It appears we will finally get some high noon drama between the legislature and the Governor. The federal gummint is sending $1.25 billion in Coronavirus relief to Mississippi. This being Mississippi, that kind of money perks up the sniffers of more than a few politicians.
Speaker of the House Phillip Gunn and Leftenent Governor Delbert Hosemann told Governor Tate Reeves in no uncertain terms to not spend a dime of funds without legislature's permission or direction. They even went so far as to call the Legislature back into session tomorrow at 1 PM tomorrow for the sole purpose of dividing up the money and conquering the Governor.
Several reporters questioned Governor Reeves about the letter at his regular Covid-19 briefing today. Governor said the legislature has the authority to "appropriate money." The Governor said "I don't give a damn who is in charge of the money." He said what matters is the people who need it "now." He said the program needs to be flexible in case the pandemic returns in the fall. He said "politics and bureaucracy shouldn't cost Mississippians money they need." "It is very clear the executive has the ability, and has to have the ability to expend the funds for all Mississippians," said the Governor.
38 comments:
A pissing contest of epic proportions is about to take place.
All elected officials need to take a cut in pay. We the tax payers can't afford you.
Money is the mother's milk of politics.
Well this should be fun to watch and if Tate gets steamrolled (which I think he will) then holy hell watch out. He’ll be a giant lame duck
Hosemann is about to put his liberal agenda on full display . . . (way before I thought he would).
But that's probably a good thing in the long run.
If the Lt. Guv attempts a power grab, his hokie commercials with Aunt Bee will fall on deaf ears when he runs for gov'nah next time.
Moreover, Tate is smarter than people give credit.
I have no idea what might happen, but I 'panic bought' popcorn along with toilet paper last month.
(Just for such scenario).
I'm good through mid July with TP & popcorn.
LOL.
the more hands in the pot=more corruption. tate better sack up and veto this
They all want to get their slimy hands on it to control who gets it, and then how much they get back to put in their own pockets. Who gets to steal the most?
I thought the Governor has to call a special session.
What’s an example of the legislature stealing money, “putting it in their own pockets”? They aren’t set up like MDHS.
Like watching A Fistful of Dollars. But Tater ain’t no “Man With No Name.”
Time to pay back all the rich folks that put y’all in office.
March: "What? A super duper deadly virus? Oh no!! Run away....run aaaawwaaayy!!"
May: "Wait..what's that? Other people's money to be spent? Come back! Come back, I say!!"
Lt. Governor is a joke too! Please put all egos aside & work for the citizens of MS!
@ 9:58
I've known Delbert for a long time. In fact he lives a few houses down from me NE Jackson here. He's a liberal on a Republican ticket. He would be equal to Dorsey Carson in my opinion or almost a Jay Hughes.
10:38 nailed it. And Tater will do what Barbour tells him. Follow the money, Shad!
I’m in Tate’s corner on this one. We don’t need no more museums in desolate counties.
It says a lot that Hosemann and Gunn “instructed” DFA to do something. They don’t have the power to “instruct” DFA to do anything. They can request or ask. If they want to “instruct,” then they need to pass a law with the Governor’s signature, or override his veto.
As a body, Legislature is a co-equal branch of government. But unlike what Delbert has been saying for months, the LG as an individual is not supreme. The LG is not “in charge of state government,” as he said on election night.
The arrogance of that letter is remarkable.
It’s gonna be like a flock of buzzards fighting over a squashed ‘dilla....
Things were going quite well with the legislature NOT in session.
For them to flock to Jackson on a Friday afternoon during these times
is ridiculous. The people elected the Governor to handle situations such as this.
People will remember this action for a long time.....especially Gunn and Hoseman's
arrogance. Tate's not going to misuse funds. Federal guidelines must be adhered to.
Tate had better veto everything they draft....or else Hosemann by default is our new Governor, and he's licking his chops. Tate had better wake the fuck up to who Goofbert really is, and put that old man in his place.
Unless this is a Tax Refund to the citizens of Mississippi, then it is someone else's money because Mississippi is a welfare state.
