Wednesday, January 3, 2024

Sid Salter: New Year Brings New Leadership, New Challenges

Democrat Brandon Presley’s failed populist challenge of incumbent Republican Gov. Tate Reeves – built on promises to expand Medicaid, cut or eliminate the sales tax on food, and heal racial division driven by decades of economic disparities – proved that at least for now, Mississippi’s political status quo remains just that.

Republicans hold super majorities in both houses of the Mississippi Legislature and all eight statewide offices. The GOP holds five of the state’s six seats in Congress. Mississippi’s political structure remains rigidly conservative, and the 1890 Constitution still vests the lion’s share of political power in the hands of the Legislature.

Most of the promises Presley made in the best showing a Democratic gubernatorial candidate has made since 1999 were dependent on legislative support from the GOP’s legislative majority that Presley never really had.

Yet the margin of Reeves’s win showed some cracks in the Republican wall. Just as the GOP nationally is split between merely conservative and those who are dogmatically so, there have been internal challenges in the last decade or so in Mississippi from the same forces in GOP primaries.

Whether charismatic figures like former state Sen. Chris McDaniel taking on Republican incumbents as “not conservative enough or less flamboyant figures operating under the “Freedom Caucus” banner in legislative races, fragmentation has been a threat to the dominant Mississippi Republican Party that former Gov. Haley Barbour led some 25 years ago.

In 2023, McDaniel received his third statewide rejection from the voters. Ten of 11 “Freedom Caucus” backed legislative candidates were defeated.

What does that mean? For starters, pure unadulterated Medicaid expansion is not likely to sprout wings in Mississippi and fly in 2024. But between Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann’s state Senate and the Mississippi House led by new Speaker Jason White, there is an appetite to listen to innovation that can stabilize the state’s hospitals and draw down more federal dollars to support them.

Both Hosemann and White have expressed genuine frustration with the fact that working Mississippians – in most cases two-job families – find themselves without healthcare coverage. Based on the legislative leadership, healthcare solutions aimed at the working poor would seem to be capable of getting traction.

Presley’s grocery tax cut is also likely DOA in the Legislature in 2024, but local governments have pretty steadily opposed that strategy for three decades. But White said last month that there is support for additional tax cuts, more likely the state’s income tax.

The most politically thorny issue facing White, Hosemann, and their legislative colleagues is the issue of Mississippi’s Public Employees Retirement System.

PERS is expected to ask lawmakers for a large direct cash infusion and present the Legislature with a plan to stabilize the system that will include employee contribution hikes. But no aspect of stabilizing PERS will draw more fire than making changes to the so-called “13th check” cost of living payment.

The “13th check” for most retirees is taken as a lump sum, which makes it a cash flow nightmare for the PERS system. But lawmakers generally avoid long debates about PERS on any level. Lawmakers simply don't want the increased scrutiny that any discussion of PERS reform will have on the Legislature’s enhanced retirement benefits.

Since 1989, Mississippi's 174 legislators and the lieutenant governor have enjoyed a preferential state retirement system that is 1.5 times more lucrative than that provided for “regular” state employees like schoolteachers or highway workers.

The special legislative system – called the Supplemental Legislative Retirement Plan (SLRP) – allows legislators to pay into the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) at a rate 50 percent higher than for regular employees. At the same time, the state contributes to the SLRP at a rate 50 percent higher for legislators than it does for regular state employees. “Regular” state employees are only members of PERS while legislators are members of both PERS and SLRP.

But this year, like it or not, lawmakers will have to discuss PERS as the system and outside detractors of the system search for a solution.

Sid Salter is a syndicated columnist. Contact him at sidsalter@sidsalter.com.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

“Racial division driven by decades of economic disparities???” BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

IT’s THE CRIME STUPID. Fix the crime and everything changes.

It is propagandists like this that constantly make excuses to take the spotlight off of the real issue – vicious violence - that are indoctrinating our college students. And we wonder why so many college kids support Hamas.

Anonymous said...

Sydney: Federal Underwriting Causes Kickbacks. Remember this by its anagram.

To fix MS, install Parental Choice and Vouchers in public education. Socialist handouts only create dependency.

Anonymous said...

Economic Disparities’ are caused by education and effort disparities, not race. I know several black people who are very successful and wealthy but they are all educated and work their ass off.

Anonymous said...


OH PULEEZ!

The rest of the world knows exactly how Mississippi brought about economic disparities. We know you starved the black schools in the budgets. We know you didn't pay the same wages or hire even blacks who were more qualified than the white applicants. You didn't let blacks, even WWII veterans vote.

And, that you are surprised that the poverty breeds crime is a matter of deliberate ignorance. There not ONE research study on crime that says anything else.

Worse, you are blind to the fact that the most violent,gruesome crimes are done by whites...serial killing , child abuse ( black parents neglect and that's often out of necessity or lack of resources), mass murders. We whites own brutality and death..


The states and cities that had people who bothered to learn how to govern, decades ago started improving black schools and supporting black universities and hiring blacks.

And, when it comes to financial crimes, blacks are at the bottom of the hierarchy.

Who introduced drugs?

And, some of you think you'll get to heaven...oh brother! Best get the " smote" out your eyes first!

Anonymous said...

11:13 is on here pandering hard with nonsense today. Go back to JFP.

Anonymous said...

The states and cities that had people who bothered to learn how to govern, decades ago started improving black schools and supporting black universities and hiring blacks.

11:13 - how are those states and cities doing today? Please be specific, because I'm hard pressed to think of any "real city" that is better off today than it was "decades ago".

Anonymous said...

Wonder why it is that so many black students are now enrolled in historically white Academies across Mississippi?

Anonymous said...



11:13 -is that you Brandon?

Anonymous said...

What's a smote?

Anonymous said...

Why are you all upset? Nothing will change. Relax. You will not lose your lofty pedestal as the southern dufus, forever last in class. Chill.

Anonymous said...

11:13am
I think "smote", past tense of smite, is what your daddy neglected raising your butt. The mote is a foreign particle in your eye that may contribute to your historical myopia.

Anonymous said...

"Most of the promises Presley made in the best showing a Democratic gubernatorial candidate has made since 1999"


Due to changing demographics, democrats will starting having an impact on state-elections in 20 years or so. MS will be the first majority African American state, when the same folks who run Jxn and the Delta get in charge the whole state will eventually become Greenville.


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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.


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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.

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