While the political infighting in the Mississippi House of Representatives has drawn most of the attention during the opening weeks of the 2008 session of the Legislature, the state Senate has been quietly but effectively getting the people’s business done.
Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant has brought to the leadership of the Senate a collaborative style of management that places a high value on seeking consensus. Make no mistake, Bryant’s choices of committee chairmen and his committee assignments have rewarded his fellow Republicans.
But Bryant was careful to allow the Democrats who hold a 28 to 24 majority in the Senate a reasonable measure of power both in chairmanships and in committee assignments – although some Democrats complain that Bryant’s committee assignments stacked Republican majorities on key committees chaired by Democrats.
Magnolia Tribune
