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Rebels Without a Pause

On the first floor of the Capitol last Wednesday, a handful of Democrats assembled to enjoy a late lunch when a burly assistant sergeant-at-arms burst in to say that Speaker Pro Tem Greg Snowden, who presided that day, wanted all the members to return to the chamber.

Books-a-Zero

You know things are bad when librarians start protesting. In light of Gov. Phil Bryant's executive budget recommendation that calls for a 15 percent funding reduction for the Mississippi Library Commission, bibliophiles are gearing for a battle to keep library cuts on par with those of other state departments.

Stop Obstructing and Get to Work

Republicans in the Mississippi Legislature seem to be dealing with a lot of pent-up demand. Every day, we hear of another piece of legislation that is a virtual rehash of a bill that could not be passed without a Republican majority in both houses of the Legislature.

Stop Obstructing and Get to Work

Republicans in the Mississippi Legislature seem to be dealing with a lot of pent-up demand. Every day, we hear of another piece of legislation that is a virtual rehash of a bill that could not be passed without a Republican majority in both houses of the Legislature.

[Your Turn] Save the Libraries

Brandon Jones, Executive Director, Mississippi Democratic Trust

In his FY 2013 Budget Recommendation, Gov. Phil Bryant stated that libraries are not an "appropriate government function" and are a "non-core area." Consistent with these beliefs, the Republican budget calls for a 15 percent cut to Mississippi's public libraries.

Save the Libraries

Brandon Jones, Executive Director, Mississippi Democratic Trust

In his FY 2013 Budget Recommendation, Gov. Phil Bryant stated that libraries are not an "appropriate government function" and are a "non-core area." Consistent with these beliefs, the Republican budget calls for a 15 percent cut to Mississippi's public libraries.

The JFP Interview with Steve Holland

In a matter of 24 hours, Steve Holland went from seemingly being the director of "Punk'd: Mississippi Edition" to directing funerals.

Tease photo

The JFP Interview with Joey Fillingane

It's Valentine's Day, and everyone seems to be courting Sen. Joey Fillingane. Just two days before Mississippi's Feb. 16 legislation draft deadline, his secretary and gatekeeper has to run interference on an unending parade of lobbyists who all want just a few moments of the state senator's time.

Personhood: Symbol or Substance?

Although state Sen. Joey Fillingane, R-Sumrall, says it's unlikely the Mississippi Legislature will take up the debate over personhood this year, efforts by state lawmakers in Mississippi and elsewhere in the country are gaining steam.

A Fire for Change

Spend just a couple of minutes with Joyce Jackson at Collins Funeral Home, where she works, and you will see why many members of her community asked her to run for City Council.

MIRA Civic Engagement Day

The Mississippi Immigrants Rights Alliance plans to walk to the Capitol today to protest a series of bills targeted at undocumented immigrants.

A Win for the State's ‘Power Brokers'

"Power brokers" win out over the voices of individual legislators in a new set of joint rules the Republican-dominated Mississippi Legislature passed last week, Democrats say. The new rules are among the most serious and far-reaching changes in recent memory.

Personhood Resolution in House

As the window for introducing bills in the Mississippi Legislature closes, the personhood debate has once again surfaced.

Personhood Mississippi: We Are Listening to Voters

Personhood Mississippi founder Les Riley sent out a statement this morning praising Personhood legislation in the Oklahoma Senate and promising further efforts in Mississippi that will address voters' concerns about contraception and in vitro fertilization.

Dems: Ain't No Sunshine in this Bill

This time around, the "sunshine" bill didn't wither. Despite their best efforts to slow down and trip up House Bill 211, which supporters argue adds a layer of transparency to the state's use of hiring outside legal firms when disagreements arise with the attorney general, the state's chief legal officer, the measure passed 59 to 55. After a similar bill failed last week on a technicality, its Republican authors made fixes earlier this week and brought it to the Wednesday morning. Democrats pressed Mark Baker, the chairman of the House Judiciary A Committee, on a range of what they perceived to be shortcomings of the bills. Some clearly just wanted to mess with Republicans.

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