to continue building the ships, he said. If they drop out of the program, the markup authorizes the Navy to put together a proposal for other contractors to bid on.

"A lot of people would jump at the chance to build that ship," at $460 million apiece, Taylor insisted.

Navy Times - Capitol Hill opens door for Super Hornets

Lawmakers on Capitol Hill might force the Navy to buy more Boeing-made F/A-18 Super Hornets, a move that would override the Defense Department’s formal budget request in an effort to fill the Navy’s so-called “fighter gap.”

As the annual defense authorization bill begins to make its way through Congress, Rep. Gene Taylor (D-Miss.) on Friday inserted into the bill a clause — known as a “mark” — that gives the Navy permission to enter into a new multi-year contract with Boeing.

“The mark recognizes, even if the secretary of defense does not, that the Navy is facing an acute shortage of strike fighters to fill air wings of our carriers in the coming decade,” Taylor said at a meeting of the seapower subcommittee.

“This mark clearly indicates that the Navy should build more of these planes instead of trying to extend the life of the older and less capable F/A18A thru D Hornets. It makes absolutely no sense to me that the department would pay $26 million to extend the flying life of an older plane by just 1,500 hours, when for $50 million they could buy a brand new, more capable plane that is good for 8,000 hours,” Taylor said in a statement.

The Navy is facing a projected shortfall in fighter jets as the older F/A-18 Hornets wear out faster than the new F-35 Lightening II Joint Strike Fighter is arriving to replace them.

The Defense Department formally requested to lower the number of Super Hornets purchased in fiscal year 2010, and Navy officials have officially voiced strong support for the F-35C, which is scheduled to join the fleet in 2015.

A Navy spokesman on Friday declined to comment on the move, which could significantly reshape the fighter fleet over the next decade.

Thompson Nominates US Attorneys

2009-06-04T10:14:00.003-05:00

According to the Sun Herald, Bennie Thompson has submitted his picks for US Attorney. Travis Childers says he made a recommendation as well. Gene Taylor did not make any recommendations even for South Mississippi.

The Sun Herald - Nominations for state attorney posts under way

U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson’s office has made nominations for U.S. attorney positions in Mississippi and awaits action from President Barack Obama, who must fill a large number of open slots.

Currently, none of the rumored candidates for the Southern District is from South Mississippi. The appointments of the prosecutors, which the president makes and the Senate confirms, only began within the last few weeks.

Thompson, who is close to Obama and endorsed his candidacy, is making most of the nominations for Mississippi.

Democratic U.S. Rep. Travis Childers’ office confirmed he has also made a recommendation, but declined to discuss the details.

U.S. Rep Gene Taylor has not made any recommendations.

Thompson’s office wouldn’t provide any details of who was recommended. The recommendations were made to the president between January and March. For now, they wait on word from Washington, where those recommendations are being vetted.

“We are just waiting on the administration to fully vet whatever candidates (Obama) is considering and we’ll know something when they say something,” said Lanier Avant, Thompson’s chief of staff. “We are very early in the process. Historically you will see that it takes a few months for all these appointments to be made, not just in judiciary but in other parts of the government.”

Gene Taylor's Town Hall

2009-06-03T11:30:00.000-05:00

Picayune Item - Taylor answers questions at Town Hall Meeting

We don’t want to borrow money from the Chinese to buy weapons from the Chinese to defend ourselves against the Chinese, said Rep. Gene Taylor D-Miss., during a town hall meeting last night. “You got to have an industrial base to defend yourself,” he said. This statement was in response to a question asked by an attendee on his views on the General Motors Corp. bailout.

For those in attendance concerned about the current administration’s budget, which Taylor’s slide showed has increased the national debt by $629 billion, he said that he also did not believe that President Obama was doing his part.

“I’m doing my part,” Taylor said. He said that everyone needed to do a sliver of their part to make the difference.

Gregg Harper's Leadership PAC

2009-06-03T10:16:00.000-05:00

Roll Call - Leadership PACs Grow Popular for Freshmen

Five months into the 111th Congress, the newest Members of the House have been particularly active in starting leadership PACs.

According to a search of Federal Election Commission filings, five Members who were elected in November already have their own leadership committees. That’s up from just two freshmen who had them at the same point of the 110th Congress.

The five freshmen who have already opened committees include four Republicans — Reps. Gregg Harper (Miss.), Duncan Hunter (Calif.), Tom McClintock (Calif.) and Aaron Schock (Ill.) — as well as Democratic Rep. Glenn Nye (Va.).

