Rhetoric hides real reason for party switch

Editorials

December 19, 2012

Rhetoric hides real reason for party switch

By The Greenwood Commonwealth, Greenwood Miss. Associated Press Wed Dec 19, 2012, 06:55 PM CST

GREENWOOD, Miss. — Mississippi’s speaker of the House, Philip Gunn, called the latest legislative defection to his political party a “godly man, a Christian man.”

That may be so, but state Rep. Jason White’s decision to become a Republican has little or nothing to do with religion. It has everything to do with legislative redistricting and political opportunism.

A year ago, White ran as a Democrat for the open seat in House District 48, which includes parts of Holmes and Carroll counties. At the time of that election, the district had a majority-black voting-age population of roughly 44 percent. That demographic, given the historical propensity of blacks to vote for Democrats, generally assured that the only way White, an attorney from West, could win was by putting a “D” next to his name.

Earlier this year, though, the Legislature redrew its district lines to account for population shifts as reflected in the 2010 census. Now White is in a district that is about 28 percent black — much more friendly confines for the Republican Party.

White said he never felt comfortable with the Democratic Party after arriving in Jackson. But what he obviously wasn’t comfortable with is the new shape of his district. Not only is it less Democratic, but also it will pit White in 2015 against veteran Democratic lawmaker Bennett Malone of Carthage, assuming they both decide to run for re-election. ...

White’s odds of pulling the upset are better in a general election than a Democratic primary. He’s expecting that, by adding to the Republicans’ majority in the House, they will return the favor by helping to beef up his legislative resume and his campaign treasury over the next few years.

The payoff started this week with the welcoming party the GOP put on for White and Gunn’s gushing compliments.

The speaker was absolutely correct when he said White “has convictions.” One of those is the conviction to do whatever it takes to get elected.

Online:

http://www.gwcommonwealth.com/

Text Only

Editorials

Bryant tantrum on education major standards was misguided
By the (McComb) Enterprise-Journal:
That was quite a tantrum Gov. Phil Bryant pitched at the College Board recently, criticizing its members for voicing concerns about his effort to increase standards for education majors.

March 29, 2013
Legislature to City Hall not sure move
Five Mississippi House members are running for mayor this year, and while name recognition might provide some advantage, lawmakers have had a mixed record in trying to go from the Capitol to City Hall.

March 27, 2013
Nation’s economy improving, but state’s still lagging
By The (Jackson) Clarion-Ledger
It’s been a long time coming, but finally there are bright economic signs nationally that seem here to stay a while.

March 23, 2013
Armed teachers dangerous idea for school safety
By (Columbus) The Commercial Dispatch:
The Mississippi House of Representatives sent back to the Senate a bill that would arm teachers.
Before sending it over, the House, by a 70-46 vote, amended the Senate’s bill in two major ways. Actually, the House did more than amend it. They neutered it.

March 22, 2013
Not every bill grabs headlines
The first two bills that Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant signed during the 2013 legislative session dealt with money.
House Bill 19 gave more cash to the agency that coordinates a program to put all emergency offices under the same digital communications system. House Bill 20 moved money from the car tag reduction fund to the Budget Contingency Fund. Lawmakers use the contingency fund to cobble together cash for the overall state budget.

March 20, 2013
Transparency key to ‘best watchdogs’ oversight
By The (Tupelo) Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal:
Rep. Jerry Turner’s effort to require open meetings of water associations and notice of meetings in which members of boards of directors will be elected remains alive in the Legislature. It should be enacted in the interests of transparency in the running of the nonprofit associations providing water for a significant percentage of Mississippi’s population.

March 16, 2013
Miss. makes news, good news, this time
By The (Columbus) Commercial Dispatch:
Generally, when Mississippi makes national news — especially of late — it is not the sort of notoriety we welcome. ...
So March 3, when Mississippi again made national news, we braced ourselves for the embarrassment that was sure to follow.
Only this time, it wasn’t anything to be embarrassed about.
Imagine that.

March 15, 2013
Ag’s legal expenses top $2.4M for year
An ongoing lawsuit challenging Mississippi’s foster care system has cost the state at least $4.4 million in legal expenses and fees since 2008.
Expenses continue to rise as the plaintiffs and the state work toward a telephone status conference scheduled for April 25 with U.S. District Judge Tom S. Lee. The price tag this year is $1.35 million.

March 13, 2013
Ag’s legal expenses top $2.4M for year
An ongoing lawsuit challenging Mississippi’s foster care system has cost the state at least $4.4 million in legal expenses and fees since 2008.

March 13, 2013
Higher pay best way to recruit better teachers
By The (McComb) Enterprise-Journal:
A centerpiece of Gov. Phil Bryant’s proposals to improve education in Mississippi is raising the requirements for college students to major in the education field.

March 9, 2013
More Editorials Headlines

Editorials

Search Results

Rhetoric hides real reason for party switch

Site Map

Contact Us