Governor Phil Bryant withdrew the nomination of Terri Herring to the State Board of Health yesterday.
The nomination of Ms. Herring drew no small amount of controversy as she has been a staunch pro-life advocate and supporter of the failed personhood amendment. The Governor withdrew her nomination yesterday after questions were raised about whether she lived in the proper district. Section 41-3-1 of the Mississippi Code states:
(1) The State Board of Health is continued and reconstituted as follows:
There is created the State Board of Health which, from and after March 30, 2007, shall consist of eleven (11) members appointed with the advice and consent of the Senate, as follows:
(a) Five (5) members of the board shall be currently licensed physicians of good professional standing who have had at least seven (7) years' experience in the practice of medicine in this state. Three (3) members shall be appointed by the Governor, one (1) member shall be appointed by the Lieutenant Governor, and one (1) member shall be appointed by the Attorney General, in the manner provided in paragraph (d) of this subsection (1).
(b) Six (6) members of the board shall be individuals who have a background in public health or an interest in public health who are not currently or formerly licensed physicians. Four (4) of those members shall be appointed by the Governor, one (1) of those members shall be appointed by the Lieutenant Governor, and one (1) of those members shall be appointed by the Attorney General, in the manner provided in paragraph (d) of this subsection (1).
(c) The Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General shall give due regard to geographic distribution, race and gender in making their appointments to the board. It is the intent of the Legislature that the membership of the board reflect the population of the State of Mississippi. Of the Governor's appointments, one (1) member of the board shall be appointed from each of the four (4) congressional districts as constituted on June 30, 2007, and one (1) member of the board shall be appointed from each of the three (3) Supreme Court districts as constituted on June 30, 2007. Of the Lieutenant Governor's appointments, one (1) member of the board shall be appointed from the First Congressional District and one (1) member of the board shall be appointed from the Fourth Congressional District as constituted on June 30, 2007. Of the Attorney General's appointments, one (1) member of the board shall be appointed from the Second Congressional District and one (1) member of the board shall be appointed from the Third Congressional District as constituted on June 30, 2007.
The vacancy on the board was for a position from North Mississippi. The Governor already appointed two members from Ms. Herring's district. While it is easy to say the Governor's staff dropped the ball and have fun at their expense, there is another possibility. The Governor's staff didn't drop the ball but instead gave Ms. Herring exactly what she wanted. Then when the problems with her nomination arose, he could withdraw her nomination without taking any blame for not putting her on the board. One such problem was promoting herself for years as a lobbyist for a pro-life organization while not registering as a lobbyist even though she was not paid (she claims) for the lobbying. The Secretary of State asked her to register as a lobbyist in a letter sent on March 6 (see below).
The Jackson Free Press reported:
"For at least 27 years, she has lobbied on behalf of pro-life issues in the Mississippi Legislature, as she stated in a 2005 interview with "Frontline," a Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) series.
She's also Gov. Phil Bryant's latest pick for the Mississippi Board of Public Health, which is responsible for setting health policy in the state.
Terri Herring also identifies herself as a pro-life lobbyist on her Twitter feed (@Terri_Herring). A quick search on the secretary of state's website turned up only one lobbyist registration form, filed March 13, 2013, and no other reports. A search on previous years produced no results." Article
Even though it is the JFP, the rest of the media would have eventually picked up this story and yes, it is a story. One can see a Machiavelli advising the Governor to give Ms. Herring what she wanted so she could learn the hard way why she had not been nominated before now. "Gee, we're sorry Terri, we tried our best but you had this lobbying problem and then the media found out about it. Don't worry, we're all on the same team and we will still support you in fighting abortion.". Keeps the base happy and a potential problem child disappears.
So did the Governor's staff drop the ball or was this some pandering of the subtle variety? We report, you decide.
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Herring nomination pulled. Incompetence or Machiavelli at work?
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21 comments:
The only problem with that theory is that Phil has now endured almost as much political damage as he would have if she had actually been confirmed. He's angered the physician community and much of the Senate by nominating her to begin with, and now the pro-life community is upset as well because she got tossed out. Plus, he's had Keith Plunkett stumping for her all over social media, which I very much doubt he or Plunkett would have done if she were doomed from the outset.
It's not like the nomination was a recent happening or a great secret. The media didn't pick up on it until last week, but everyone at the Capitol has known for over a month now -- the nomination was officially filed on March 4. Phil has had plenty of time to kill this nomination quietly without embarrassing himself and the whole state. Instead, he backed down 18 hours before the confirmation hearing, only after igniting a public outcry and drawing national media attention.
If it's all been a cunning plot, someone needs to go back and do some remedial reading of Machiavelli.
Let's see what happens when there's a vacancy in her district.
And the light comes on...
Feel might have been ginning up a controversy to distract from his real problem. Some think Feel's real problem will be DMR and the related investigations.
The Jamie Miller DMR confirmation hearings may lead to another pulled nomination. You heard it here.
Michaela Hill, Rickey Hemba, Jessica Upshaw, Philip B. Bass. All dead since August 2012. How may did the feds talk to?
The governor is just not a bright guy. I think he is sincere and stupid. He is anti-Hispanic, anti-women, anti-gay, anti- poor people and none of that is very politically attractive.
He clearly stated, through his mouthpiece, that the requirements for appointment are a bit confusing, and they are if you bother to read them. He also said, through his mouthpiece, that he will appoint her when there is an opening for which she qualifies by way of residence.
"the requirements for appointment are a bit confusing"
I know, it took an AP reporter to figure them out.
The governor is just not a bright guy. I think he is sincere and stupid. He is anti-Hispanic, anti-women, anti-gay, anti- poor people and none of that is very politically attractive.
"the requirements for appointment are a bit confusing" Says the former State Auditor...
Don't forget that he is also a former Deputy Sheriff.
I actrually read the requirements. Either Phil is kind of stuipid, or I ma genyous!
Seriously, that is not that difficult to understand, and the state presumably does have some staff attorneys to ask when necessary.
Reeves won't win the primary vs Bryant.
To paraphrase Mencken, we're getting the government we deserve. (Or anybody that voted for this guy deserves, anyway.)
Pillsbury Dough Boy vs. Deputy Dawg.
To paraphrase Mencken, we're getting the goobernment we deserve.
1:41 said Phil "is anti-Hispanic, anti-women, anti-gay".
I am no fan of Phil Bryant. But why is someone "anti" or a "phobe" because they disagree? You PC clowns bully people by name calling. Why not try good logical arguements? Perhaps it is easier to call names when you have few logical ideas.
Cooter from Dukes of Hazard. Nuff said. We need Boss Hog back.....
The unwritten Mississippi Code states that its best to have 'professionals' on state boards anyways. People who HAVE a conflict of interest.
The ideal candidate has both monetary conflicts AND friends and family conflicts.
Look at the 990s.
It's interesting that when those who were once left out of the power structure finally achieve power, be it blacks or the GOP, they immediately adopt all the worst traits of the corrupt power structure they once lambasted.
Rather than create a better, more just system and make changes, they not only embrace the existing bad system, but make it worse in an effort to enhance their new power and thicken their wallet!
They come into office with an us/them mentality guaranteed to increase dysfunction.
There are too few would be Mandelas or Ghandis and too many would be Ayatollahs.
An " I'm better than 'they' are" attitude rather than " I want to be the best" attitude is dangerous.
The appointment process is confusing??? What is confusing about "when one's term is up in a particular district, you make an appointment to fill that vacancy"?? It's not rocket science!!!! But to quote Forest Gump, "Stupid is as stupid does". And, to the person who said those who voted for Bryant are getting the type government they deserve!! Amen!!!!
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