The Clarion-Ledger Editorial, 1/11/8
Gov. Haley Barbour, who chants his no-new-taxes mantra as though it came from Holy Writ, finds himself in company now with two other Republicans in the news recently who have records of supporting tax raises for necessary causes.
U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, the ex-1st District congressman Barbour last week appointed as Trent Lott’s interim successor pending a special election, served for eight years in the state Senate prior to being elected to Congress.
As a state legislator, Wicker in 1992 voted to increase the state sales tax from 6 to 7 cents to meet a public education funding crisis. More importantly, Wicker was one of four Senate Republicans who voted to override GOP Gov. Kirk Fordice’s veto of the tax hike bill, allowing it to become law.