Jackson Jambalaya

Great decisions as a state treasurer my ass. He lost over two billion of PERS funds by investing in sub prime, CDO, derivative bullshit. Anyone with internet access knew that shit was bogus. Of course, the criminals he invested the PERS funds with were the same people who funded his campaign war chest. Mr Crawford needs to pull his head out of his ass and do some real research.

Wow. Did that all by himself. If you knew anything about PERS, which you don't, you would know that the Investment Committee makes the investment decisions. No one person has that control over the investing. Major decisions such as changing advisers and fund managers are made by the PERS Board of Trustees.

By the way, can you show me the report or in writing where they lost two billion dollars in that subprime CDO derivative bullshit as you put it? Everyone got hammered by the markets that year.

The financial disaster will make him vulnerable to a challenge in the GOP primary from Fitch, Hoseman, or someone else. If Reeves is the nominee, Hood has a really good shot.

Fitch not running for Gov. Hood loses regardless the GOP opponent and the Republicans won't be nominating some unknown truck driver.

How many poor Jackson families have the resources to take their children to see the Red Sox play in Fenway?

As a lifelong LIFELONG 71 year old Republican, I can say without hesitation that these new "Republican Party" leaders suck.

there is no doubt that Tater has the smarts to understand. the problem is that he has let his political ambition trump (no pun intended) his smarts. like virtually every other politician, he sold his soul for his next election. Sad.

The goal is to end government.

Cuts are designed to kill jobs...government jobs. They vote democrat.

Tate's end game is zero (as close as you can get) government.

So quit acting surprised.

KF: a good in depth look at Tate Reeves and his tactics would make a great story. Talk to any legislator or lobbyist and they will tell you how he strong arms and bullies his stuff through. I have heard that if you don't vote for his special projects, he will black ball your legislation. And donations to his campaign chest is a prerequisite to having your bill hit the floor.

This is a hell of a lot better than his last column.

No government won't be any worse than the government decades of Democrats left us with.

9:30 PM, Reeves isn't any different than any other strong arm politico of the past 100 years. You are naive as they come if you think differently.

I thought Tate was a bank teller in Florence before entering politics.

"How many poor Jackson families have the resources to take their children to see the Red Sox play in Fenway?"

How many middle class Madison families have the resources to take their children to see the Red Sox play in Fenway? Stokes will send the poor Jackson kids. Nobody will send my family!

I liked his last column.

Tate knows what he's doing. Problem is he does a bad job of explaining it to the rest of us (i.e, taxpayers, agency heads, legislators, media)...like how the college fund fell apart after he was Treasurer...and the huge miscalculation on the budget estimates. Mississippians are all for less government within reason, but this year's madness has caused so much frustration, it has everyone screaming "who's accountable?"

C'mon now! How do huge tax cuts resulting in multiple raids in the rainy day fund make sense? What happens when that fund runs dry? What happens when all the special funds run dry?

12:01 a.m. shares this bit of wisdom:

"Mississippians are all for less government within reason..."

Really? Survey please.

I couldn't agree any more with Mr. Crawford and some of the people who have posted here. I, too, am a lifelong Republican. The decisions that Lt. Gov. Reeves are making are bad for our state. No matter if you're R or D, black or white, conservative or liberal...bad decisions are bad decisions. He has his PR person come out swinging and blaming Obama. I don't buy what you're selling Reeves. I don't think you have been good for our state. I hope we survive another 3 1/2 years of you. I think you need to go back to the drawing board and talk to some other mentors other than Boss Hog in Yazoo City. I will not be voting for you in the future.

Gee, Tate must have missed finance class the day we learned that you know what your revenues ( income) are going to be before you budget. And, I guess he didn't take civics at all in high school or else he'd know that there are key responsibilities that only government can accomplish like common infrastructure and safety as well as military defense.

He must have watched television a lot and where reality is made to fit the fantasy. Now he's finding out that what you want to believe and what is aren't the necessarily the same. Read more Tate and watch less TV.

