Updates from throughout Mississippi and past for the week of January thirtieth. On this version, we are saying goodbye to a legislative legend, deal with a kerfuffle with Gov. Reeves, cowl payments which are nonetheless alive (and a few that died), plus MORE.

Farewell Truthful Girl

State Rep. Alyce G. Clarke (D-Jackson) introduced from the properly of the Home flooring this week that she was retiring after a legislative profession that spanned 4 a long time. Rep. Clarke drew robust reward from her colleagues on either side of the aisle. It was properly deserved. She was the primary African American girl elected to serve in both chamber of the Legislature. A fierce and chronic advocate, Clarke concurrently demonstrated nice love and respect for these round her. Speaker Philip Gunn spoke of Clarke’s “dignity” and “class.” A lot respect for her.

The sixth annual Mississippi Prime 50 Occasion honoring essentially the most influential individuals within the state is approaching on February twenty third. Rep. Clarke was one in all two Corridor of Fame inductees in 2022.

The Dude Abides?

Yesterday, former College of Mississippi Chancellor Dan Jones joined Mississippi Senate and Home Democrats to name on the state to develop Medicaid. Dr. Jones was Chancellor in Oxford till early 2015, when the IHL Board made the choice to not renew his contract. In a Mississippi At present interview, Jones recounted for the primary time an alleged dialog with then-Lt. Governor Tate Reeves. Based on Jones, Reeves admitted to him in 2015 that Medicaid growth can be good for the state, however that Reeves was not going to assist it as a result of it was not politically advantageous. 

In court docket, this is able to be referred to as rumour. Journalists aren’t required to abide by the principles of proof in reporting. However I feel it might be honest to have some skepticism about whether or not a notoriously guarded Reeves would have nonchalantly admitted to an outgoing Chancellor a dangerous political place, that earlier than yesterday, nobody had ever claimed to have heard from his lips. The timing and circumstances are fascinating, too, provided that it comes 8 years after it was supposedly mentioned, 8 years after Jones was dismissed by the state, and at the side of a Medicaid growth rally. 

The Governor took to Twitter, calling Jones “this dude” and saying it was “clearly a lie.” Within the cult basic The Massive Lebowski “the dude abides.” Dan Jones apparently abideth not. 

Foolish Season Has Arrived

Wednesday was the qualifying deadline to run for workplace in Mississippi. As Frank Corder mentioned on our candidate tracker, essentially the most fascinating races are on the high of the ticket beginning with a brewing Reeves-Presley showdown. Reeves didn’t draw a severe main opponent, regardless of appreciable hypothesis he would. He opens with $7.9 million within the financial institution, greater than ten instances Presley’s cash-on-hand. I’ve mentioned it elsewhere, although, Presley is a severe candidate. He might not have Jim Hood’s statewide identify ID and we are going to see if he can increase cash, however he’s a greater pure candidate than Hood. 

Lt. Governor Delbert Hosemann drew a Republican main opponent in conservative firebrand Chris McDaniel. Hosemann begins the presumptive favourite with mainly 5 instances the amount of money within the financial institution and a number of statewide election wins underneath his belt–one thing that has eluded McDaniel. The one different mildly fascinating race is on the Secretary of State publish the place Incumbent Republican Michael Watson has drawn Democrat Shuwaski Younger as an opponent. I count on Watson to dispatch Younger with relative ease, however Younger is a minimum of a official candidate. The rest of the down ticket officeholders will simply keep their seats, both as a result of they’re unopposed or as a result of they’ve drawn unknowns as opponents.

In each statewide races and the Legislature, the actual story is the Democratic Get together’s incapability to subject candidates. So few Democrats certified for the Legislature that even when they received each single race through which they fielded a candidate, they might not have a majority. 

A phrase of warning for Republicans. First, this twenty first Century dominance is as a lot a byproduct of  candidates who’ve an old school Democratic worldview realizing that they wanted to run Republican to win as it’s some constant ideology. Second, dominance can breed mental laziness. In environments in which there’s actual competitors, individuals have to know what they consider, why they consider it, and have the ability to defend it. Complacency can yield individuals who both can not or is not going to defend conservative thought in public, which bodes poorly long-term. 

How Bout that Hamilton 68?

Talking of complacency, an unbelievable story broke on the nationwide stage this week. A government-funded suppose tank run by a bunch of D.C. technocrats began a venture referred to as Hamilton 68 to battle Russian disinformation. It recognized 600 Twitter accounts that have been supposedly subversive Russian bots. Its analysis and findings have been referenced and republished throughout the worldwide media as proof of a large conspiracy of Russian interference in home politics. 

