McCoy was often referred to as a champion of the people, and the Daily Journal even called him a fiscal conservative. As for McCoy’s actual voting record, 2011 wrapped up the eighth straight year that he received an F (or equivalent) from BIPEC, one of the leading business lobby’s in the state.

A trip down memory lane:

We have grades for the past eight years, which also happened to be his eight years as Speaker. In 2004, he received his highest grade on record- a 42 (out of a possible 100). By virtue of finishing above 40, McCoy was labeled “marginal business help.” This is the best he’d do. Over the next three years, he would receive a 40, 35, and 39, respectively. BIPEC considers anyone at 40 or under “anti-business.”

After winning his second term as Speaker in January 2008 little changed; in fact you could argue he became even more anti-business. In 2008, he received a 23. In 2009 the group switched to letter grades and McCoy would receive an F in ’09,’10, and ’11; ending his time in the House with an F from BIPEC.

Links to the report cards are below the fold.

2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011

Billy McCoy has decided to hang it up and head home.  Even though you may not agree with his politics it is only appropriate to thank the man for his service to the state and his constituents over his time in the state legislature.  This obviously is big news politically in Mississippi since the next time the legislature goes in to session there will be a new Speaker of the House to lead the House of Representatives.  The big question is will this be the monumental change that leads to a GOP speaker, or maybe an Independent, or are we back to the status quo with another Democrat.  I believe that the most watched elections in November will be the ones for House seats.  Most of the statewide races will be decided in August, be honest with yourself here, so we turn our attention to who the next Speaker of the House will be.  That will be decided by who wins the House races in November and how the numbers will shape up when it is time to choose the new speaker.

Memorial Day

This coming Monday our nation will observe Memorial Day, a day set aside to honor those who have died serving this country as a member of the military.  Yesterday, Staff Sergeant David Self of Pearl was honored after paying the ultimate sacrifice serving our country.  He was killed last week while serving in Afghanistan, just days before his unit was to be sent home.  People lined Highway 80 to show their respects and to honor the fallen soldier.  It is an image that needs no words.

It is because of soldiers like Staff Sgt. David Self and many others like him that this country is where it is today and that is why we celebrate their service and sacrifice on Memorial Day.

McCoy has had health issues in the past, although he said his health is stable today. This August, he will turn 69 years old. In the release, McCoy said he plans to spend more times with friends and family “in the beautiful foothills of the Appalachians.”

This now sets up the fun part for political junkies. For Republicans, the quest for the Speaker’s office is certainly not set with just one announced Republican at this point, but this doesn’t alter things within the caucus that much. It is within the Democratic caucus that things will get interesting. Rep. Bobby Moak has long been regarded as the top alternative to McCoy should McCoy retire. I don’t think the Democratic choice will go as smooth as that however. The Black Caucus, which now makes up more than half the Democratic House members, will likely very well want a Caucus member in the race. And if they voted as a bloc, they would have the votes.

Now, for perceptions. McCoy’s announcement was the one everyone was waiting on, but it came just a week after another long time legislator, Speaker Pro Temp J.P. Compretta, decided to hang it up. This all comes as Republicans are looking to make their strongest push yet for the Speaker’s office. You can certainly paint the narrative that things are looking very good for Republicans based on these recent events. After all, McCoy said health wasn’t an issue and that his energy and interest was “as fervent as ever.”

During McCoy’s time as Speaker, which coincided with the rise of a true Republican minority in the House, the Speaker became a lightning-rod. You could make the argument that Republicans lose the ability to run against the controversial figure as we saw on the national level in 2010 (remember Fire Pelosi). The mission for Republicans is to make sure voters know that the quest is to elect a conservative Speaker, and that doesn’t change regardless of which Democrats are or are not running.

As for this district specifically, Democrat Bobby Wren is in. It is still more yellow-dog than most- only giving about 50 percent of the vote to Haley Barbour in 2007- but Republicans will likely get a candidate in there. Symbolism runs very high in politics, and the GOP would certainly love to capture the seat previously held by McCoy.

In 2007, Haley Barbour was over 70 percent in the district making it the third most Republican district held by a Democratic legislator. What does this mean? This is the type of place Republicans need to win to capture the majority. It would be virtually impossible to knock off long time incumbents like Compretta but an open seat is a different story.

