Here at YallPolitics, we’re normally pretty focused, but since we are now entering the summer season, hopefully things will settle down a bit. Here are just a few random thoughts on topics of interest.
The Legislature and the Budget
A perfect storm has been brewing fueled by (1) lower tax revenue receipts, (2) Prez-O’s stimulus money and (3) the Legislature punting on Medicaid for the past 4 years.
There’s not just a whole lot we can do about #1 in the short term. The hospital assessment currently slated at $94 million would help plug some of the gap for #1 and #3.
As for #2, a lot of Speaker McCoy’s people in the House want to spend every stimulus dollar we get ASAP. Conservatives in the House and Senate are trying to make those funds last, and not fully raiding the stimulus and rainy day fund. Even though the economic ground has shifted substantially, loyalists to Speaker McCoy seem not to want to adjust government spending and services to the new reality.
The bottom line is that if both sides can’t come to an agreement it will be (you guessed it) Special Session time. If I were Governor Haley Barbour, I’d call a Special Session of the Legislature EVERY SINGLE DAY (weekends included). It’s also time to deal with Medicaid once and for all and that needs to be a non-negotiable part of the discussion. I would absolutely use the power of the Special Session to break the backs of legislators until they relent and repent. It’s time to get the knuckleheads thinking correctly and handling business in the time allotted. Parenthetically, that kind of thinking is probably precisely why I will never hold elective office.
2010 and 2011
There is a ton of behind the scenes jockeying right now for the 2010 and 2011 election seasons.
Only one candidate has officially thrown his hat in the ring for anything statewide and that’s State Senate Pro-Tem Billy Hewes for the Lt. Governor spot for 2011. There are several other potential candidates, and a couple of them who have been mentioned for that and other statewide offices like State Treasurer Tate Reeves and State Auditor Stacey Pickering and possibly even Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann can afford to “lurk” given their high name ID and money in the bank. Lesser known challengers probably need to officially get in sooner rather than later.
For now, it looks like Lt. Governor Phil Bryant will be a formidable candidate for Governor and 2011, and depending on who challenges him for that slot, the rest of the field will shape up by the end of the 2010 Legislative Session.
However, all of this behind-the-scenes jockeying brings up an interesting point . . . candidates define races. One of the most important battles fought in any campaign is who actually runs and who doesn’t. Look for this dynamic to play out in a certain Republican challenge in MS-01 for US Rep. Travis Childers seat. The first real announced Republican candidate in that race will likely be able to define it.
Oh, that crazy AG
I have gotten a ton of emails and questions about “what now” on our joint request with WLBT, WLOX and WDAM to seek all sealed records in State Farm vs. Hood to be released. Our request along with the parties’ responses are in front of US District Court Judge David Bramlette. Though he is not on any particular timetable, he has a reputation for “not screwing around” with stuff on his desk. We are hoping to hear his decision rather soon, and will let you know the results and where we will take it from there.
On a related note, our good friend Tom Freeland dug out a hugely interesting tidbit on the MS PERS shareholder lawsuit cottage industry. US District Court Judge Jed Rakoff from New York opined . . .
The Court in not unaware of disturbing allegations that state entities not unlike MissPERS [the Mississippi state retirement system], and law firms not unlike Bernstein Litowitz, have engaged in “pay-for-play” arrangements, by which such an entity will not even consider hiring such a law firm unless the law firm has contributed to the campaign fund of the relevant state elected official, such as the attorney general. See, e.g. John C. Coffee, Jr., ‘Pay-to-Play’ Reform: What, How, and Why, New York Law Journal, May 21, 2009, p. 5. But no such allegations are presently before the Court in this case.
Well, there’s something you don’t see everyday. I guess he felt like he just needed to slip that comment about Attorneys General and the shareholder lawyers that love them in the middle of his opinion. This New York firm named Bernstein Litowitz was chosen over a Mississippi firm called Pond, Gadow and Tyler that actually brought the AG this particular lawsuit opportunity. Unfortunately, we haven’t had time to find out whether or not Pond Gadow had contributed to General Hood’s 2007 campaign.
However, from the YallPolitics memory division . . .
After receiving $25,000 from partners with Bernstein, Litowitz, Berger & Grossman of New York on February 14, 16, & 17th, Jim Hood signed over to them 4 seperate state contracts a week later on February 21 and March 14, 2006. The same firm then gave another series of contributions on April 16, 24, 25, & 26, which followed with another contract soon thereafter on May 17, 2006.
Bernstein Litowitz Berger & Grossman New York NY 02/16/06 $5,000.00
Bernstein Litowitz Berger & Grossman Bronxville NY 02/17/06 $5,000.00
Bernstein Litowitz Berger & Grossman New Orleans LA 02/17/06 $5,000.00
Bernstein Litowitz Berger & Grossman Bronxville NY 02/14/06 $5,000.00
Bernstein Litowitz Berger & Grossman New York NY 04/25/07 $1,000.00
Bernstein Litowitz Berger & Grossman New York NY 04/25/07 $1,000.00
Bernstein Litowitz Berger & Grossman Rancho Santa CA 02/16/06 $5,000.00
Bernstein Litowitz Berger & Grossman New York NY 04/16/07 $1,000.00
Bernstein Litowitz Berger & Grossman New York NY 04/26/07 $1,000.00
Bernstein Litowitz Berger & Grossman New York NY 04/24/07 $2,500.00
Magnolia Tribune
