Gallo Notes: August 4th, 2008
Beam me up Scotty. Where is former Senator Cuevas when you need him? The man who slipped by Cuevas was trial lawyer David Baria, and Monday he may have cost the state’s taxpayers a lot of money for absolutely no other reason than pure politics.
Here are ten very, very basic points from the G.R.I.T. reports:
1-The Gov. added this to the Call to rectify a certification needed by the Health Lab.
2-The legislation would re-title the Lab and meet National Certification guidelines.
3-This was nothing more than “pushing paper” without any additional dollars.
4-As bizarre as he may seem, I’m told that the full House and Senate INCLUDING SENATOR DAVID BARIA VOTED FOR THE LEGISLATION..THEN—
5-Baria held the Bill he’d just voted FOR on a Motion to Reconsider. When you ask numerous folks, the only reason given is that Baria wanted to keep the Senate at the Capitol in hopes his allies in the House would have time to (believe it or not) push through the tobacco tax yet again.
6-Baria was informed that Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant intended to Sine Die, but decided to stand by his motion. The House left. The Senate left. The legislation died. Politics played. Voters screwed!
7-The Gov. has stated he doesn’t plan to call another Special Session just to solve the Health Lab. If he does, that’s tens of thousands of taxpayers’ dollars that Baria must answer for.
8- If the state has to hire lawyers to fight for Certification, taxpayers will again have to cough up the money, but at least Senator Baria will be generating revenue for lawyers.
9-Maybe Scotty needs to start printing those bumper stickers and yard signs now.
10-A very displeased Speaker may have been counseled by several members of the Black Caucus to give it up. With the Senate Sine Die, the House members could have been looking at getting another paycut.
JOIN ME ON TUESDAY’S SHOW FOR AN INSIDE LOOK WITH SENATORS TERRY BURTON AND JACK GORDON. ALSO, UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH FORMER INSURANCE COMMISSIONER GEORGE DALE.
Magnolia Tribune