Harper, who served as the Rankin County GOP chairman in Mississippi before being elected, opened GreggPAC in mid- October of last year and ended up distributing more than $40,000 from that committee by Dec. 31.

The Mississippi Congressman ended up making contributions to 30 Republicans who ran for Congress in 2008, 21 of whom won.

“By forming the PAC ... six to eight weeks out from the November election it gave us the opportunity to help build the party and help some of the other incoming freshmen,” Harper said.

“I spent the years working in the trenches doing grass-roots campaigns,” he added. “And if you can do anything, whether it’s legwork or financially, to help good folks get elected, that’s something you want to do.”

Latest Chapter in Bennie Thompson's Caribbean Travels

2009-06-02T07:23:00.000-05:00

Respond Mississippi - House Ethics Committee Investigates Bennie Thompson Caribbean Trip

The Hill reports the House Ethics Committee is investigating a Caribbean Trip made by several Congressmen including Bennie Thompson that may have violated House Ethics Rules against corporate sponsorship.

We've been talking about this for a while here, starting with a report from Kingfish, then this story about how the a complaint had been filed with the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) for a formal review of the sponsorship by Citigroup of the Caribbean junket, and then a piece from - believe it or not - the Clarion Ledger. A New York paper described the trip as "shameful" and the Madison County Journal made connections between Bennie Thompson's Caribbean trips and Allen Stanford. Still, the story has yet to get much attention in Mississippi.

Gregg Harper: Cap and Trade "reckless"

2009-06-02T06:19:00.000-05:00

McClatchy - Climate and energy bill faces hurdles when Congress returns

"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," said Rep. Gregg Harper, R-Miss.

The National Republican Congressional Committee is pushing hard. In recent weeks it sent news releases to media in the congressional districts of 12 committee Democrats.

"There is mounting evidence that under the Democrats' National Energy Tax plan utility rates will skyrocket and American families and businesses will suffer as a result," it said.

Travis Childers vists hospitals over Memorial Weekend

2009-06-01T22:10:00.001-05:00

Dems make recess push over energy, healthcare agenda - The Hill

For a man who isn’t sick, Rep. Travis Childers (D-Miss.) spent a lot of time in hospitals last week.

As part of his four-day healthcare tour, he visited three hospitals and attended an AARP meeting in Tupelo, Miss.

Vulnerable members like Childers left for the Memorial Day recess with the strong urging of leaders to focus on issues like healthcare and energy in order to lay the groundwork for a long summer of debate about how to rein in climate change and overhaul the nation’s healthcare system.

But he wasn’t the only one. Seeking to turn the focus of Congress away from the debate over CIA briefings to their ambitious policy agenda, House Democrats held almost 300 events on healthcare and energy during the recess.

Gene Taylor Cosponsors "Gulf Coast Civic Works Act"

2009-06-01T17:17:00.000-05:00

McClatchy - Gulf Coast activists protest at FEMA headquarters

Trinh Le, a community development coordinator from Biloxi, Miss., said, "If you drive around Biloxi, you see vacant lots and empty building." Residents face high insurance rates, she said, and "Vietnamese shrimpers are having a hard time making ends meet."

Gulfport, Miss., resident Derrick Evans said he came to Washington out of solidarity with volunteers from Turkey Creek, a historic African American community.

"There is an affordable housing crisis of epic proportions," he said. "A dry roof over a toxic trailer beats no roof at all."

The groups support the Gulf Coast Civic Works Act, a bill co-sponsored by several members, including Reps. Gene Taylor, D-Miss., Charlie Melancon, D-La., and Rep. Rodney Alexander, R-La., that would create 100,000 jobs in the region through construction and development projects.

The bill failed to get any traction in the last congressional session. It was re-introduced in the House in early May.

Thompson: Vote Perkins Cause God Don't Like Ugly

2009-05-30T11:29:00.000-05:00

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

2009-05-27T09:08:00.003-05:00

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

2009-05-25T13:29:00.001-05:00

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

2009-05-23T00:24:00.003-05:00

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

2009-05-20T09:40:00.001-05:00

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

2009-05-20T09:04:00.000-05:00

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

2009-05-20T08:30:00.000-05:00

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

2009-05-19T23:34:00.001-05:00

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

2009-05-13T14:49:00.001-05:00

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

2009-05-13T13:09:00.001-05:00

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."