Mississippi PEP Uncategorized

Former state Sen. Billy Thames to be laid to rest on Friday


Services are scheduled for Friday for former state Sen. Billy Thames, who worked on mental health and agriculture issues during his 28 years at the Mississippi Capitol. Thames died Tuesday at the University of Mississippi Medical Center of complications of surgery for colon cancer. He was 69. The funeral is 10 a.m. Friday at Pinelake … Continue reading Former state Sen. Billy Thames to be laid to rest on Friday

Mississippi PEP Uncategorized

STAPLES: Legislature no stranger to reauthorization fights.


BY: Rebekah Staples @rstapes The recent debate in Jackson on whether the state should expand its taxpayer-funded Medicaid program in accordance with the Affordable Care Act (ACA; also known as “Obamacare”) brought back certain legislative memories. Call me crazy, but there seems to be a trend – both in the way D.C. promotes adoption of … Continue reading STAPLES: Legislature no stranger to reauthorization fights.

Mississippi PEP Attorney General, Democrats, Governor, health, Jim Hood, Legislature, Mississippi, Phil Bryant, Politics, Republican, State Government

AG Hood issues opinion: Governor can’t run Medicaid.


Mississippi's attorney general says the governor does not have legal authority to operate the Division of Medicaid by executive order. Attorney General Jim Hood's nonbinding opinion, issued Wednesday, contradicts claims by Republican Gov. Phil Bryant and could increase pressure on Bryant to call the Legislature into special session to reauthorize the state Medicaid program. Unless … Continue reading AG Hood issues opinion: Governor can’t run Medicaid.

Mississippi PEP Democrats, History, Legislature, Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus, Mississippi State House, Philip Gunn, Politics

June 11-On this day in Mississippi History . . .


in 2012, the Mississippi House Management Committee voted to pay Democrat Rep. Billy Broomfield’s expenses to a 2012 Southern Legislative Conference in Charleston, West Virginia after another black Democrat warned that Black Caucus members could obstruct business in the 2013 legislative session over the denial. “I think you need to go ahead and let him … Continue reading June 11-On this day in Mississippi History . . .

Mississippi PEP Democrats, Elections, Hattiesburg, Mississippi, Mississippi Municipalities, Politics, Republican

DuPree tops Ware by 37 votes in Hub City nail-biter.


In one of the closest mayor's races in Mississippi history, Mayor Johnny Dupree of Hattiesburg, a former Democrat candidate for Governor, retains the office.After affidavit ballots were counted today, Mayor Johnny DuPree netted 37 more votes than Councilman Dave Ware in Hattiesburg's mayoral race.Unofficial results show DuPree with 4,775 votes to Ware's 4,738.The affidavit breakdown … Continue reading DuPree tops Ware by 37 votes in Hub City nail-biter.

Mississippi PEP Elections, Governor, Keith Plunkett, Legislature, Mississippi, Mississippi State House, Mississippi State Senate, Opinion, Podcast, Politics, Republican, State Government

PEP Talk Podcast: Mississippi historically not as partisan as you may think.


BY: B. Keith Plunkett @Keithplunkett Geoff Pallay is Director of Research at the Lucy Burns Institute, sponsors of Ballotpedia and Judgepedia. He joined me to discuss the new study "Who Runs the States", an in-depth analysis of 22 years of data on partisanship in state government. This Podcast is sponsored by:

Mississippi PEP Democrats, Entitlements, Federal Government, Governor, health, Insurance, Keith Plunkett, Legislature, Medicaid, Mississippi, Mississippi State House, Obamacare, Opinion, Podcast, Politics, Public Safety, Spending, State Government, Taxes

PEP Talk Podcast: Dr. Randy Easterling discusses the pressure of Medicaid expansion on Mississippi’s doctors.


Dr. Randy Easterling, the past president of the Mississippi Medical Association, talks with Managing Editor Keith Plunkett about how the expansion of Medicaid in Mississippi would further pressure doctors and decrease access to health care to Mississippi's most needy. Related articles Snowden: Medicaid expansion not economic development, will weaken provider capacity. (mississippipep.wordpress.com) Plunkett: DSH payments … Continue reading PEP Talk Podcast: Dr. Randy Easterling discusses the pressure of Medicaid expansion on Mississippi’s doctors.

Mississippi PEP Cecil Brown, Democrats, Entitlements, Federal Government, Governor, health, Legislature, Medicaid, Mississippi, Mississippi State House, Obamacare, Phil Bryant, Politics, Spending, State Government

MS House Dems meet with Federal HHS officials to gather info for “alternative” Medicaid legislation


Last week, state Reps. Cecil Brown, D-Jackson, and Robert Johnson, D-Natchez, traveled to Washington to meet with officials of the Department of Health and Human Services. “They clearly want to work with Mississippi officials and are willing to consider options,” Brown and Johnson said in a statement. “We intend to spend the next couple of … Continue reading MS House Dems meet with Federal HHS officials to gather info for “alternative” Medicaid legislation

Mississippi PEP Cecil Brown, contributor, Democrats, Entitlements, Ethics, Federal Government, health, Keith Plunkett, Legislature, Medicaid, Mississippi, Opinion, Politics, Spending, State Government, Taxes

Plunkett: Another nail in the Medicaid expansion coffin.


BY: B. Keith Plunkett @Keithplunkett Democrats and left-leaning groups have continued to push the expansion of Medicaid in Mississippi over the past few weeks. A group calling itself the Mississippi Health Care Access Coalition has been touring the state using the same set of numbers released a year ago. They also say expansion will promote … Continue reading Plunkett: Another nail in the Medicaid expansion coffin.