An article published in Politico this morning caught my eye.  In light of the bad press Mississippi has received lately, this story did not do anything to mitigate any criticism.

In his 18-year-long Congressional career, Senator Roger Wicker has had one driving passion: cutting spending.  He rode the 1994 wave of anti-big spending crusaders into Washington with the objective of reducing federal spending.  While that is a legitimate position to have, I cannot understand how he can, with a straight face, maintain his support for federal spending projects in Mississippi while voting repeatedly to stop federal spending for projects in Mississippi.

There is no question that federal spending is an issue which deserves our full attention and action in Congress.  With the sequester set to take effect in a matter of days, the senator’s flip flopping is the type of thing that makes voters cynical about Washington.  I wish the senator would make up his mind whether he wants to say one thing and do another or be consistent in his beliefs.

Rankin County Democrats wish to express our disappointment that the Republican delegation from Rankin County spoke and voted unanimously in favor of a bill that keeps jobs and economic opportunity from coming to Rankin County.  They voted against Rankin County jobs not once but twice.

Earlier today, the Republican-led Mississippi House of Representatives passed House Bill 1337.  This piece of legislation allows the state to purchase property in Hinds County to house the state Department of Revenue.

When a request was made to determine how much the bill would cost taxpayers, that request was refused.  The bill gives a blank check on behalf of hardworking taxpayers to politically-connected special interests in Hinds County.  They hope that the legislature provides no oversight and will be trusted to do what’s best; in essence, we have to pass the bill to know how much it will cost taxpayers.

An amendment was offered to move the state Department of Revenue to Rankin County instead.  The Chairman of the Public Property Committee, Rankin County’s own Representative Tom Weathersby, led the charge to defeat the amendment.

“It is a sad day when our own delegation would rather support the patronage agenda of  Speaker Gunn than fight for Rankin County jobs,” argued Atlee Breland of the Rankin County Democratic Executive Committee.  “At a time when our neighbors in Rankin County are still looking for work, it is troubling that our legislators will fight for jobs and economic development for the Speaker’s home district in Hinds County.”

The Rankin County Democratic Executive Committee hopes that Rankin County natives Lt. Governor Tate Reeves and Governor Phil Bryant will show better judgment and fight to bring these desperately-needed jobs to Rankin County.

January has been a busy and exciting month for Democrats across the nation.  Here in Rankin County, we have been very hard at work!

On January 8, an election was held to fill the vacancy in House District 59.  Our friend, Benny Hubbard, fought against tremendous odds in one of the reddest districts in the state.  Though he came up short, his impressive vote total shows that we can – and will – compete in Rankin County.  Thanks to everyone who made phone calls, knocked on doors, and made a contribution.  Your support is greatly appreciated.

Our friends at the Mississippi Democratic Trust recently launched their new website!  It has features used in national campaigns to help better inform and organize voters and volunteers.  The Trust recognizes the dedication of Rankin Democrats, and they established a web page to help us organize better!  You can check out our page here.  Be sure to sign up!

A couple of weeks ago, legislation was filed by Republican Senator Nancy Collins of Tupelo which would fundamentally change the way we know PERS today.  Rankin Democrats jumped at the chance to help spread the word about this break of public trust by the Republicans.  If you have not had a chance to read and sign the petition calling upon the Republicans to keep their word, you can do so here.

The Rankin County Board of Supervisors found themselves in a sticky situation over redistricting.  For months, we had been told a public hearing was imminent.  Little did we know that the public hearing and the vote to approve the map took place in the middle of December without the public being aware the hearing was scheduled.

We seized the opportunity to add much-needed transparency to what has been a behind-closed-doors process.  Rankin Democrats issued a press release to local media outlets, and our story was picked up by the Clarion-Ledger and WJTV.  In case you missed it, you can read the Clarion-Ledger story here.

We forced the Board to admit they made an error in not publicizing the hearing.  As a result, the Board rescinded their vote and scheduled a public hearing on Friday, February 15, at the Board of Supervisors Boardroom.  It will begin at 9:00am.  Please make plans to attend, if you are available.  You can find a copy of the proposed redistricting map here.

There are a few easy things you can do before we finish the month:

• Forward this email to your network.  Help spread the word about Rankin County Democrats!
• Invite a friend to join us for our monthly breakfast at the Flowood Corner Bakery next to Dick’s Sporting Goods.  It will be Saturday, February 2, at 8:30am.  All are welcome!
• Please donate $5, 10, or even $20 to our county party.  It will go a long way in helping us broaden our reach throughout the county.  You can find our donation page here.