Making this an even more interesting story is that state Sen. David Baria is opting against re-election in the Senate where he will potentially be matched up with Sen. Ezell Lee to run for this now open seat. This is an interesting move. You don’t often see a senator run for the state house, but that is what we have here. Again, this is a strong Republican district but Baria, a past president of the Mississippi Trial Lawyer’s Association, will have plenty of money. He now has $50,000 in the bank versus nothing for Republican Dorothy Wilcox. Other Republicans may enter following this news.

But what does this move say about Speaker Billy McCoy’s plans? It is certainly possible that their decisions will be made completely independent of each other, but Compretta was the number two in the House. We have seen other veterans like Rep. Warner McBride opt against re-election, and then we are still waiting for from Reps. Diane Peranich and Johnny Stringer; along with McCoy.

I don’t have a problem with naming buildings after people. There are plenty of buildings that bear the name of Representatives and Senators who helped deliver the funding for that particular project. Then there are buildings named after notable state figures from the Civil War through the Civil Rights movement.

I get naming a building for Barbour or Young. Young has passed away and Barbour will be done with state politics in January. But naming a building for McCoy is interesting. Is it a sign that he is retiring? Perhaps I am reading too much into this.

Here is Frank Corder’s take on the naming of a building after McCoy.

The handful of people who still open up The Clarion Ledger in the morning were greeted by a terribly partisan editorial about being bipartisan.  Imagine that considering the source.  The editorial accuses Phil Bryant of playing partisan politics throughout the redistricting debate and vilifies him for having closed-door meetings with people in his own party.  They completely forget or intentionally omit the stunts that Billy McCoy has pulled throughout the process and instead lay all the problems at the feet of Bryant and encourage him to sit down and discuss the issue with McCoy.  Are you kidding me?  How does that even make sense?  McCoy is the man who loaded his redistricting committee with 90% Democrats and has refused to budge, yet you accuse Bryant of the partisan power plays.  Bryant has played the partisan card because frankly that is the only thing he can do to counter the exact same thing McCoy has done.  Also, please spare me the garbage about taxpayers paying for an extra election next year.  We will be voting in 2012 with or without legislative races on the ballot for Congressional and Presidential races with primaries and general elections.  The Clarion Ledger tried their best, as usual, to make Republicans look like the guilty party in this issue and failed miserably in my opinion to champion bipartisanship with their partisan attack.

Say What Mr. President?

Who needs to produce their own oil when we can just buy it from someone else?  That seems to be the thinking of our President who said as much on his trip to Brazil this week.  I am completely dumbfounded, not really I suppose, how our president could utter such nonsense and look like an idiot at the same time.  He has been nothing but against offshore drilling and drilling in Alaska, but is now apparently o.k. with the drilling process as long as Brazil is the one doing it.  Did the teleprompter get caught in customs?  If he is so in favor of drilling for oil then it would make sense to do it here in his own country.  He could come out smelling like a rose by creating jobs and helping to lower the price of gas, but instead he chooses to continue to allow America to be dependent on foreign countries for oil.  It almost seems un-American knowing that you could do the exact same thing and help the people in your own country.

The Fire We Play With

Nothing ever hits home until it happens in your own backyard.  This week two illegal aliens went into a Pearl pawn shop heavily armed with over a hundred rounds of ammo with unknown intentions.  They could have easily killed the people working inside and we would be left to wonder how 2 people, who should not even be in this country, could do that and many questions would linger. The shop manager fought back and killed one and critically injured the other, but it makes you realize how close we could have been to innocent lives being lost at the hands of illegal aliens.  This is by no means a condemnation of illegal aliens as a whole being a violent lawless bunch because that is simply not true, but rather as a thought-provoking lesson of the fire we play with by not addressing the issue of illegal immigration.  It almost happened in our backyard last week and it should serve as a lesson.

Happy Birthday Obamacare!

Whats a birthday party without a cake to celebrate?

At the time, Barbour said he would not consider the House plan because it didn’t contain non-economic damage caps for general liability and that there was no need to meet if “one person in the House has the opportunity to object to an eventual agreement on the current bill and kill it.” He added, “there is no point in having discussions if everything is not on the table.”

