Barbour in 2012?

I recently heard a report that our beloved governor is on a swing through Iowa and New Hampshire….sounds like he is setting the stage for a run in 2012.

Back in the early days of the primaries, I suggested that the GOP candidate might consider Barbour as a VP candidate….boy, was I laughed at by many.  But once again I say he has the credentials for a run….head of the RNC, been a governor, a successful lobbyist, etc….he has the experience and the qualifications…so why not?

Since he cannot run for governor again……he has done as much damage as he could to the working population of the state and has helped bankrupt a state…they all sound very good for a Repub candidate.  He is also a Southerner which is another leading qualification for a run since the only support that the GOP really has is from elderly, white Southerners.

All in all….this makes him a pretty good prospect fort the party of “NO”.

Will Energy Costs Go Up?

If you listen to Repubs, it will.  They pick some obtuese figure to use and scare the public into submission.

Recently Gov. Barbour made this observation:

“Instead of a policy of more American energy, the proposed Obama policy is to establish a cap and trade tax, increase taxes on oil and gas companies by $81 billion and create a requirement that a certain percentage of electricity be generated with renewable fuels … a so called renewable portfolio standard,” Barbour said. “These policies have in common that they would all inevitably and substantially increase the cost of energy to the American families and American businesses, especially manufacturing.”

This should not effect manufacturing in the state….why?….they are given a free ride at every turn….so Barbour BS concerning industry is just so much crap.  Barbour is just repeating the playbook and daily talking pointys issued for Repubs to use in their count-offensive against “clean air”.

The Barbours have been champions of eliminating litter in Mississippi…good idea…but some how clean air means NOTHING to them.  Eliminating litter would involve getting free labor out of the the residents…..eliminating air pollution would require the govs donor base having to do the work…something we cannot have (that is sarcasm, in case you missed it).

State “Biggies” Under The Gun On Donations

Democratic Attorney General Jim Hood accepted $75,000 in 2007 from a Texas attorney poised to earn a paycheck if the state is successful in its case against drug companies, according to a review of campaign finance records. Republican Gov. Haley Barbour took nearly the same amount in 2006 and 2007 from Hurricane Katrina contractors that have repeatedly won work from agencies he oversees.

Both insist that political considerations don’t factor into the selection process. And the contributions are perfectly legal in Mississippi, where there are reporting laws but few limits on donations.

Ethics watchdogs say the state needs tougher laws to prevent the appearances of conflict. But political analysts blame a privately funded campaign finance system that has become much more expensive.

Perfectly legal in Mississippi?  Well, yes that is true and it is the big lobbyist like Barbour that makes sure that such underhanded tactics stay legal.

Mississippians get the best politician that corporate money can buy!

Eminent Domain Is Dead

At least for now.  Gov. Barbour has vetoed the bill, where will the legislature go from here?

The bill would not have restricted the government’s use of eminent domain for public use, including drainage, utilities or colleges and universities.

Barbour has said the bill is “fatally flawed,” and that property owners can go to court to fight government seizures, however the bill passed the Republican-majority Senate unanimously, with only three House votes against it. That high rate of approval among the legislature may hand Barbour his first veto override, as the Jackson Free Press reported earlier this month,

“The U.S. Supreme Court says they can take your property and turn it over to a developer and use the commercial property to get more taxes out of it, but eminent domain should be used only when it’s absolutely necessary,” said Public Property Committee Chairman Jack Gordon, D-Okolona, when the bill was sent to the governor earlier this month. “I heard (Barbour) may veto it, but it’s a House bill and I think the House would override it, and I’m sure the Senate would override it on that issue too, because it passed with an overwhelming vote.”

Barbour Delivers GOP Response

“Hi, I’m Haley Barbour. It’s budget time for a lot of states, and we governors, Republicans and Democrats alike, are working to balance our budgets.

“Though the stimulus package spends an incredible amount of money, with some of it going to state governments, the mandates about how we have to spend much of that money, plus the severe drop in most states’ revenue, mean all governors are preparing a wide variety of significant spending cuts to balance our budgets.