Be sure to follow us on Twitter and Facebook.  Stay tuned to our website for news and event updates.

It is no mystery that Governor Phil Bryant is not the most eloquent speaker in Mississippi political history.  Whenever you see him on tv, you can see one of the Governor’s aides close by just in case the questions get too dicey or the Governor’s foot comes dangerously close to his mouth. Well, Phil Bryant has struck again, and again, and for good measure, he gives us one more.

Recently, Governor Bryant had an interview with Kaiser Health News to lay out his position on why he is opposed to expanding Medicaid and discuss the fight against his fellow Republican, Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney, on creating the state insurance market.  Here is a snippet from the interview:

BRYANT: I would rather pay extra to Blue Cross [to help cover uncompensated costs for the uninsured], rather than have to raise taxes to pay for additional Medicaid recipients. Medicaid recipients multiply their visits to a physician. It’s clear once someone goes on Medicaid, the number of times they go to a physician doubles, quadruples.

KHN: Some experts may argue people new to Medicaid have many health issues they need to address.

BRYANT: I make the argument that it’s free. It’s free and you have nothing else to do.

KHN: Are there any positive benefits to people being on Medicaid?

BRYANT: Medicaid was meant to be a temporary [stop]gap for providing you medical treatment while you are looking for a job. Now we are saying, you can have a job and still receive Medicaid. So we have changed the whole dynamic. There is very little incentive for those 940,000 people on Medicaid to find a better job, or to go back to school, or to get [into] a workforce training program because they say: Look, if I go over $33,000,  [I] will lose Medicaid. There is no one who doesn’t have health care in America. No one.  Now, they may end up going to the emergency room. There are better ways to deal with people that need health care than this massive new program.

What the Governor fails to admit, even with the mounds of evidence staring him in the face, is that hospitals all across the state are struggling financially as they bear the cost of uncompensated care. I’m sure they would appreciate the generosity of the Governor to pay a little extra, but that will not solve the problem.

Why is the Governor so concerned about individuals increasing the number of times he or she goes to the doctor.  Guess what Medicaid covers. Dental visits, mental health checkups, the list goes on.  Isn’t the purpose of Medicaid to help persons obtain a minimum level of health insurance to help them seek preventive services in order to stay out of the emergency room?  Those who gain access to Medicaid are more likely to go to the doctor rather than stay at home and miss work or school because they are ill.

The expansion of Medicaid covers individuals who earn too much to qualify under the current eligibility threshold and earn too little to qualify for the tax credits provided for in the Affordable Care Act. But, look at what the Governor said. He argues that no one goes without health care in this country. How can he say that with a straight face while thousands of our fellow Mississippians still do not have health insurance access and can’t afford to go to the doctor?

How on earth can the Governor argue that Medicaid is free?! For someone who has served so many years in state government, he seems awfully aloof as to how it actually works.  Medicaid is certainly not free, and he knows better.  He has argued for months that an expansion of Medicaid that is allowed in the Affordable Care Act would weigh down the state budget by forcing us to raise taxes or cut services. It gets back into a point made earlier that there is also a cost to the state with people out of work due to illness, hospitals on the brink of closure due to uncompensated care, and the taxpayers who ultimately bear the cost of paying for individuals who do not have health insurance coverage. How can those without health insurance coverage go to the emergency room for health care, as the Governor suggests, if there is no hospital to treat them?

What is even more discouraging is that the Governor continues to be more concerned with appealing to his Tea Party Republican friends rather than finding consensus to tackle the health care crisis in our state. He cannot continue shaking his fist at the federal government while taking federal assistance with his other hand.

We urge the Governor to think before he speaks and when in doubt, don’t.

The Republican legislature is at it again!  This time they are going after PERS, the Public Employee Retirement System!

The Republicans want to break their promise to the countless teachers, firefighters, police officers, and other state employees who work tirelessly to improve Mississippi’s quality of life.  These public servants are our family members, neighbors, and our friends sitting next to us at church.  This bill will impact someone you know!

Click here to tell the Republicans you will not tolerate their betrayal of the public’s trust.

A bill recently introduced by Republican Senator Nancy Collins of Tupelo would change the way we know PERS today by damaging the 13th check, freezing cost of living adjustments, and putting future decisions affecting PERS in the hands of Phil Bryant’s and Tate Reeves’s political cronies.

This cannot stand, and we need your help to fight back!

Click here to sign the petition telling the Republicans to keep their promise to everyone who has served the people of Mississippi.

Forward this email to your network and alert them to this issue!  Have them sign the petition!

