Jackson Jambalaya

Thats rich, coming from an insurance commissioner who is a shill for BCBS and State Farm, and I am in the insurance industry. Those are his pets. They can never do any wrong. Meanwhile he refuses to let the companies get things straight once and for all and is a greater part of the reason our insurance market is in the position it is in. Also, try and go to his dept and make State Farm pay a legitimate claim...they won't touch it.

Odd... A bit of this was reused from Sid's May 2010 piece on Ainsworth in the DeSoto Times-Tribune. I guess that's why he didn't list Michael Watson, the current Secretary of State as helping public school children. Is that an example of lazy journalism? Help me out here, because I know I'm just some average person that's not nearly as smart as Sid.

Wouldn't a politician (or group of politicians) still appoint the insurance commissioner? Doesn't that mean it is still a political office? Wouldn't the donors simply shift to exerting influence on the person who makes the appointment?

Sid, thank you! I didn't realize Joe Tally helped create case law to insure 16th section land was leased at value (protecting school incomes) I knew a lot of folks hated him back then but didn't understand it. {I was a freshman in school and He was our superintendent of education}. I'm proud of him now... Maybe that's why I support one of our other elected officials who's recovering money for us taxpayers. Thank you for reminding us of what Joe did for us.
https://law.justia.com/cases/mississippi/supreme-court/1975/48232-0.html

this is for all the who fans out there..................'meet the new boss, same as the old boss''

since BCBS has the entire ms legislature on its payroll not much gonna change.

BSBS has a monopoly on health coverage in this state which allows them to gouge anyone.

insurance companies are exempt from all federal regulation and anti-competitive federal laws. its been that way since the 1950s. that's why every state has an insurance commission. there is no federal insurance commission.

One could make an argument that it would be wise to appoint someone so that (in theory) we could have a commissioner that may not be politically charismatic but really has the talents needed for this role.

One would also be foolish to think that is what will happen in Mississippi where the good ol' boy network will simply choose the next anointed one and he will continue to do their (read: State Farm's) bidding.

bcbs of MISSISSIPPI........i hear their ads non stop. they want you to think they are a good ole home grown company of mississippians. thats a stinking lie. they operate in all 50 states.

Fair point, until you consider some of the appointments in this state.

Speaking of appointed commissioners, the MDWFP commission is all appointed. Ask them how long they got to hunt and use Great River Road State Park in Rosedale before it became public. Some of the finest hunting in the state and the magazine editor and his friends, and friends of the legislature, got to use it as an entertainment venue for years after the state bought it for public hunting use. Look into that if you want to talk about corruption. Now the State of MS does not have a MS river overlook park, the only state on the river who doesn't, by the way.

Also note, just because someone it appointed vs. elected, doesn't necessarily mean they have the common public's best interest at heart. Appointed typically means a lot of favors, either in action or monetary, are doled out to get the spot. It's not free and for goodwill from my observations.

Insurance commissioner election 2023: Mike Chaney (480,514 - White Republican), Bruce Barton (329, 214 - Black Democrat). Explains why they want it appointed.

Interesting back story about Governor Winter’s appointment as “Black Market Tax Collector” which carried a salary of 10% of collections on illegal whiskey sales. Upon election, Governor Coleman enticed Winter as a member of the House of Representatives to run for Speaker of the House pitting Winter against longtime speaker Walter Sillers. Well, Winter got walloped and lost any chance of a future as a legislator. Governor Coleman realizing the mess he had caused quickly removed Winter from the house & appointed him to “ Black Market Tax Collector”. I am told that Coleman then sent word to Speaker Sillers that he was totally surprised at the upstart young Turks including Winter that would show so little respect to Mr. Sillers.

12:01 That particular election explains nothing, certainly not your point. Please use another example.

Someone explain how it takes politics out. Appointed by who else, but the grandest politician of them all. Seems like politics is all over this position. Let the people decide. Considering the ease of this position to be manhandled by BCBS, State Farm, etc…, this position is probably the wealthiest of all.

Seems the peon-public gets killed with costs and regulations regardless of appointed/elected.
The outcome is the same. We just get to choose our own murder weapon with an election.

12:01 assumes that all whites vote GOP and all blacks vote democratic. 12:01 sounds very racist.

Sure, take more government from the will of the people. Only the most elite know what is good for people.

Chaney wants to pick his successor.

Maybe next we can stop electing judges and sheriffs as well.

Look at the positions appointed by a governor now. Take MDWFP for example. Executive Director and all Commissioners appointed by governor. Not political? ha.

And God forbid the Governor get to appoint our state senato....WAIT!

What did Chaney know about the job when he was first elected? Not one damned thing.

Public Safety, Welfare, Medicaid, Rehabilitation Services...Which ones are not political appointees?



Department of Employment Security? Changes directors at Governor's whim. Not political? ha.

"That's Rich" has become the cute saying of the day. Speaking of that's rich, "we could have a commissioner that may not be politically charismatic..."

Did someone just suggest that Chaney is charismatic? Yep. Rich.

And 11:52 is right about DWFP using Great River Road as their private club and being able to invite wildlife employees and leaders from other states to hunt.

But, what 11:52 left out is that the man he calls a 'magazine editor' is also the governor's appointee to the wildlife commission and has been for years. He allowed the public park to deteriorate to nothing and still uses it privately and for dignitaries. And he's still a magazine editor' (and publisher). Politics at its very best in appointed positions.