Ellington

September 30, 2004

WE COULD BE A CONTENDER: A cartoon in last Sunday's New York Times parodied the electoral map, showing different funny patterns for various states, but Mississippi wasn't even in on the joke. We were just tagged as "solidly" Bush. Funny thing, though: a lot of people here aren't hankering for Bush, either, it seems. A Sept. 14-17 poll conducted by the American Research Group shows that the presidential race is actually much closer now in Mississippi than many would guess, with Bush drawing 51 percent and Kerry 42 percent and 5 percent of voters undecided (with a 4 percent margin of error). So it's not like the state is in the Kerry column, but you might not call it "solidly" Bush just yet, especially with all the voter registration we see happening left and right.

YOUNG FOLKS IN CHARGE: After pitiful turnout in 2000, surveys are showing that young people's interest in the election is the highest it's been since Vietnam (perhaps there's a hint in there somewhere). The New York Times reports that spring and summer polls by the Harvard Institute of Politics, the Pew Research Center and MTV found that record numbers of young people will vote this November; that means there are 40.6 million voters ages 18 to 29 up for grabs, or one in five eligible voters—a bigger group than 50- to 65-year-olds. Many of them are still undecided.

SHAMELESS VOTER RALLY PLUG: If you're one of the young voters undecided about the difference between the candidates, or who can't find an issue discussed in mainstream media for the life of you, head to the 2004 Youth Voter Rally Thursday, Sept. 30, from 5 to 10 p.m. at Hal & Mal's and ask the candidates and parties themselves. Oh, and dance a bit while you're there. Details at jacksonfreepress.com.

THE PEOPLE V. BARBOUR: Gov. Haley Barbour may soon be facing a bit of what he might call "lawsuit abuse" on the part of Mississippians. The Mississippi Center for Justice and other groups announced Monday that they are suing the state on behalf of elderly and disabled Mississippians who are losing Medicaid benefits under Barbour's controversial shift to federal benefits. The lawsuit alleges that the state did not give 48,000 poor and disabled recipients sufficient notice of the cuts and restricted their right to appeal the decision. The lawsuit also alleges that the state has violated their rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act. "We have talked with dozens of Mississippians whose lives have been thrown into turmoil in recent months," said MCJ attorney Martha Bergmark. Under Barbour's plan, significant Medicare coverage for prescription drugs will not kick in until Jan. 1, 2006—leaving an 18-month gap in coverage. In addition, the $35 million cuts mean that the state will, in fact, lose more than $100 million in federal matching funds.

WINTER'S SIZE 12 SHOES: Barbour's plan resulted in $79 million in cuts so far to the plan, and more may be on the way this year. Last week, The Coalition for Children and Public Education, a grass-roots group chaired by former Gov. William Winter, a Democrat, and Republican Jack Reed. The two men lambasted the education cuts, standing on the south steps of the Capitol. "If people are educated, they are our great asset; if they are uneducated, they are our greatest liability," Reed warned, saying fully funding MAEP is withholding the Jeffersonian ideal of an "aristocracy of achievement." Winter said the state should be prepared to raise taxes if public education demands it. "Let's be frank: you can't cram a size 12 foot into the size of a size 10 shoe. If you do, you have to cut some toes off."

MO MONEY: Mayor Johnson plans to declare next week "Dollar Wise Week" at the Sept. 28 City Council meeting. This week recognizes programs to educate citizens on how important it is to be equipped to manage money. The United States Congress has established the Financial Literacy and Education Commission to help citizens have better "financial literacy." The program educates citizens by developing national strategies that promote money management education. In previous years, Jackson has lost as much as $18 million per year, according to estimates, because families qualifying for the Earned Income Tax Credit fail to use it to their advantage. Call 960-1084.

FREE-SPIRITED JOURANLISM? Aspiring journalists in Mississippi high schools can compete for college scholarships with the Al Neuharth Free Spirit Scholarship and Conference program that is sponsored by Freedom Forum. Neuharth founded the USA Today in 1982 and published a book later about being a ‘free spirit.' He has also written a book called "Confessions of an S.O.B." Two students from the state will be chosen to attend this conference in March at the Capitol in Washington D.C. The program is seeking applicants who demonstrate qualities of free spirit. To get an application, visit http://www.freedomforum.org/freespirit

HELP IS ON THE WAY: Mayor Harvey Johnson is endorsing a new program called "Reassurance Contact" that aims to meet the needs of the elderly community as well as the physically disabled. Reassurance Contact places regular phone calls at pre-scheduled times to these individuals in need of special assistance. The calls ensure that the client is doing well. Reassurance Contact, which is a free program, also provides emergency follow-up when needed. Anyone interested in finding out how to become a client, or with general questions can call the Contact Office at 713-4099. There are also opportunities to be trained as a volunteer.