If it were not for the leadership in the Mississippi House of Representatives, Gov. Haley Barbour would be able to run rough-shod over the legislative process.

Were it not for Speaker Billy McCoy and the rest of the Democratic leadership, Mississippi would be facing fewer Medicaid benefits, less funding for education, drastic cuts in health insurance for children and unrealistic restrictions on our judicial system.

Democrats in the House continue to fight for the working people of Mississippi, championing legislation that will cut taxes on groceries, provide more jobs in rural counties, protect the public school system that educates the overwhelming majority of our children and ensure that every person — rich or poor — are treated fairly by our government and our justice system.

To learn more about the Democratic leadership in the Mississippi House of Representatives, click here.

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If you ever doubted that Gov. Haley Barbour puts little above politics, then you can now set those doubts aside.

Today, friends and family members will pay their final tributes to Rep. Charles Young, a man who dutifully served his state and who won the accolades of Democrats and Republicans alike.

Of course, Rep. Young not being properly laid to rest and his district given time to mourn must have never crossed the mind of our good governor, who last week called a special election for that seat.

I remember in 2006, when the state faced three special elections, Gov. Barbour was in no real rush to call them. Of course, he mistakenly thought he had a chance of winning with a Republican in one of those races, so he took his time and did his homework.

The truth is, a Republican has little chance of winning the seat held by Rep. Young. So the only advantage the governor can muster is expediency. So he ignored common decency — which would have dictated allowing a decent mourning period — and called the election for a soon as he could.

In the end, I trust the election will turn out well for Democrats and the supporters of the late Rep. Charles Young. And you can rest assured Gov. Barbour cares not one flip what people think about his decision.

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President Obama campaigned on a theme of change, promising action from his administration to provide jobs, affordable health care, infrastructure upgrades and better educational opportunities.

And he has kept his words.

Organizing for America has developed a special webpage, Foundation for Change, where you can go and find out about how Obama Administration policies are making positive changes in our states.

In addition to finding out the impact on individual states, you can read about specific issues and learn of personal stories from Americans whose lives have been changed for the better.

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President Obama’s stimulus package is providing more than $1.2 million to Mississippi for programs that will provide jobs, rebuild our infrastructure and help our children.

We face one of the most difficult economic downturns in our nation’s history. It makes sense then that his plan is one of the boldest initiatives we have ever seen. And the Obama Administration is ensuring that transparency exists so that you can see how your tax money is being spent.

If you want to see how the stimulus plan is creating jobs and rebuilding our nation’s economy, then please visit:

http://www.recovery.gov

For an overview of Mississippi projects, you can visit here:

http://www.recovery.gov/?q=content/allocation-programs&state=MS

And if you are curious about what is going on in other states, simply visit here:

http://www.recovery.gov/?q=content/investments-state

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Last year, Mississippi saw an overwhelming number of new voters go to the polls to cast their vote in the presidential election. Many — if not most — of those voters were energized by the campaign of President Obama.

Tomorrow, the polls open again, this time for primary elections in cities across the state. These elections are vital to Mississippi, so I felt it was important that I reach our to and ask you to go to the polls.

Why are these races so vital? Because our municipal leaders are the first line of decision-making on meat-and-potato issues like zoning, taxes, infrastructure, water, sewer and public safety. If you live in a municipality, the decisions these elected officials make directly affect you.

I encourage you to go vote tomorrow. Take a look at the candidates, and cast your vote for the best qualified Democrat on the ballot.

You can also help out by forwarding this message to your friends and family, asking them to go to the polls to support their Democratic candidate in the primary as well.

Then on Wednesday, the Mississippi Democratic Party will join with you in supporting our nominees as we head toward the general election in June.

Your vote is important, and I hope you will make it count.

Democratically yours,

Chairman Jamie Franks

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JACKSON (April 29, 2009) – Mississippi Democratic Party Chairman Jamie Franks today released the following statement on the death of Rep. Charles Young:

“I had the great honor to serve with Rep. Young when I was in the Legislature. He was a tremendous man and a remarkable legislator. He will be missed by those who knew him, and his absence will be felt by those with whom he served.”

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In the past, America has been stirred to action when faced with new threats to our national security, or new competitive conditions that undercut our economic leadership. The energy threat we face today may be less immediate than threats from dictators, but it is as real and as dangerous. The dangers are eclipsed only by the opportunities that would come with change.

We know that the jobs of the 21st century will be created in developing new energy solutions. The question is whether these jobs will be created in America, or abroad. We should use government procurement policies to incentivize domestic production of clean and renewable energy.

For the sake of our security — and for every American family that is paying the price at the pump — we will break our addiction to foreign oil. We Democrats commit to fast-track investment of billions of dollars over the next ten years to establish a green energy sector that will create up to five million jobs. This transition to a clean-energy industry will also benefit low-income communities: we’ll create an energy-focused youth job program to give disadvantaged youth job skills for this emerging industry.

