Updates On The Congressional Delegation
Some notes on the Missisisppi Congressional delegation:
** Not to long ago, we were talking about the key committee seats that Mississippi’s freshman Congressmen had landed shortly after winning their elections in November. Now, Y’all Politics has the scoop that Rep. Steven Palazzo has been named chairman of the Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics. This committee oversees NASA and Stennis Space Center is obviously a key part of his South Mississippi district.
This means that while it took former Rep. Gene Taylor about 16 years to land a subcommittee chairmanship, the man who defeated him did it as a freshman.
** WTVA caught up with Rep. Alan Nunnelee at a Lee County livestock show yesterday. Nunnelee talked about accessibility with voters in light of the shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords in Arizona, and said this: “What happened in Tucson, Arizona is a tragedy. It’s one that’s driven by evil. These are the men and women that are my bosses, but more importantly, they’re my friends and neighbors, and I don’t feel a need to insulate myself from my friends and neighbors.”
Throughout the campaign, Nunnelee often made an issue of meeting with constituents and knocking former Rep. Travis Childers for holding tele-townhall events.
** I spoke with Palazzo shortly after being sworn in, and talked to him about his living situation with the new job in D.C. Palazzo said he would be renting an apartment while he’s in town, and his wife and children would continue living in South Mississippi. He referred to himself as a commuter Congressman and said he would only be in D.C. when it was required; he compared it to being a state Representative except Washington replaced Jackson.
** Rep. Bennie Thompson has two upcoming fundraisers in the Washington area. On Monday, Thompson is having a “Duck Hunting and Breakfast” fundraiser at the Longpoint Lodge in Wingate, Maryland. View the invitation here. Considering that Thompson’s district is home to some of the best duck hunting in the country, this is pretty fitting.
In mid-February, Thompson will have a more traditional fundraiser at the National Democratic Club in D.C. View the invite here.
** While we’re talking 2011 in Mississippi, in D.C. the attention has generally moved to 2012. That year, Sen. Roger Wicker will be up for re-election and is certainly in a comfortable position at this time. Here is an early Cook Political Report 2012 rating: Wicker’s seat is safe.
If King Bennie the Corrupt is going Duck Hunting,
I sincerily hope he invites Dick Cheny to go with him too.
Congratulations to Palazzo, he’s got a bright future ahead of him.
Funny that both invitations still list Bennie as chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee. After the GOP take over he is “Ranking Member” but obviously still trying to fundraise like he is the chairman.
Sounds like Felony Fraud to me–
Misrepresentation of public office–
Congratulations to Palazzo for being named a subcommittee chairman, but there is a huge difference between chairing a subcommittee that doesn’t do much on a committee that doesn’t do much and chairing the subcommittee that sets policy for about $65 billion in Navy and Marine Corps procurement. The Seapower Chairman has more influence than some full committee chairs. The Science Committee has 4 freshmen subcommittee chairs because more senior Republicans had no interest in being on the committee. NASA policy on the Science Committee will be controlled by the full committee chairman, but the truth is the committee does almost no legislation, so space and science policy really are controlled by the Appropriations Committees.
Maybe but Palazzo is on the Seapower and Projection committee as well as Military Readiness. Both committees important to South Mississippi and the region. Same said committee you mentioned as well as being a Chairman of a subcommittee that is important to Stennis Space Center. Not bad for a freshman. Can only imagine what 2012 holds for South Mississippi but I’m sure it has Palazzo moving up the leadership ladder.
Increase the debt ceiling and increase taxes on millionaires and billionaires.