New GOP Rep. Rogers known as a swing vote
Party switching is nothing new. Politicians have been doing it for numerous years for various reasons. Most often, perhaps always, the switch in Mississippi is from Democrat to Republican.
But in other parts of the country, the switch has been known to go the opposite way. See Arlen Specter in Pennsylvania for an example.
So before Mississippi Democrats get too mad about the recent changes, they should remember that they most likely were happy when Specter switched, giving them a larger majority in the U.S. Senate.
The recent group of switchers makes the party breakdown in the Mississippi House as close as it has been since the 1800s.
Now there are 68 Democrats to 53 Republicans with once vacancy that will be filled by a Republican.
Republicans are excited about the gains they have made in the House, and they have a reason to be. But, in truth, the switches that have occurred thus far do little – if anything – to change the dynamics of the House.
NEMS360
1/27/11
Magnolia Tribune