4:57,,,,,
Survey says!!!
See your last round of statewide elected office results.
DA

Sorry KF,

Forgot you had a crush on Tate, Leland and the boys. I bet they invite you to all their social gatherings. Well... maybe not.

Can't cite any actual facts so we start name-calling and firing personal insults.

Mr. Reeves: Please go ask California about the "Obama Economy"... 2009 big budget shortfalls (26 billion) to now a budget surplus. The last time I checked, they were a state in the USA just like us. I'd really like to know why such a liberal state like that can have a budget surplus. You went to Millsaps: perhaps the only known center of extreme left-wing education in the state. Surely those professors have friends who teach in other liberal bastions on the 'left coast' and can get you meeting. Or perhaps, you could get on an airplane (at the recently acquired airport) and fly out there and take it in. It will cost you an arm and a leg financially, but hey, at least theres jet service. (or should the state make you drive to memphis or new orleans for a Southwest flight?)

You may be shocked, shocked I tell you to find out that most of the boom in California is in technology in the SF Bay Area. Of course, that area is known for a lifestyle that we pass laws to protect our citizens from. Don't be scared of them! You should worry more about all the immigrants living there--the real sinister presence. Why can't our state--with much lower taxes on corporations AND individuals lure a few tech companies to all those empty buildings in downtown Jackson. We have coffeehouses, food trucks, popsicles, and of course-inexpensive real estate.

If the state can't afford that, please visit states like Georgia, Tennessee, Arkansas, South Carolina, Alabama--you know..the ones that are doing well despite the "Obama Economy." And hey, they are all (yes all) governed by Republicans-your political 'tribe.' I would think you wouldn't have to call in favors from Millsaps to set up a meeting or two. Ask them how their states are doing so well. I would suspect is has much more to do with the fact that they are actual Republicans who have care and concern for the people of their state instead of 'taking care of friends' who contribute to their re-election lockboxes.

Most "R" or "D" leaders in this state have a clue. WHY do we keep electing them?

Mississippi has Popsicles?

While California is experiencing a recovery, you seem to gloss over the fine print of how and the perils they face in the future:

"The budget includes a $1.1 billion compromise on a new tax on health insurers to replace one that will expire in June. Brown said the tax is critical to maintaining the state health care program for the poor, which is projected to cover 13.5 million people by 2017, nearly a third of the state's population."

A THIRD OF THE POPULATION! No state or country can continue to prosper if more and more people are moving into poverty.

"The substantial investments proposed by Brown's administration underscore the state's soaring economic recovery. The state faced a $26 billion budget deficit when Brown took office in 2011, forcing deep cuts to social welfare programs, schools and universities."

What a Democrat had to make cuts to social welfare, schools and universities!?! But, but, but... Tate... spittle... Tate!

"Advocates also have been pushing the state to raise reimbursement for doctors who provide care in the Medi-Cal program, which was cut by 10 percent during the recession. Brown did not propose an increase Thursday."

Hmmm?

"Brown called special sessions last year to address the health care tax and a $59 billion backlog in transportation infrastructure spending, but neither gained traction. He said Thursday that he'll get more involved in negotiating with lawmakers on both issues this year."

$59 BILLION backlog.... Sounds like someone can't pay for what they want?

"He said his administration has been deep in talks with health insurers to come up with a fair proposal to plug the $1.1 billion health care hole. The plan still needs Republican votes."

Damn that ACA and Medicaid expansion! Oh, and the poor!

Lastly, this incredible tidbit...

"But even as the governor and lawmakers debate how to spend a budget surplus, there's a looming financial hurdle: Unfunded pension and health care liabilities of $220 billion for future retirees who work for the state and the University of California system."

HOLY SH!T Batman! Article goes on to point out that Brown is wanting workers to pay more into the system. Hmmm... Didn't Haley propose that here a while back?

So, here in MS we are making the hard choices now rather then later. The same type of actions made in your Democrat state example. I'm glad Cali is on the upswing, but I'm not so sure I would brag about a surplus when you have BILLIONS of unfunded liabilities promisedto the people and a growing class of citizens who contribute nothing to the bottom line.

Oh and the hypocrites in the legislature there just voted to exempt themselves from the gun control laws they impose upon the little people.

