The Mississippi Democratic Party today responded to the GOP’s announcement that they would be conducting a statewide tour to drum up support for a Voter ID initiative.

Statements from Chairman Jamie Franks:

“The State of Mississippi is suffering from record unemployment, deep cuts to our health care systems and exorbitant drop-out rates among high schoolers. We have hospitals in South Mississippi facing bankruptcy and furniture manufacturers in North Mississippi fearing closure. Our once promising automotive industry in Mississippi is slowing in Canton and on hold in Tupelo. And the Republicans are focusing their efforts on Voter ID?

“Just like their counterparts on the national level, the state Republican Party is losing touch with what matters most to the people in Mississippi. People here don’t care about politicians’ political posturing, people care about their own jobs, putting food on the table and making sure they can afford to go to the doctor when they get sick.”

Statements from Executive Director Sam Hall:

“It’s odd to us that the Republicans are doing this, considering that it was Repulican senators under the direction of Republican Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant who killed a comprehensive voting bill that included not only voter ID but also early voting initiatives.

“If this doesn’t prove that Republicans are more interested in voter ID as a political wedge issue than really passing meaningful legislation, then I don’t know what does.”

Hall also called into question the process the Republican Party is undertaking to put this initiative on the ballot:

“The courts still have not fully clarified where these signatures must come from. The law says from the state’s five Congressional districts, but we only have four Congressional districts today. Until this is clarified by the courts, it looks like a petition drive is getting the cart before the horse.

“Mississippians should also wonder about the validity of the signatures collected. The Republicans want people to show ID before they vote, but they do not require ID to sign their petition. I know, because I asked numerous signature gatherers at the Neshoba County Fair if ID was required to sign their petition. They all said no.”

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By Jamie Franks • Chairman of the Mississippi Democratic Party

President Obama has said we are at a time of great challenge. We face wars abroad and a struggling economy at home. But with great challenges, come great opportunities. The problems we face require more than the usual Washington quick-fix, they require fundamental reform.  

There are few better examples of the need for fundamental reform than in our health care system.

Our health care system is broken. Health insurance premiums are going through the roof and the number of uninsured persons is rising. Forty-five million Americans don’t have insurance, either because they can’t afford the high premiums or because they were denied coverage due to pre-existing conditions.  Many families are loosing their choice of doctors due to insurance cutbacks — some are loosing the choice to even visit a doctor when they’re sick. Elderly couples across Mississippi are being forced to choose between buying groceries or the medications they need.

We’ve all heard stories from friends and families who have been affected by the high costs of health care. In Mississippi, nearly 20 percent of our population is uninsured. In the last year, 37.1 percent of Mississippians under the age of 65 were uninsured, including 75.6 percent who went more than six months without insurance. All of these averages are much higher than the national average, including the number of uninsured children.

Just over 11 percent of American children are uninsured. In Mississippi, that number is more than 16 percent. Part of the blame can be laid at the feet of Gov. Haley Barbour who has forced staggering budget cuts to children insurance programs.

Turning a blind eye to so many people in need is not the mark of high morality. We must reach out and give a hand up to those in need.

But reforming the health care system isn’t just a moral imperative, it’s a fiscal imperative. State and local governments are facing cutbacks across the board and can no longer bare the burden of emergency care for the uninsured. Businesses, large and small, are struggling to balance their books and are forced to cut jobs because they can’t afford the rising cost of insuring their employees.

In Mississippi, less than 30 percent of small businesses offer health care to their employees. And the state cannot overcome the deficit of health care spending. Mississippi currently spends more than 18 percent of its state product on health related expenditures. Considering the budget problems we face today, it is unrealistic to think we can continue to fund health care costs at such a high percentage.

The burden is no less on insured families, either. In Mississippi, 30 percent of families spend more than 10 percent of their paycheck on health care cost. The average annual premium for insured families is more than $10,000. That is a burden too high for Mississippi working families.

