Ellington

Sen. Joseph Biden, D-Delaware, will headline the April 22 Democratic Elected Officials Appreciation Dinner at the Jackson Trade Mart Building on the Mississippi Fairgrounds.

Award recipients include House Speaker Billy McCoy, who wins the Evelyn Gandy Award; Rep. Steve Holland, D-Plantersville, who wins the First Congressional District Award; Hinds County District Attorney Faye Peterson, winning the Second Congressional District Award; Sen. Gloria Williamson, D-Philadelphia, who takes home the Third Congressional District Award; and Sen. Deborah Dawkins, D-West Harrison, who wins the Fourth Congressional District Award.

The press release from Mississippi Democratic Party Headquarters describes Biden as "the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He is a student of history, respected at home and abroad for his uniquely well-informed, common sense approach to the complexities of American foreign policy issues."

What the press release doesn't say is that Biden has made himself one of the most determined gadflies piercing the political hide of President George W. Bush. Biden criticized the president's prescription drug policies and their impact on consumers, claiming they'll hurt middle and lower-income brackets, and called the drug plan "brain dead."

Biden came out against the War in Iraq back in 2003, back when this was a difficult stand to make. He's called it a disaster since then, and popular opinion has since shifted to his view, with broad pessimism about the war and Bush's approval ratings stuck at around 30 percent.

Tickets to the event are $60. Tables are $500.