Jackson — After winning the lieutenant governor’s race, Republican Phil Bryant reiterated his pledge to work closely with Gov. Haley Barbour and promised to make voter identification one of his priorities next legislative session.
Bryant, who defeated Democratic state Rep. Jamie Franks of Mooreville on Tuesday, will preside over the 52-member Senate as lieutenant governor, where he’ll appoint lawmakers to lead key committees that will decide the fate of bills.
“For too long we have talked about voter ID. It is time that we do it, and I pledge to that in the Senate in the first 30 days,” Bryant said during his victory party at the Marriott hotel in downtown Jackson.
A federal judge ruled this summer that the state must adopt a party registration system for the 2009 elections and require potential voters to show a photo ID at the polls. The ruling also ordered the Legislature to enact a voter identification law. The ruling by U.S. District Judge W. Allen Pepper has been appealed to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
“We’re going to get a real voter ID program,” Bryant said.
Bryant, 52, served five years in the state House and has been state auditor since 1996. He entered the race against Franks with an edge — name recognition.
Franks, 34, who was first elected to the state House in 1995, made a tax cut proposal one of the main topics in the race since the lieutenant governor could influence how far legislation could advance in the next session.
While Franks said he wanted to cut the state’s 7 percent grocery tax in half and increase the excise tax on cigarettes, Bryant said he was against the plan without a study to support its feasibility.
The tax swap proposal was vetoed twice by Barbour in 2006 and didn’t make it out of a state Senate committee this year. The proposal will likely be presented again when the 2008 Legislature convenes in January.
Barbour has said that he would review the state’s antiquated tax code with the goal of reducing taxes — an initiative Bryant said he supported.
In advertisements and campaign literature, Bryant and the Mississippi Republican Party portrayed Franks as a liberal trial lawyer who had close connections to high-profile national Democrats, such as presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton.
Franks pointed to his voting record in the House to illustrate his conservative values. He had supported bans on partial birth abortions and homosexual adoptions and is anti-abortion.
“I’m surprised that things turned out the way they did,” Franks said Tuesday. “I know the people of Mississippi wanted tax relief for working families.”
Even with the loss, Franks gained ground, said Marty Wiseman, director of the Stennis Institute of Government at Mississippi State University.
“He proved himself to be a very viable candidate,” Wiseman said. “He’s an up and comer in the state Democratic Party. It’s a party badly in need of great new talent to bring everybody back under the tin and he fits the bill perfectly.”
Bryant succeeds Republican Lt. Gov. Amy Tuck, who did not run for a third time because of term limits. Over the past four years, the Senate has supported many of Barbour’s legislative proposals and could be poised to do so again under Bryant’s leadership.
Local News
Bryant defeats Franks in lieutenant governor’s race
- Local News
-
-
MRI INSTALLED
This $1.2 million Magnetic Resonance Imaging equipment was installed at the new location of Highland Community Hospital.
-
Hall suspected of robbery after escaping
A man who escaped from jail after attending his father’s wake is suspected of having carried out an armed robbery on the Texas-Arkansas state line. Johnny Hall escaped from Mississippi Department of Corrections custody on Friday while attending his father’s wake in Picayune.
-
City Hall expansion groundbreaking held
A groundbreaking ceremony was held Tuesday at the construction site for the expansion of the historic Picayune City Hall. “You can see our future when you look down Goodyear Boulevard. You see Chimney Square, our high school, The Link at First Baptist Church, Jack Read Park and then our historic City Hall.
-
PRC athletic director says he’ll recommend random drug testing
Pearl River Central athletic director Andy Kivlan told the school board at its Monday night meeting that he will most likely recommend that students participating in extracurricular activities, including band and ROTC, be subject to random drug screening.
-
Supervisors adopt resolution encouraging more economic development in South Miss.
Following a short presentation by State Sen. Tony Smith (R-Picayune), the board of supervisors adopted on Monday a resolution encouraging state officials and agencies to exercise “fairness and parity” regarding location of new industries in Mississippi.
-
MDEQ wants comprehensive waste disposal plan from county
The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality has told Pearl River County it wants a comprehensive waste disposal plan for the county. Supervisors indicated at their Monday meeting that they are not happy with the request.
-
Police: Powell planned deadly fire for some time
Josh Powell planned the deadly house fire that killed him and his young sons for some time, dropping toys at charities and sending final emails to multiple acquaintances before the blaze, authorities said Monday.
-
Bar fight ends in man being run over
A bar fight Friday morning resulted in one man being run over by the other with a pickup truck.
The fight was reported to Picayune Police officers Friday morning at about 1:44 at the American Legion Hall on Union School Road, said Capt. Chad Dorn. -
Arson suspected at possible murder site
Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department investigators suspect arson was involved in a structure fire that occurred at a home where James Raine was killed last year.
The home at 24 Emma Lane was the scene of what investigators believe was the murder of the 37-year-old Raine in October, 2011. -
Inmate escapes leaving father’s wake
Johnny Hall Jr., 30, escaped from Mississippi Department of Corrections custody Friday afternoon while attending his father’s wake in Picayune.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Video of Ga. Man Who Killed Girl Released
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart
Nevada Highway Patrol, City Settle Beating Case
White House Attacks Romney on Birth Control
Homs Bombardment Continues, Global Outcry Grows
Mo. Teen Gets Life Sentence for Killing Girl, 9
Lower-hassle Screening to Be Tested at Airports
Raw Video: Dog Rescued From Icy Colo. Water
Helmet Camera Captures Calif. Fire Rescue
Worker Tells 911: Powell 'exploded the House'
Triple Win: Santorum Takes Minn., Mo., Colo.
Injured Marine Inspired by Homecoming
No Rape Charges Against Son of NYPD Commissioner
Egypt's Ruling Generals Play Risky Game With US
Former Komen Exec Defends Funding Cut
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
Calif. Gay Marriage Ban Ruled Unconstitutional
Jury Selection for Ex-UVa Athlete Enters 2nd Day
