Clout helps bring dollars to state

The Hattiesburg American, 12/23/7

Chalk it up to seniority and political clout. That’s what Mississippi’s congressional delegation, including U.S. Sens. Thad Cochran and Trent Lott and U.S. Reps. Chip Pickering and Gene Taylor brought to the federal spending bill approved last week.

The $555 billion omnibus bill provides financing for much of federal government next year. It also includes millions of dollars for Mississippi and the Pine Belt.

Cochran, the top Republican on the Senate Appropriations Committee, was able to steer many of the Mississippi projects into the bill.

But we should be concerned that we are losing some of our clout in Washington with Lott leaving the Senate this week after 35 years and Pickering stepping down next year.