10:25--you don't take into account that Mississippi is the most dependent upon government welfare to stay afloat..

tuition at cal-berkeley-13518
tuition at ole miss-7644 (16 hrs)

hmmm..why does California expect its citizens to pay that much tuition? and it's a widely known fact that if you score a 24 on the ACT, community college in Mississippi is FREE.

i somehow think we're the ones living in socialist paradise.

Love all these "lifelong" Republicans- wonder how many really voted for Repubs back in the 50's and 60's as they claim. Hell, I'll bet many of them didn't even vote for Repubs locally and statewide in the 80's. But I digress.

I too will claim being a lifelong Repub - and I'll take my own test as above. While I agree that some of Tate's methods of handling the LG position could use some refinement, I agree with the current result. Cutting agency budgets is not a bad thing. Need to do more of it. And cutting ridiculous taxes (inventory, franchise, etc.) is a good thing.

Crawford makes a good point that the proof is going to be how the legislative leaders (including Tate) handle this over the next year, and in 2018. Cuts should continue to be made to cover the revenue estimate shortfalls. But those cuts need to be made judiciously - start killing some of the programs, not just claim to be 'tightening the belt' for all agencies.

But for this 'lifelong Republican' - and more importantly, a lifelong fiscal conservative (not physical Republican, Phil) - keep cutting the spending and the growth of government. Spend wisely - cut specifically.

And to the idiot that opened this string of comments - you are an idiot with your comment about Reeves and PERS. The Treasurer is one of 11 board members and has little control over the investments. Nice try though - play again next year.

In 2012 Ms. got back $3.07 for every $1.00 they sent to the federal govt.
2013, 49% of Ms. revenue comes from the federal govt.
Still the people Ms. votes into office cannot balance a budget.
That is sad.

So, I can't tell what people are upset about. Are they upset because they took money out of the rainy day fund? If so, I get it. We should have made more cuts instead. It just sort of blows my mind that we (Republicans) talk about cutting the size of government. And when we cut taxes, government revenue doesn't come in as high as anticipated, and we make some expense cuts, everyone seems to freak out. I'm for further tax cuts and massive cuts in spending. As far as I am concerned, we can eliminate MDE, MDA, and about 12 other agencies. It seems to me that the only loser in this whole deal are the folks that favor expanding government.

It would help if our elected officials could count. Basic arithmetic would be too much to expect from them.

@239: what are the 12 agencies you'd like to eliminate?

not speaking for 2:39. I don't know but a couple of 'agencies' that I would eliminate. But there are several programs in many agencies that if I were 'king' would not exist. Some large; many small. And many more that would be restructured or merged.

Its a long list - especially when you start including boards and commissions.

Where would you like to start? Alphabetically or by size. Or even more fun, by the constitutencies that will rise up and scream the loudest when you start talking about 'their' programs?

An across the board reduction of 10% would trim the waste some. Some agencies could be reduced a lot more without doing any damage to the agencies, except for the bennies they seem to think they should receive just for filling a space.

@11:00. There has already been the 'across the board' cut - all agencies of at least 5% from the first shot by the Governor earlier this fiscal year. Then the next shot cut across the board again.

I agree that ATB cuts can work up to around 10% - most every agency can find that kind of waste and excess. Its the cuts afterward that should start cutting programs, not ATB.

There have been ATB cuts before that should have gotten at the waste. But as usually happens, when the economy got better and the income stream increased, a lot of the cuts got reinstated. Now is the time to right-size government and eliminate programs. The waste part has been trimmed. Now pull out the yellow pages and see what 'services' the government is supposedly providing that could be done by private business (i.e. Forestry Commission - a real need and good service in the 50's and 60's that now exists only because it does and always has.) AND, there is a constitutency that the legislators don't want to upset. But - every agency has a constitutency and legislators don't want to upset anybody.

I think Tate's tax cut is a failing attempt by him to buy his way into the Governor's mansion using taxpayer's own money.

8:35, have you ever heard of a politician using their own money for a single damn thing? I have heard of one and I am an old man.