I can hear the hog's in the lazy legislature squealing now.I'm with 9:34...these fools should give a damn about the taxpayers who most are not getting paid!
We will remember come election time.
You guys are missing the point about the Lt. Gov. The real power resides on the other end of the building. The one who does the least talking wields the biggest stick.
Hoseman is definately showing his ass, and early in the game. A billion dollars will do that. Fucking crooks, all.
I'm amazed that everyone thinks the governor in this state has any power. Tate ran all things spending the last eight years because the legislature is where the total power is in Mississippi.
Don't believe it? Watch and see over the next few weeks. Tate is loaded with enemies from his time there, and he will never spend a dime of that money unless he really does learn to "work with the lawmakers."
I have my tub of popcorn ready.
A bunch of professional wrestlers are about to get a windfall. Can you smell what the Rock is cooking?
Can we not stick it in the bank and sit on it a few months or until its really needed? I'm a red blooded conservative, but these politicians licking their chops over this is embarrassing. We will dole this out to special interest groups, construction companies and others that host cook outs at the mansion, and other "friends", and when we really need it, it wont be there.
Interesting. Only one person has mentioned Boss Hogg Haley Barbour. He floated away rarely being heard from but still directing his power through Butt Snow. He went back to his clients from his blind trust to continue making his millions after his Governor terms. Do we need to rehash all the failed things that came from that - power plants, solar get-ups, battery cars. Boss Hogg continued to not be very public during Phil’s tenure.
NOW, after putting his boy toy Tate in the head chair he resurfaces. And does not waste much time doing so in the name of a federal emergency. We have already seen Tate’s first attempt at putting people in charge of the disaster. It’s the folks who were in lockstep with him during the campaign through donations.
Yes, follow the money. Boss Hogg is sniffing around again to see what his followers can collect. Commissions being set up with the largest of donors. Great that the Legislature is wanting to exert their will. They are representing the people.
Not surprised by Delbert, he's just an old school democrat with an R by his name. Thoroughly disappointed in Gunn; he's always appeared to care about something more than amassing power--guess there's enough money to make him show his true colors.
Much ado about nothing. Delbert is just trying to get back into the news reports. The bill, provided there is one, will be very weak and will apply to this $1.25 billion pot of money only without changing the Governor’s authority at all in future emergencies. Tate will properly veto it and no attempt to override will be made.
Mississippi does what Mississippi does. It's been a weak governor system as far as spending revenue is concerned long before this arose. The people of Mississippi don't want change so what's the dispute? The legislature will spend the money as it always does. Other states do what they do. A crisis will reveal the cracks in a system, it doesn't fix them.
I think maybe the legislature missed an important point here: this money has already been appropriated. It was appropriated by Congress and directed to governors to distribute in their respective states. This is not a revenue stream that the Mississippi Legislature can somehow "re-appropriate." If they tried to do that, the feds would probably just put a hold on Mississippi's share of the money and that would make us look pretty stupid.
Covid 19 and social distancing be damned, there's money to be spent!
"If they tried to do that, the feds would probably just put a hold on Mississippi's share of the money and that would make us look pretty stupid."
Correction: It will expose how stupid Mississippi citizens, and its good ole' boy system - truly are. Their "leadership" is embarrassing....but they don't know any better because they've never been outside of their hick counties.
Aw shoot, this is an easy one. Just give the money to Nancy New and Bret Favre.....Golden Buzzards will have the nicest water polo arena in America.
Doesn't Tate playing the "I'm on a mission from God"* card completely trump whatever the leg does?
* “God puts people in places for a reason.” —Gov. Tate Reeves
WOW 5:11 AM "I've known Delbert for a long time. In fact he lives a few houses down from me NE Jackson here. He's a liberal on a Republican ticket..."
Up early stabbing your old friend and neighbor in the back. Please do us all a favor and stop coming to the neighborhood functions.
Tate’s staff is busy in here. Maybe they should be figuring out how to work with legislature and avoid this shit.
Tate made his bed on this and now he needs to lay in it.
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