Here is what McCoy said in response: “This should move slow.” He also said failure to pass legislation would not be the House’s fault because it was the Senate and governor who were not “willing to sit down and hammer a compromise.” He also said, at the time, that “it takes two sides to do work.”

This evening we learned that McCoy’s House, rather than join the Senate in conference over redistricting, has decided to join a lawsuit filed by the NAACP hoping to get courts to draw new lines before the November elections. This was done courtesy of a 10-4 vote by the House Apportionment and Elections committee. In case you were wondering, that committee consists of 13 Democrats and 4 Republicans.

It is hard to find words to describe the path that Billy McCoy is threatening to take now that the Senate has invited the redistricting battle into conference.  His leadership right now at the moment could easily be called in to question and it helps me recall this quote from the Bible:

And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. – Jesus (Matthew 15:14)

At a time where leadership must prevail to help solve the issue at hand, McCoy has taken the my way or the highway approach to redistricting.  Will a House and Senate conference solve the redistricting issue?  It will be hard to answer that if McCoy chooses not to take part in a legislative process that occurs all the time to solve differences between House and Senate legislation.  True, the stakes are higher with the issue at hand, but it is a job that should and can be handled if the sides are allowed to get together.

Billy McCoy has a chance to do the right thing here by sending conferees to meet with those appointed by Phil Bryant, but if he foolishly stands in the way then it will be time for him to be put out to pasture by the people of his district.

Not Being Talked About Enough

Bill Luckett really could not have gotten a better week for the news about his residency status to come out.  The news this week has centered on what is going on in the state legislature in terms of redistricting as Luckett’s story has skated by fairly easily.  The man who wants to serve all Mississippians and move Mississippi forward was still voting in Memphis, TN less than 5 years ago.  Luckett may or may not even win the primary, but if he does do not think for a minute that this issue will once again heat up leading into November.  State Democrats have already decided it is a non issue for them by allowing him to stay on the ballot, which is their prerogative.  The residency issue will just add another difficult hurdle to overcome for him to win the Governor’s race as a Democrat, which may serve as the largest hurdle of all.  Mississippians are a crafty bunch and they will not be fooled by any smoke and mirrors effort to deflect any attention away from this in November.

Heading Home

** The Clarion-Ledger has a rundown of the upcoming redistricting battle. One point of note is a statement from Sen. Willie Simmons (D-Cleveland) who said he is lobbying for the Delta to not lose any representation in the legislature. Pretty difficult to envision a scenario how that works without some very tricky map-making.

** Billy McCoy wrote an op-ed in the Clarion-Ledger on Sunday where he basically said that the House will consider a “fair redistricting plan” and that he is “surprised to hear some Republicans complain.” Basically, a preemptive strike for the Speaker in what will not be an easy process for anyone.

** The Republican Party responded to McCoy’s column with this statement:

“We are pleased that Speaker McCoy has gone on the record endorsing key principles in our legislative redistricting process, including the value of keeping as many precincts intact as possible, respecting historical boundaries and communities of interest, ensuring that districts are geographically compact, and doing all of this within the guidelines set forth by the Voting Rights Act.

To that end, we encourage and expect all members of the legislature, Republicans and Democrats alike, to carefully review not only the Joint Committee’s proposal but also alternative proposals made available by others. We are hopeful that Republicans and Democrats can come together, consider the complete proposals available to them, and support the proposal that best reflects those principles that we share and best holds to the standards set by state law.

Mississippians deserve the plan that best reflects them and their communities, not the plan that best serves over 130 years of entrenched political interests. Legislators owe it to the voters they have been elected to represent to take time and review options, not rush to judgment on a plan that deeply affects our state for a decade.”

** Expect to hear the word “fair” on a regular basis when talking about redistricting over the coming weeks and months from all sides.

We will not learn of specific growth or losses among cities and counties in today’s report. Two days ago, AP analysis of the projected changes showed continuing growth in the Republican Sun Belt states at the expense of the Democratic Rust Belt. Here is more in-depth analysis on the issue from The Weekly Standard.

** As for Mississippi, an analysis predicted a partisan fight with the new numbers when it comes to legislative reapportionment. Hard to argue with that, and worth pointing out this will be the first time the state has seen true partisan bickering rather than strictly racial or regional.

Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant, who presides over the Senate, has already got Speaker Billy McCoy worked up with his insistence that the Senate will review the House plan rather than blindly OK it as it has in the past. “I haven’t been in the Legislature that long, and maybe I don’t understand historical traditions. To me, it’s clear we have a responsibility to review each other’s plans … so there wouldn’t be this opportunity for one chamber to gerrymander precincts,” Bryant said.

Here is what McCoy said: “We have to have a joint plan, but the Senate will have nothing to say about our plan, and we’ll have nothing to say about theirs. There are people who want to mix that up, but it ain’t going to happen. If they were to sit down, and say for some reason politics got into it so bad they wouldn’t accept our plan, then we’re headed to court.”

*** Also regarding partisanship, the article states that “both chambers’ redistricting committees include Republicans and Democrats.” Technically, yes, but lets look at this as we have in the past.

In the Senate, there are five Republicans and five Democrats on the committee tasked with reapportionment. The chair is a Republican, the vice-chair is a Democrat. In the House, McCoy put eight Democrats and one Republican on the committee. The chair and vice-chair are both Democrats. You do the math.

Reception for Nunnelee and Palazzo. Congressmen-Elect Steven Palazzo and Alan Nunnelee will have a welcome reception in Washington on January 5 beginning at 10 a.m. at the office of Entergy. Mississippi’s three Republicans currently in the delegation- Senators Roger Wicker and Thad Cochran and Rep. Gregg Harper- will also be there.

Here is a link to the invitation.

Mississippi Patriots/ Sen. Fillingane team up for Border Fence legislation. Sen. Joey Fillingane (R-Hattiesburg) will introduce legislation during the next legislative session to help fund the border fence in the Southwest, starting with Arizona, using remittance fees.

According to the press release, similar legislation is being introduced elsewhere and if half the states participate they could raise $1.2 billion annually with an average remittance fee of five percent.

Here is the entire press release from the group.

Barbour supporting ‘Anyone But Steele’ in RNC chair race. Haley Barbour’s endorsement would carry as much weight as any in the RNC race, but the former RNC chairman has said he is not supporting any candidate in the upcoming race to be RNC chairman, but he did say “we do need to have a change.” Barbour has criticized Michael Steele, who is running for re-election, on a number of occasions in the past and his opposition isn’t that surprising.

When Barbour’s nephew and RNC member, Henry, publicly threw his support behind Wisconsin Republican Party Chairman Reince Priebus many presumed his uncle was on board as well.

Rumors of McCoy’s retirement are certainly going around Jackson, and a combination of health issues and potentially uphill climb to holding on to his powerful post may cause the Speaker to retire. McCoy said he will make an announcement at the “proper time” and he doesn’t want it to “figure into the session.”

** In the same column, Rep. Brian Aldridge (R-Tupelo) said, “Nobody has a clue…about what the speaker will do.” Another member, Rep. Noal Akins (R-Oxford), opined that, “if Billy is living, he is running.”

Wicker and Cochran praise confirmation of Reeves. Senators Thad Cochran and Roger Wicker, two supporters of Jackson attorney Carlton Reeves’ nomination to be district judge for the Southern portion of the state, issued similar statements yesterday as Reeves was confirmed by a voice vote on Sunday.

From Cochran: “I congratulate Carlton Reeves on his confirmed appointment to the federal bench in our state. I trust that his legal experience will serve him and the people well as he takes on this important responsibility.”

From Wicker: “Carlton Reeves brings a diverse background of service to the bench for the Southern District of Mississippi. Qualified, impartial judges are critical to continuing our nation’s legal traditions.”

Where is the Mississippi Democratic Party? In his Sunday column, Sid Salter said this about the differences between the two parties in Mississippi:

“Less than a year ago, the party’s website was active, the Democratic Party had an active and engaged staff and was doing a significant amount of party-building activities. Former party executive director Sam Hall departed in August. Hall announced his decision to step down as executive director of the party and said in a blog post that he was returning to his private consulting firm.

The invisibility of the Mississippi Democratic Party in the midterms was simply stunning. Meanwhile, Mississippi Republicans are operating a fully functional, 24/7/365 effort in the state. State GOP chairman Brad White’s visibility and party-building work was constant during the midterms.”

** Also in Salter’s column is a recent statement from Sen. Davis Baria (D-Bay St. Louis). When asked if the Republican nomination for statewide office was the equivalent of winning the general election, Baria said: “We’re close to that. The Democratic Party is in trouble in Mississippi and we’ve got to get better organization and better leadership.”