Be sure to follow us on Twitter and Facebook.  Check out our website for news and event updates.  Donate online today!

As we conclude 2012, we want to thank you for all the work you put into supporting the Democratic Party.  There were many successes across the country last month, but much more work remains.  We are building an infrastructure to last here in Mississippi, so let’s keep up the momentum!

Please join us on Saturday, January 5, for our monthly breakfast at the Corner Bakery in Flowood.  We will get underway at 8:30am.  It will give us an opportunity to plan activities during the legislative session which starts on January 8.

The Rankin County Democratic Executive Committee will hold its quarterly meeting on Thursday, January 10, at the Flowood Library.  It will begin at 6:00pm.  This meeting will be a strategy developing session to map out our goals and action plans for the next three years and beyond.  All are welcome to attend!

An important reminder: Rankin County will hold a special election to fill the vacancy in House District 59 on Tuesday, January 8.  Polls will be open from 7:00am until 7:00pm.  If you or someone you know is unsure whether they live in the district, you can go to the District Lookup link on the Circuit Clerk’s website to fill in your address information or you may call the Circuit Clerk at 601-825-1466.

We hope you will vote for our friend Benny Hubbard.  Benny is an officer in the United States Armed Forces, a small business owner, and a proud supporter of public education.  Rankin County needs and deserves a leader like Benny fighting for us.  Please call, email, text, and visit with your family and friends to encourage them to vote for Benny Hubbard on Tuesday, January 8.

The county supervisors redistricting public hearing has not been scheduled.  Please stay tuned for further updates.

Have a safe and fun New Years!  We look forward to seeing you soon!

Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter.  Check out our website for news and event updates.  You can also donate online!

We are deeply saddened to hear of the recent passing of Sen. Alice Harden (D-Jackson). Sen Harden, the first black woman in the Mississippi Senate, was a fearless champion of public education and a strong advocate for women, children, and families.

Sen. Harden will lie in repose at the Capitol on Thursday before her memorial services, and we encourage all Rankin Democrats to attend and express your respects and condolences for one of the most dedicated members of our state’s government.

We’d like to share a tribute to Sen. Harden from Rickey Cole, the chair of the Mississippi Democrats:

When I received news of the passing of Senator Alice Harden, it was not a surprise. Her lengthy illness had taken its inevitable toll, and we all feared that the end was near. Nevertheless, her passing has caused me to reflect upon the life of this remarkable lady whom I have known and respected for so many years.

First and foremost, Sen. Harden was a teacher. As a kid still in high school, I watched from afar as she helped lead the fight for respect for public school teachers in the 1980’s. Even years after leaving the classroom, she never lost her teacher’s demeanor. In almost every conversation we ever had, she would begin a point by saying “What you need to understand is…” and would then lay out an explanation of the question at hand the brought clarity to every listener.

In 1988, I was part of a coalition of Democrats from around the state who elected Sen. Harden to serve as our Democratic National Committeewoman, a post in which she served with distinction for a dozen years. In 1998, when I was Democratic National Committeeman, Sen. Harden and I went to the Democratic national headquarters and pushed hard for national support for Ronnie Shows in his first race for Congress. Alice would not take no for an answer, and we extracted a financial commitment that let to the Congressman’s election.

All throughout the Barbour years, Senator Harden continued to fight hard against longer and longer odds for public education, families and children and the progressive agenda. Though her health declined, her resolve never wavered. She was a warrior to the end.

In nearly thirty years in Mississippi politics, I have seen a lot of politicians come and go. When it comes to effectiveness, consistency and determination, Senator Alice Harden ranks high among the best of them. I shall miss her.

The Rankin County Democrats invite you to celebrate the holidays with us!

We’re hosting our annual Holiday Reception on Thursday, December 6, at 6:00 PM at the Flowood Library. We’ll have delicious refreshments and a silent auction of Obama/Biden 2012 campaign memorabilia. We’re very pleased to have Attorney General Jim Hood as our special guest speaker. There’s no cost to attend, and we encourage you to bring your family and friends!

On Saturday, December 8, at 2:00 PM, the Federation of Democratic Women will host our annual Holiday Luncheon at Piccadilly Cafeteria on I-55 Frontage Road. All Federation members are encouraged to attend with their families, and new members are welcomed!

Greetings! We hope you enjoyed spending the Thanksgiving holiday with your loved ones. As we wrap up November, there are many things to be thankful for and much work ahead for the Mississippi Democratic Party. Without further ado, to the news…

The Rankin County Board of Supervisors delayed action on its redistricting plan. We expected the Board to have a public hearing on the map earlier this week, but issues regarding the reservoir overlay district complicated the schedule. Once a hearing is scheduled on the redistricting plan, we will let you know.

