Hood takes another bruise from Barbour

The Leader Call, 4/14/8

Public bickering between Republican Gov. Haley Barbour and Democrat Attorney General Jim Hood may sound familiar to many Mississippians.

Just over a decade ago, the same kind of sparring took place between Gov. Kirk Fordice and Attorney General Mike Moore.

Much of the fighting was partisan politics. Fordice was a Republican and Moore was a Democrat. It came to a head, though, when Moore filed what would become a landmark lawsuit against the tobacco industry.

The discord between Barbour and Hood manifested itself again this month after the governor vetoed a bill that had been pushed by Hood. The legislation would have required the state attorney general to keep a list of toys with lead paint or other dangerous defects.