Thursday, July 29, 2021

Delbert Pushes for a Better Mississippi at Neshoba

 Leftenent Govenor Delbert Hosemann made the following remarks at the Neshoba County Fair yesterday. 

Good morning! It is great to be back at the Neshoba County Fair! A welcome home. We all missed each other, and Lynn and I are so glad to be back. We do not even care how hot it is.

We came in last year and had to face the devastation of a historic number of floods, tornadoes, and hurricanes.

Then the COVID pandemic reached Mississippi, and everything changed. Our hospitals filled up and our economy came to a grinding halt while we all took steps to protect our families and neighbors.

Even in the face of COVID, we continued to work every day on the agenda you elected us to execute: jobs, education, healthcare, infrastructure, and right-sizing state government. 

Thanks to your support, and the work of your Senators and Representatives, we elevated workforce training efforts. We shrunk the bureaucratic board overseeing workforce training from 41 to seven key people, hired a “czar” to track and consolidate our efforts, and began evaluating current programs for outcomes. 

If a program is not performing, we do not need to spend taxpayer money on it. 

And every Mississippian deserves access to quality training so they can secure a meaningful job and provide an economic future for their family.

We brought the Mississippi Senate to your living room. 

You have a right to know what happens inside your State Capitol. Now, all of our sessions, redistricting hearings, and committee meetings are webcasted and archived so citizens can view them at any time. 

We increased capacity at our hospitals. When the pandemic raged, our hospitals were Ground Zero for the sick and dying. Our healthcare workers, at great personal risk, have taken care of us tirelessly without complaint. This is their finest hour. 

We recognized the major role our hospitals have played and provided millions of dollars in additional funding for personal protective equipment and increased ICU-bed capacity. All of which is being used today.

We protected the integrity of our roads and bridges. We worked with our farmers and loggers, two of Mississippi’s most important industries, to increase weight limits for harvest permits to a reasonable amount while simultaneously increasing penalties for overweight trucks and providing additional funding for our county roads and bridges. 

We instituted a statewide one-to-one technology plan for all schoolchildren. Mississippi is the first state in the nation to institute a statewide rollout of computers and tablets for all K-12 students. Over $150 million was set aside by the Legislature to provide our children with first-rate technology—and teach them how to use it. 

The greatest asset we have is a child’s brain. 

We made broadband more accessible. Growing Mississippi’s economy requires connectivity to the wider world. We cannot achieve this without reliable, high-speed Internet access. Our match program with our state co-operatives will connect 50,000 new homes in two years, and our other legislation opened up public utility fiber in some of our most rural areas. 

Our goal is to reach the last mile down the gravel road in every neighborhood. 

Here is where we are going in the year ahead:
         
We are working on getting our fellow Mississippians back to work. Our labor force participation rate still sits at 56 percent—the second lowest in the nation and not improving with the pandemic shutdown. Raising it immediately depends on moving unemployed adults back into the workforce. 

We are committed to investing in high-quality training programs, offered through our high schools and community colleges, which end in a meaningful job. We need to begin this training with our high school students before graduation day. With more dual enrollment and career and technical opportunities, we will continue to push training down into our high schools.
         
Less than 30 percent of our population has a two- or four-year college degree — but all Mississippians deserve opportunities for a meaningful economic life.  
 
Small to medium businesses are our target for most of Mississippi to grow and our business incentives should encourage those businesses. We will pass again, as we did last year in the Senate, the MFlex program.  

This is a common sense, performance-based formula for tax incentives for small and medium businesses developed by your local economic developers to grow and diversify your local economy.  

We are working on making healthcare more accessible and affordable in Mississippi. 

The time for simply saying “no” to our options for working Mississippians has passed.  When a cancer diagnosis can bankrupt a family, we have a responsibility to help. Further, no Mississippian should be further than 30 minutes from an emergency room. 

This fall, the Senate will hold hearings and dig deeper into the delivery of healthcare in our State. From managed care, to scope of practice issues, to insurance options, everything is on the table.
         
When our working Mississippians are healthy, they are holding down jobs, contributing to their communities, and supporting their families.  We should treat our neighbors as ourselves.

We are working on ensuring every child in Mississippi has access to a high-quality education. Teachers are helping grow the next generation of Mississippians. The Senate has supported pay raises both years I have been in office, and this year, we will take a wholesale look at the current salary schedule.

We will again redouble our investment in early childhood education, which is the basis for our children’s future. 
If the pandemic proved anything, it is our children want and need to be back in our classrooms in front of a dedicated teacher. Every school needs to open in-person this fall. 

We are working on putting more of your hard-earned money back into your pockets. 

We ended the fiscal year more than $1 billion over estimated revenues. It is unclear whether this surge is here to stay but know this: growing government is a nonstarter. 
         
The Senate will hold hearings before the year concludes on comprehensive tax reform, and we have invited the House to join us. All of the hearings will be webcasted because we want you to be a part of the process. It is your money. 

We are working to put the money sent to us by the federal government to the best use.  

We did not ask for $1.8 billion in pandemic relief. I, like you, have major concerns about how printing money in Washington will impact our children’s futures. 

We are asking our cities and counties to come to us with well-planned, sensible projects in water, sewer, and other infrastructure upgrades. We do not need to invest these funds for one or two years, but for one or two generations. 
 
We are working on the items you told us you cared about, including implementing a responsible medical marijuana program and reinstituting the initiative process. 

The Senate passed a back-up to Initiative 65, but our efforts ultimately failed in the House. When the Supreme Court struck the law down, we immediately began holding hearings and drafting legislation. We intend to pass a medicinal marijuana bill and return the initiative process to the people. 
 
I have experienced COVID and received the vaccine.  It reminded me how blessed I am to live and work in Mississippi and I look forward to working for each one of you. 
         
Thank you for your support. Enjoy the Fair and God bless Mississippi!"    

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Trollfest '09

Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


Note: Security provided by INS.

Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

Note: Security provided by INS
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