Rankin Democrats are co-hosting a candidate and campaign committee organization training on Tuesday, December 4, at 6:00pm. The event will be held at the Hilton Hotel on County Line Road in Jackson. This will be a productive meeting to discuss fundraising strategies, volunteer recruiting, social media platforms, and how to effectively use our Vote Builder database. As we build a party for the future, these tools are critical in mobilizing our grassroots. State Party Chairman Rickey Cole will be the keynote speaker. Several Democratic elected officials are expected to be in attendance. You can find more details on our website.

Please make every effort to attend our holiday reception on Thursday, December 6, at 6:00pm. The event will be held at the Flowood Library. With the Republicans taking near-total control of state government to a presidential election where the President and Democrats won from coast to coast, 2012 has been a year for the books. Our party on Thursday is a chance for Rankin Democrats and our friends to celebrate our wins, realize how far we’ve come, and to enjoy one another’s company. There is no cost to attend this event, but any donations will be appreciated. We will have a silent auction where items from the 2012 Democratic National Convention are the prizes! Please bring your friends and family for this fun evening. Attorney General Jim Hood will be our special guest. Let us honor his hard work by having a good showing for this event. You can find more details on our website.

The 2012 presidential campaign may have concluded, but that is no reason to become complacent. Our work as Mississippi Democrats should not – and will not – stop. We have let our guard down for too long, and we see the result of inaction: Republicans controlling nearly all of our state’s government.

The stakes are too high to simply vote and not stay active and engage others. It is up to us as leaders in the Democratic Party to register our friends to vote, help recruit and support candidates, knock on doors, raise funds that will be spent in Mississippi, and then we turn out the vote.

The outlook for Mississippi Democrats is very bright. If the President can increase his vote turnout levels from four years ago in 31 Rankin County precincts, there is no hill too steep for us to climb.

If campaigning is like farming, the more seeds we plant and water, the larger our crop will be. Let our harvest be bountiful!

Make sure to follow us on Twitter and Facebook. You can also donate online.

We look forward to seeing you soon!

Last week, I had the honor of meeting civil rights icon and fellow Ole Miss alumni, James Meredith.  I must admit that shaking his hand was a surreal experience.  Here I was having a conversation with a man who 50 years ago had been physically and emotionally assaulted for fighting injustice in Mississippi.  Our chat was brief, but it will last with me for the rest of my life.

When Meredith was my age, he and many other patriots fought so that black men and women would be able to attend events with white men and women.  It seems like such a foreign concept today, but it is a time period forever engraved in our history.  Meredith’s leadership, like that of Medgar Evers and William Winter, are what Mississippi starves for these days.  We need leaders with big personalities, big ideas, and big goals to fight injustice in our state.

A few days ago, Governor Phil Bryant (R) told a crowd that on Election Day, it wouldn’t be a problem if voters voluntarily produced an ID when they show up to the polls.  Well, Governor, it is a problem.  Governor Bryant is setting a very dangerous precedent for his own political gain.  Regardless of political affiliation, one could argue that confusing voters about what is or is not required of them could be a form of voter intimidation.  This is not what our great republic stands for.  With a wink and a nod, the Governor has set in motion a potential nightmare on Election Day if poll workers across the state begin asking for an ID when it is not required.  (Side note: the law that currently exists does not require a voter to produce an ID in order to vote unless the voter mailed in his or her voter registration form and it is their first time to vote.)

Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann (R) likes to remind us that voters can get FREE IDs, FREE phone numbers to call to obtain a FREE ID, all this FREE stuff!  It’s amazing that Hosemann’s friends in the Tea Party haven’t protested all these free giveaways at taxpayers’ expense.  But why would they?  Hosemann is doing their bidding.

We can debate the pros and cons of the Voter ID ballot initiative until Doomsday.  One side argues that it’s about ballot integrity.  The other side argues it is voter intimidation.  Why not take it one step further?  A man for whom I have great respect asked this question all the time when I took his course at Ole Miss: What’s really going on?

It all boils down to this, and it’s a very simple calculation: Voter ID affects older voters and minority voters the most.  Guess what Mississippi has a lot of?  Who do some of these voters historically support?  Rather than debate Democrats on the issues, Republicans are putting up roadblocks to keep Democratic supporters from voting in the first place.  Without Democrats voting in stronger numbers, Republicans have a higher probability of winning.  Checkmate.

The battles to fight injustice continue and come in different varieties.  Our challenge is to ask the question: What’s really going on?