Democratic Party Chairman Jamie Franks obviously can’t like reading that.

*** Of course Franks is also busy with some personal issues. Last week, he and Lee County Democratic Party Chairman Eric Hampton were in court asking that a lawsuit filed by Lee County School Superintendent Mike Scott against the two men be dismissed. Last summer, the Lee County Democratic Party tried to kick Scott- who had an affair with Franks’ ex-wife- out of office. Scott is elected by the voters, and serves at their will. Scott filed suit alleging that Franks tried to “extort, defame and interfere with his employment, among other things.”

Nunnelee to hold prayer breakfast/ lunch. Congressman-Elect Alan Nunnelee will hold three gatherings for a time of prayer on January 3rd before he heads to Washington to be sworn in. The times are as follows: 7:00 at Fairview Baptist Church in Columbus, 9:30 at Calvary Baptist Church in Tupelo and 12:00 at Broadway Baptist Church in Southaven.

Weekend Senate highlights. It was a split decision this weekend for liberals for one of the final weekends of the huge Democratic majorities. The military’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy was repealed and in pretty easy fashion. Senators Cochran and Wicker opposed it. Conservatives were successful is killing the Dream Act, which was certainly a bigger issue than DADT to most conservatives from what I have read (read in to that what you’d like). Cochran and Wicker also opposed that bill.

Here is part of a statement from Wicker on DADT (haven’t seen one from Cochran): “I am concerned today’s vote adds to their (the military’s) very difficult work. Forcing the implementation of a controversial policy takes focus off of the critical mission we are asking these brave warriors to accomplish.”

** Wicker and Cochran also issued statements on the president’s signing of the compromise tax bill that was Ok’d last week.

From Wicker: “With the President’s signature, this law extends the current tax rates for two years, giving some certainty to small businesses and entrepreneurs to help them grow and add jobs. I am glad Congress stopped the largest tax hike in history from hitting any Americans. We should focus on creating an environment that promotes job creation.”

From Cochran: I am pleased that families and businesses in Mississippi will not see their federal income taxes rise for the next two years. It is my hope that this act will serve to help accelerate the economic recovery by allowing Americans to keep more of the money they earn. Now that we have provided more certainty in this area, it is my hope that the new Congress can more effectively take on the challenge of getting our fiscal house in order.”

They both also praised the Gulf Opportunity Zone tax incentives that were included.

HD 116 candidate profiles. ** Here is a profile of Jess Hogue, a candidate for the House seat left open by the resignation of Steven Palazzo, who recently hosted a reception at Destiny Plantation in Biloxi. It looks like the Republican candidate has Howie Morgan, an Oxford-based consultant, running her campaign. *** And here is a profile of another candidate, former State Rep. Jamie Creel, the Democrat-turned-Republican.

This date in history. 150 years ago today the state of South Carolina formally seceded from the union. About three weeks later Mississippi would be the second state to do so.

Will he choose to run again? We will have to wait and see, but Rep. Steve Holland (D-Plantersville) says he doesn’t think he will. “He (McCoy) has said nothing about stepping down, but if I were betting, I would put my money on him doing it. Certainly Billy has earned a rest- he’s shouldered the burden for us long enough,” Holland said.

Minor also talked with Rep. Bobby Moak (D-Bogue Chitto) who won’t say he is running for Speaker, but looks to be a sure thing- assuming McCoy does indeed step aside. “Others are saying I am running and that’s all right with me, but I don’t want to put a target on my back right now for people to shoot at,” Moak said. In the meantime, Moak has been out raising money for fellow Democrats.

Moak represents the same RWD coalition (rural, white Democrat) that McCoy and Holland come from; which has ruled the lower chamber but is now only the third largest of the three coalitions in the House behind both the Republicans and the Black Caucus.

Two good questions to ponder regarding the Speaker’s race: Will the LBC stick with the RWDs- or will they look for a candidate of their own? And, will the GOP run a Republican or opt for supporting a conservative Democrat again? Minor floated the name of Rep. Philip Gunn (R-Clinton).

I suppose those questions will hinge on the outcome of the 2011 elections. A net gain of just a couple seats for the GOP and they will be in very good shape.