However because it turned out, nearly none of those accounts have been bots, and even Russian. Most have been conservative People with decent-sized followings. In one of the current “Twitter file” dumps, Matt Taibbi went by inner emails the place Twitter executives revealed that they knew that Hamilton 68’s claims have been bogus. They have been cautioned in opposition to rocking the political boat, and so a bunch allegedly began to battle “disinformation” was allowed to proceed its disinformation. 

Maybe individuals have turn into accustomed to those tales. Possibly they now not know what to consider. Possibly nobody cares. This large story drew little or no consideration. 

To Be or To not Be

Lastly, let’s speak coverage. Lawmakers hit their first main deadline this week. 

Each common invoice or constitutional modification that didn’t go out of committee by the top of day on Tuesday died. And as is common with the variety of payments that get launched annually, most died a quiet demise.

Income payments and “native and privates” each have a later deadline, however here’s a take a look at the final payments nonetheless alive, and a number of the notable payments that died:

A handful of payments that seemingly goal a few of Jackson’s woes are nonetheless alive. Home Invoice 698, authored by Rep. Shanda Yates, who represents North Jackson, would require water billing to be primarily based on water utilization. That is notable as a result of Ted Henifin, the third-party administrator accountable for Jackson’s water system, has proposed a water billing system that prices you not on water utilization, however on the worth of your own home. It’s shifting after clearing the Home Public Utilities committee.

Yates additionally proposed laws to authorize a recall of municipal officers. Whereas this is able to be the identical course of presently out there to county officers, many see this as a goal on the present officers in Jackson who’re lower than a yr faraway from Jackson’s water system failing. After rapidly clearing Judiciary B, it has been tabled within the Home and might be introduced up at any time earlier than the deadline for a flooring vote subsequent Thursday. 

Actually essentially the most controversial, nonetheless, is Home Invoice 1020, authored by Rep. Trey Lamar. It could develop the present boundaries of the Capitol Complicated Enchancment District and create two court docket methods that may have jurisdiction inside these boundaries, quite than the present Hinds County officers. Judges can be appointed by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Courtroom. 

Mother and father’ Invoice of Rights

There have been varied parental “invoice of rights” kind payments launched in each chambers, even a invoice from Speaker Philip Gunn. All of them died.

However a invoice from Rep. Gene Newman, Home Invoice 1125, would, amongst different issues, prohibit somebody from performing a gender transition process on a minor and would limit any taxpayer funds or deductions for the process as properly. One other invoice that made it’s Home Invoice 1045, authored by Rep. Jill Ford, which might prohibit libraries from focusing on kids with sexually specific content material. 

However any kind of “parental empowerment” revolving round college selection both was not launched or died. That is at the same time as Iowa and Utah have already adopted common college selection payments this yr. Numerous different states are properly positioned to behave, as the problem has sped up throughout crimson states. Simply not right here. 

Healthcare

Many of the payments to develop Medicaid died, however laws to develop postpartum protection for as much as 12 months continues to be a preferred concept, a minimum of within the Senate. Senate Invoice 2212, authored by Sen. Kevin Blackwell, cleared the Medicaid committee. The Senate can be taking a look at a pair payments associated to native hospitals. Senate Invoice 2372 would offer $80 million for hospitals. Senate Invoice 2323 would permit group hospitals to collaborate and consolidate with non-profit entities, a invoice that was blasted by many on the best, together with the Home Freedom Caucus. 

On the healthcare entry facet, all payments to supply full follow authority for nurse practitioners once more died. As did every part associated to Certificates of Want reform.

What else?

• Laws to revive the poll initiative course of remains to be alive, with Senate Invoice 2638 passing the Senate Accountability, Effectivity, Transparency committee. 
• A invoice to ban the usage of TikTok on authorities gadgets is shifting. 
• Mississippi received’t get on-line betting this yr, however a invoice was watered all the way down to authorize a process power to review the problem. 
• Fentanyl testing strips, which may play a serious position in stopping overdoses, might quickly turn into authorized with Home Invoice 722 shifting.  
• Digital asset mining is shifting ahead. Eric Peterson not too long ago wrote a column for Magnolia Tribune on this concern. 
• Senate Invoice 2361 would offer grants to high school districts that wish to undertake modified college calendars. 
• Cosmetologists and Barbers might quickly be underneath the Division of Well being with Senate Invoice 2160 advancing out of committee. 
• You could possibly buy alcohol on Sunday’s fairly quickly. Home Invoice 384 is advancing. Simply don’t plan on getting wine shipped to your own home or discovering it on the native grocery retailer. All these payments died. 

Thursday, February 9 is the deadline for every chamber to behave on payments that got here out of committee of their respective chambers. Then the payments get despatched to the opposite facet of the constructing for the following spherical of consideration.