“With the federal government it’s just the opposite: President Obama’s budget spends too much, taxes too much and borrows too much.

“It’s breathtaking: The new Administration’s budget for next year alone calls for a one point two TRILLION dollar deficit … nearly triple any past federal deficit.

“While families are cutting back, President Obama has proposed a massive government spending spree. It reminds me of how one of our old senators used to joke about the federal budget. He said it was like a newborn baby: insatiable appetite at one end and total irresponsibility at the other.  (there is that good old boy sense of humor)

“This astronomical record federal deficit would be accompanied by the largest tax increases in history. But trillions of new taxes won’t nearly cover all the new spending, so our children and grandchildren will be saddled with trillions more in debt.

“And this budget blowout comes on top of the debt for the $787 billion Obama stimulus package, the $410 billion omnibus appropriations bill passed by Congress this month, the $300 billion the Federal Reserve said this week it would spend to buy U.S. government bonds, and the $750 billion the Fed announced just Wednesday it would spend to buy mortgage-backed securities. Trillions and trillions in new spending mean record tax increases and record government debt.

“The cap and trade tax and other energy taxes will drive up both electricity and gasoline prices for families and for businesses. And while Wall Street gets trillions to bail them out, small businesses will get stuck with not only income tax increases but also enormous cost increases for energy: for electricity and gasoline. Families will get clobbered, too.

“Don’t take my word for it; listen to what Barack Obama himself told The San Francisco Chronicle last year, and I quote: Under my plan of cap and trade, electricity rates would necessarily skyrocket.

“And President Obama was right. His energy taxes, like the cap and trade tax, will drive energy costs for American families through the roof.

“In this budget season we have choices. While states are controlling spending and balancing their budgets, the Obama budget spends too much, taxes too much and borrows too much. It’s not the right choice for America.”

Why is the GOP using governors who will let their people suffer by refusing stim money as spokesmen for the party?  IMO,  just shows the party for what it really is–a party of rich white guys with a redneck mentality.  No one in the GOP has looked to the future in the past, but now all of a sudden it is a priority…..they are so worried about what will happen in the future…too bad they did not worry about that when they were helping create the problem we have now….huh?

Screw Mississippi’s Unemployed!

Gov. Haley Barbour said Wednesday that if the state accepts economic stimulus money related to unemployment benefits, it would cost business owners an additional $16 million each year once the federal government’s money is spent.

Barbour spoke to the Gulfport Business Council and after the meeting said there are too many strings attached to some of President Barack Obama’s economic stimulus package, particularly unemployment benefits.

Mississippi stands to receive about $2.5 billion in stimulus money, and about $50 million of that is for unemployment benefits. Mississippi requires people who get these benefits to be willing and able to work a full-time job.

But, according to the rules associated with the stimulus money, the state would have to give benefits to anyone who is unemployed, whether or not they are able to work full time.

If Mississippi accepts that portion of the money, the program would have to continue once the federal funds are spent. That would mean raising unemployment taxes on businesses by 20 percent each year, and Barbour said he’s not willing to do that.

Yep…why take the cash for unemployment?  Mississippi does not need the cash, its unemplyed are well cared for by the state.  (that is sarcasm)  We already know that hungry children are of NO concern to Barbour and his ilk…as long as business can have their tax incentives then all is right in the state.

I Told You So!

Gov. Haley Barbour said today he doesn’t want to accept part of President Barack Obama’s stimulus money because it would mean raising unemployment taxes.

Barbour spoke to the Gulfport Business Council and after the meeting said he will not accept about $50 million of the stimulus money related to unemployment benefits.

If a person is unemployed, he can get unemployment benefits if he is willing and able to work full time. The stimulus money requires that everyone who is unemployed receive benefits, not just people who can work full time.

Barbour said that would have to continue even after the stimulus money is gone. That would require the state to raise $16 million each year to continue paying those benefits.

That means that if you were hurt on the job and cannot work full time…then you do not deserve benefits….workers?  Who needs stinking workers? (sarcasm)

God forbid that the state actually do anything to help its residents.