Reforming the system will undoubtedly be a huge undertaking. Health care is an issue that affects every American and the only way we can successfully change the system is by bringing all voices to the table. That’s why President Obama will tackle this in the same way he has taken on all the major challenges of his administration — by listening to voices on all sides of the debate.

We must move beyond the divisive arguments that have plagued past attempts at reform. Americans can no longer bear the burden of a broken health care system. We must act now to enact reform that works for families, local governments, and businesses alike.

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JACKSON – Mississippi Democratic Party Chairman Jamie Franks today called on Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant to call a special session while Gov. Haley Barbour is out of the state on political fundraising trips.

“Our state Constitution says that when a governor is out of the state the lieutenant governor becomes the acting governor, enjoying all the authority of that office,” Franks said. “Considering the Senate and House negotiators reached a budget deal over the weekend, I believe Lt. Gov. Bryant should call a special session to pass the budget.”

Franks said such a move would show leadership by Bryant, something that has been lacking in the current lieutenant governor’s term as head of the Senate.

“Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant praised the agreement reached over the weekend at one point, but when Gov. Barbour said he didn’t like it, Bryant backpedaled,” Franks said. “Lt. Gov. Bryant needs to show real leadership and act within the authority of his office to get this budget passed this week.”

Franks also criticized Gov. Barbour for putting the people of Mississippi after his own political aspirations.

“Gov. Barbour doesn’t seem to be in any hurry to do the job he was elected to do,” Franks said. “Instead, he is too busy testing the waters for a presidential run three years from now by raising money in New Hampshire and Iowa.”

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JACKSON – Chairman Jamie Franks today condemned the Republican legislative leadership for playing politics with the well being of the state and its taxpayers.

“Republicans in the Legislature have decided that their political futures are more important than the future and well being of the people of Mississippi,” Franks said. “Instead of doing the work they are paid to do, they abdicated their authority to the governor in a purely politically calculated scheme.”

Franks said Gov. Barbour, Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant and other Republicans in the Senate are more interested in 2011 elections than the budgeting process.

“House and Senate negotiators have reached compromises, only for Sen. Alan Nunnelee to withdraw the agreement at the behest of the governor,” Franks said. “These political shenanigans threaten to shut down government, and if that happens, the people will suffer because of foolish political games played by Republicans.”

The sticking point in negotiations is now whether or not to move $60 million to a fund to be used in 2011.

“We have $60 million to fill budget holes. Why don’t Republicans want to use that money this year? I’ll tell you why. Because Phil Bryant isn’t running for governor until 2011,” Franks said. “There is no rational, logical reason to delay using that money right now to fill our budget holes.”

Franks said using the Rainy Day Fund should also be an option.

“Look outside, it’s coming an economic monsoon in Mississippi,” Franks said.

Franks also praised House negotiators for their efforts.

“When the governor wanted a $90 million hospital tax and the House was opposed to any hospital tax, the House negotiators compromised,” Franks said. “On one day, Sen. Nunnelee thought the compromise was a good idea. A few days later, he said it wasn’t good enough. How is that good-faith negotiating on the part of the Republicans?”

Franks also pointed out that allowing the governor to call a special session is bad fiscal policy.

“A special session costs more per day than does the regular session, but the governor and lieutenant governor don’t care about that,” Franks said. “The governor wants control over the legislative process, and I guess Phil Bryant doesn’t mind handing over that control instead of being a leader like he was elected to do.”

Franks said the governor’s budget will be detrimental to the state. Gov. Barbour’s budget would:

• Increase classroom sizes to 45 students, far too large for teachers to be effective
• Cut $100 million in education funding over three years
• Reduce funding for special education and gifted programs
• Levy a $90 million tax on hospitals in a time when health care costs are increasing and hospitals are struggling to stay afloat
• Cut funding for training of new highway patrol officers at a time when 10 percent of the force is approaching retirement

“For someone who travels the country talking about his sound fiscal policy, Gov. Barbour has some troubling budget proposals,” Franks said. “We have money to pay for services now, but instead of doing so the governor and lieutenant governor will waste thousands of taxpayer dollars on a special session. That may be good partisan politics, but it’s horrible public policy.”