We’ll dramatically increase the fuel efficiency of automobiles, and we’ll help auto manufacturers and parts suppliers convert to build the cars and trucks of the future and their 18 key components in the United States. And we will help workers learn the skills they need to compete in the green economy. We are committed to getting at least 25 percent of our electricity from renewable sources by 2025.

To lower the price of gasoline, we will crack down on speculators who are driving up prices beyond the natural market rate. We will direct the Federal Trade Commission and Department of Justice to vigorously investigate and prosecute market manipulation in oil futures. And we will help those who are hit hardest by high energy prices by increasing funding for low-income heating assistance and weatherization programs, and by providing energy assistance to help middle-class families make ends meet in this time of inflated energy prices.

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The Mississippi Federation of Democratic Women are excited to announce plans for their annual convention, which will be held at the IP Casino and Resort in Biloxi on May 1-2.

This year’s convention will focus on the issues of adequate and affordable housing as well as green jobs for Mississippians.

Speakers for the convention will include:

• Speaker Pro Temp J.P. Compretta
• Rep. Diane Peranich
• Sen. Hillman Frazier
• Rep. Frances Fredericks
• Rep. Dirk Dedeaux
• Rep. Billy Broomfield
• Sen. David Baria
• Sen. Debbie Hawkins
• Judy Phillips from the Stennis Institute of Government
• Lucimarian Roberts, first female chair of the State Board of Education

To register for the event, please complete the form at this link:

http://msdemocrats.net/pdf/mfdw-registration-form.pdf

For more information, please contact Mary Katherine Brown at (601) 954-5457 or email her at marykatbrown@yahoo.com.

The Mississippi Democratic Party and the Mississippi Federation of Democratic Women encourage everyone who can attend to do so. We hope to develop meaningful ideas during this two-day convention.

Sincerely,

Mary Katherine Brown • President • Mississippi Federation of Democratic Women

Gloria Williamson • President-Elect & Convention Program Chairwoman • Mississippi Federation of Democratic Women

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JACKSON (April 16, 2009) — State Democratic Chairman Jamie Franks today responded to statements made by Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant during Wednesday’s tea party at the state Capitol.

Bryant told the crowd that President Obama’s stimulus package was a waste of taxpayer money.

“The stimulus package is providing the State of Mississippi with millions of dollars for projects that will create jobs and improve the infrastructure of our cities and our counties,” Franks said. “If creating jobs and rebuilding our roads is a waste of money to Phil Bryant, then perhaps we need to protest his leadership in the Senate.”

Franks said the stimulus package will also provide tax cuts for working Mississippians, a fact he said Republicans like Bryant and Congressman Gregg Harper have repeatedly ignored.

“Thanks to President Obama, working families will receive up to $800 in employee tax breaks,” Franks said. “The reason you don’t hear Republicans talking about this tax cut is because it helps the middle class, not the richest among us.”

The stimulus package will provide the following benefits to the State of Mississippi:

• 55,100 additional children will be provided health insurance.
• 997,000 workers will receive a tax credit on their paychecks.
• 30,000 jobs created over the next two years.
• 63,000 students aided by making the American Opportunity Tax Credit refundable.

“President Obama and Democratic leaders are offering workable solutions to the financial mess the Bush Administration and a Republican Congress got us into,” Franks said. “Instead of posing for cameras in front of the Capitol, perhaps Bryant and Harper should go inside and figure out how to lend a helping hand to the people who are suffering because of the policies of their party.”

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The Mississippi Democratic Party took a bold step on Saturday by offering their support to the Employee Free Choice Act through a resolution passed by the party’s executive committee.

This piece of Congressional legislation will help protect working people who desire the ability to come together and negotiate with their bosses to provide fair pay, good benefits and job security.

The Employee Free Choice Act can help rebuild a middle class that has been decimated by the policies of 8 years of Republican control in Washington, which has led to the economic recession in which we now find ourselves.

Opponents of the Employee Free Choice Act are spreading lies, conjuring up images of illegal activity and using the same politics of fear that led us to where we are today.

But the Mississippi Democratic Party is dedicated to spreading the truth about the Employee Free Choice Act. To do so, we need your help.

Please consider doing one of the following:

1. Call your Congressman and ask him to vote for the Employee Free Choice Act.
2. Call U.S. Sens. Thad Cochran and Roger Wicker and ask them to support the Employee Free Choice Act.
3. Donate $10 so we can continue to spread the word about how important the Employee Free Choice Act is to rebuilding our middle class.

America’s working people are stretched as never before. Wages are dropping, health care costs are rising and pensions are disappearing. For the first time in generations, people are very worried that their children will be worse off than they are.

This shouldn’t be the case, and you can help change that. Do your part to support workers in Mississippi by supporting the Employee Free Choice Act.

Regards,

Chairman Jamie Franks

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