Is this what you elected a governor to do?  If it is then this state is in sad shape and will NEVER amount to anything.

Barbour And The Obama-Bucks

As you have heard…several Southern governors are considering not accepting some or all of the new stimulus money. In these critical times why would anyone even consider such a proposal?

Glad you asked.

Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, a former chairman of the Republican National Committee, attacked the Obama stimulus plan on Saturday by saying, “It’s filled with social policy and costs too much. You could create just as many jobs for about half as much money.”

That is right, “It is full of social policy” and we in Mississippi realize that has NO place in state government, at least in Mississippi.  Mississippi is for business not for its people.

Personally, I would not want Barbour to break a fine tradition in the state of totally ignoring the plight of its people, by accepting money that would improve their lives, at least for awhile.  I mean in a state that treats its workers with respect and compassion, why would it need any help from Washington?  (I case you missed it…that was total sarcasm)

The really sad part of this saga is that the voter in Mississippi does this to themselves…they continue to elect lying moron after lying moron…and then they bitch loudly when their lives go to hell…..maybe they should spend more time in school so they could read a newspaper and then they may be  wise enough to make an accurate decision in the elections……Just a thought.

State Of The State

Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour used his State of the State speech Tuesday night to urge lawmakers to be cautious with state spending during what could be the “longest and deepest recession” in decades.

The current state budget is about $5 billion, but Barbour said revenues will fall short by between $175 million and $310 million before the fiscal year ends June 30. He said he will make a second round of budget cuts today, having already trimmed $42 million in November.

Barbour, a Republican, told lawmakers what he said to a business group last week — the upcoming cuts will affect Medicaid and public schools, two big-ticket items exempted from the first cuts.

Barbour is beginning his sixth year as governor. He praised lawmakers Tuesday for having taken steps in the past few years to improve the state’s financial condition, including ensuring the rainy-day fund built up a balance of $362 million. The fund provides a cushion for government spending, and Barbour said it needs to last at least four years because of difficult times ahead.

He repeated his call for a hospital tax to shore up the anemic Medicaid budget, which has about a $90 million shortfall before any cuts are made. Lawmakers rejected a hospital tax in 2008 after arguments about it became entangled with a separate proposal to increase cigarette taxes.

State of the State addresses are frequently raucous events, with legislators interrupting the governor repeatedly to applaud. The mood in the standing-room-only House chamber was more subdued Tuesday as Barbour outlined a litany of economic challenges.

Barbour reminded lawmakers that during his 2008 State of the State address he said there were “storm clouds on the horizon” because of the economy.

“The ‘storm clouds’ of the then-approaching recession arrived in Mississippi later than the rest of the country because our economic growth of the last three or four years still had more momentum than many other places,” Barbour said Tuesday.

How fortunate for him…..yes the recession was late arriving…but that is not to say the Mississippi is better off then the rest of the country…..for one thing the state is on the bottom or near the bottom on so many things, health, poverty, teen pregnancies, etc.  The business climate may be all that but the people are suffering and no where is anyone caring…..especially in Jackson and the reps we send to act on our behalf…..time for a change….I have called for that many many times and yet the same clones appear in Jackson year after year.

Toyota To Honor Obligations

I recently asked since Toyota had put the Prius factory on hold, how would Mississippi recover some of the cash thrown at them by the Governor.  And the answer is according to Barbour.

Governor Haley Barbour announced today Toyota will honor financial commitments made to the state and local entities even though the company has delayed start of production at its Prius plant, which is under construction in Blue Springs. “Toyota has told me it will cover its portion of debt service for the state and local entities, and will work with suppliers to ensure they do likewise. Toyota doesn’t want the state or local taxpayers to suffer financially because of this delay, and that is an approach I genuinely appreciate,” Governor Barbour said. These costs were anticipated when the Blue Springs plant was expected to begin production in 2010. Toyota’s initial payment of more than $10 million for debt service will be made in April 2010.

He said Toyota also will honor a commitment the company made when the Blue Springs plant was announced to provide $5 million a year for 10 years through the Tupelo-based CREATE Foundation for local education. The initial $5 million payment will be made in 2010.