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JACKSON – Democrats across Mississippi are celebrating big municipal races that prove the Democratic Party has strong momentum heading into next year’s midterm Congressional elections.

“Tonight shows us that the Democratic message is resonating with the voters of Mississippi,” Chairman Jamie Franks said. “We’ve picked up mayoral seats in key cities like Vicksburg while turning away fierce Republican challengers in cities like Ocean Springs.”

Franks pointed to a variety of victories in illustrating how the Democratic message is being heard by every type of Mississippian.

“We’ve won large metropolitan races and small-town races,” Franks said. “City voters, rural voters and everyone in between realize that the Republican Party in Mississippi is leading us down the wrong path, and these voters want new leadership.”

Franks said it was important to note that voters in Booneville, Starkville and other similar smaller towns with more rural populations also elected Democratic mayors.

“The idea that the Democratic Party will not play in rural Mississippi is misguided, and I think the Republican Party is starting to get that message,” Franks said. “People want leaders who look out for jobs, for health care, for education; not leaders who look out for big business and special interest groups.”

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JACKSON (May 7, 2009) — Chairman Jamie Franks today released the following statement on the death of Jackson Mayor Frank Melton:

“We are saddened to learn of the death of Mayor Melton,” Franks said. “He served our capitol city as a businessman, community activist and civic leader. Our prayers are with his family and friends during this very trying period.”

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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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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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JACKSON (April 6, 2009) — Mississippi Democrats on Saturday voiced their overwhelming support for the Employee Free Choice Act.

“The Employee Free Choice Act 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,” Mississippi Democratic Party Chairman Jamie Franks said Monday. “This piece of Congressional legislation 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.”

The support came during a meeting of the party’s Executive Committee on Saturday, April 4, 2009. Party leaders voted to pass a resolution that stated their support of EFCA and encourages Congress to pass this crucial piece of legislation.

“America’s working people are stretched as never before. Wages are dropping, health care costs are rising and pensions are disappearing, Franks said. “For the first time in generations, people are very worried that their children will be worse off than they are. That’s why the Mississippi Democratic Party is supporting the changes offered in the Employee Free Choice Act.”

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JACKSON (March 27, 2009) — Mississippi Democratic Party Chairman Jamie Franks today confirmed the hiring of Sam R. Hall as the new executive director of the Mississippi Democratic Party.

“I’m happy to have Sam officially on board as our executive director. He has a lot of experience in Mississippi Democratic politics, working with this party, working with Democrats in the Legislature and running campaigns,” Franks said. “He will bring political experience and business leadership to the office.”

Franks said the hiring was made official at a Thursday meeting of the party’s Administrative Committee.

“I’m excited about the future of the Democratic Party in the state. We have a lot of momentum built up from President Obama’s historic election on the national level and the monumental victory by Congressman Travis Childers here in the state,” Hall said. “I hope to work with the chairman and the executive committee as we continue to grow and strengthen the Democratic Party in Mississippi.”

Hall is a native of Tupelo. He graduated Tupelo High School and Millsaps College, where he majored in Political Science. He spent several years working as a journalist, including stints as publisher of three Mississippi weekly newspapers and one Alabama daily newspaper.

Hall began his political career as Communications Director of the Mississippi Democratic Party. He also served as Executive Director of the Legislative Democratic caucus. Hall managed the successful special election campaigns of Reps. Angela Cockerham and Sherra Hillman Lane. Most recently, Hall was the campaign manager for Justice Jim Kitchens, who unseated incumbent Chief Justice Jim Smith.

Hall was the founding partner of Blue Dot Group, LLC, a political consulting firm located in Jackson. He stepped down from his role in that firm to join the party as executive director.

Hall takes over from interim Executive Director Rosalind Rawls, who will remain with the party in an advisory capacity through the end of the month.

Franks said the party has also hired Christopher Smith as a political director.

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