Sunday, January 24, 2021

Eating Their Own? (CORRECTION)

CORRECTION: JJ totally botched this one.  Totally.  There is a third section to this bill that places a deadline of 90 days on the Lieutenant Governor.  The Governor has 90 days to fill a vacancy and if he does not do so, the Lieutenant Governor has 90 days to make the appointment.  If no appointment is made, the appointment reverts back to the Governor. 

A Republican State Senator  is trying to limit Governor Tate Reeves's power to appoint agency heads that require Senate confirmation.   State Senator David Parker (R- Banana Republic) filed SB #2196.  The bill states: 

(2)  (a)  In recognition of the importance of the continuity of government during regular and extraordinary times, the Governor shall have ninety (90) days from the date of the vacancy to make any appointment in law, including, but not limited to, those made with the advice and consent of the Senate.  If the Governor fails to make an appointment within ninety (90) days of the date of the vacancy, the power to appoint shall transfer to the Lieutenant Governor, who shall make the appointment as soon as practicable.

The provisions of this subsection (2) shall not apply to any appointment to the State Board of Education or the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, as provided in the Mississippi Constitution, nor to any office for which a contingency for an appointing authority's failure to make an appointment or fill a vacancy is provided by statute.

 Thus a limit is placed on the Governor's appointment power yet not only is the power transferred to the Lieutenant Governor but it is transferred without the same restrictions.  

The bill is assigned to the Accountability, Efficiency, Transparency Committee. State Senator John Polk (R-Sausage-Making Land) is the Chairman.  Copy of bill.

 
Kingfish note: It is quite clear there is some animosity between some legislators and the Governor.  The Senate passed a bill last year that removed the Department of Tourism from MDA.  There is a legitimate debate on whether tourism is best served by keeping it under MDA's purview.  However, the bill also removed the power to govern the agency from the Governor and placed it under a seven-member board.  The Governor would have appointed four members while the Lieutenant Governor would have appointed three members.  The bill did not pass the House.   

Representative Trey Lamar is trying to remove the Division of Medicaid from the Governor's authority as well.

 Look at this situation from 25,000 feet.  Some things are bigger than the office or petty squabbles but apparently everyone downtown is too small-minded to see the big picture.  Mississippi suffered for decades because it has one of the weakest Governors in the United States.  Then-Attorney General Bill Allain fought hard to get the legislators off of the Boards and Commissions.  Consecutive elections were allowed so a Governor wasn't an immediate lame duck when he assumed office.  Even now, the Governor is still a weak office in Mississippi. 

 However, the Lilliputians seek to remove as much power from the Governor because they hate him so much, accountability be damned and be damned it will be.  Representative Lamar argues there will be more accountability when there are more eyeballs.  The hospital consigliere knows damn good and well when there are more eyeballs, there is less leadership.  More eyeballs also means there are more fingers to point at each other. 

 Mr. Parker gives the game away by giving more powers to the Lieutenant Governor while handcuffing the Governor. State Senator Polk was known as one of the Governor's allies when he was Lieutenant Governor.  The chances are strong this bill goes nowhere.

 

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

Please move tourism away from MDA. Anything that MDA manages is a complete disaster.

Anonymous said...

Kingfish, you are missing a great opportunity to look into why it takes this Governor an inordinately long time to make appointments. There is a reason for this bill. This Governor doesn’t have his act together.

Anonymous said...

There is a great need to move 'Parks' away from 'Game and Fish'. MDWFP has zero interest in a well-managed, well-funded parks program. Parks is nothing but a play-toy for these bureaucrats and appointed commissioners. Move Parks the hell out of the control of these decrepit bureaucrats and put a woman in charge of Parks.

Furthermore, no governor (or Lt. Governor aka Amy Tuck) should have control over MDWFP. It's not a politician's private hunting club. Who will ever forget Tuck putting her brother in as second in command or Bryant using this agency for his personal enjoyment and entertainment?

Anonymous said...

As I recall, when Reeves was running for governor, there was speculation that he would have problems with people that he marginalized and railroaded when he was Lt. Gov. (and there were apparently many). Are these chickens coming home to roost?

Anonymous said...

Or - in all probability the LTG wrote the bill

Anonymous said...

@9:46pm No fan of Tater here....but you are clearly part of the problem that thinks the legislature should have more power. Sounds like you're one of those "insiders" that's got something to gain from such.

Anonymous said...

Yeah, that’s why he has a staff... and a lot of runway from election to being sworn in.

If you can’t discharge the duties in a timely manner, then don’t run for the big chair.

I’ll also say Tate was a complete dictator as Lt Governor. He’s reaping what he’s sowed.

For the life of me, I can’t figure out why Kingfish is carrying his water.

Anonymous said...

You know, Kingfish, I enjoy your site. You bring attention to many issues that would otherwise go unnoticed. That said, you 5th grade name calling is pretty petty - Banana Republic, Sausage Making Land, Lilliputians. Give me a break, grow up and try to curb that elementary vernacular. You can make you point without reverting to 10 year old tactics.

Anonymous said...

@10:55 but he did place the same restriction on the LTGOV.

Anonymous said...

Looks like there is a constitutional problem with this - i.e. separation of powers But, understanding the most legislators are less that intelligent......

Anonymous said...

Tell you what folks, Mississippi isn't 50th in soooo many categories and metrics because, historically or currently, our Office of Governor is too powerful.

Anonymous said...

7:00 am, no he didn't. According to the bill, the LG is to appoint someone "as soon as is practicable" -- which has absolutely no objective meaning.

Anonymous said...

@6:15 carrying water is too polite. This site has turned into a rolling in-kind campaign contribution to the Tot.

Anonymous said...

This site has turned into a rolling in-kind campaign contribution to the Tot.

We can only hope and pray that KF goes all-in and shit cans all of your future anti-Reeves comments.

Anonymous said...

Gee, Kingfish, it seems that Mr. Parker & Mr. Lamar are regular readers... I mean commenters, on your site. Kudos to you for getting under their skin and exposing their "game."

Anonymous said...

5:55
Sounds like you work in the top of the Sillers building.

Kingfish said...

Pro-Tate? How so?

I'd say the same thing if Hood or Waller was Governor.

Anonymous said...

If the legislature would clean up the statutes pertaining to appointments this wouldn't be an issue.

"By statute, I need a red-headed, left-handed, social worker from the old 5th congressional district nominated by the alternate social worker society of Claiborne County that has to be confirmed by the Senate during the last two days of the legislative session with paperwork submitted the third thursday preceding the first full moon of February."

Yeah, appointments are real easy.

Anonymous said...

" That said, you 5th grade name calling is pretty petty - Banana Republic, Sausage Making Land, Lilliputians."

Well that's your opinion and you are entitled to such.

But many of us find it it f**king hilarious.

Kingfish . . . keep doing what you've been doing !

Anonymous said...

Kingfish . . . keep doing what you've been doing ! January 25, 2021 at 3:38 PM

Ah, he's been making sausage, and, you're clearly in the grinder.


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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.


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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!!!

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