When I was growing up, my parents never let me go outside and play until I finished my chores. I’ve tried to instill that same lesson in my children.

At my job, if I don’t finish my work, I don’t get paid. I’m sure your job is the same way.

But undoubtedly, the same thing is not true for Gov. Haley Barbour. He helped create a budget mess, and despite an agreement over the weekend, he refuses to call a special session. Instead, he’s still out-of-state, galavanting around to raise money for other politicians.

That’s why we’re asking the people of New Hampshire to send Haley home.

Since the governor is in New Hampshire at a big fundraiser tonight, we thought we’d ask the good people there to send him home so he can finish his chores.

We want to do the same thing in Iowa, but we need your help. We need you to make a small contribution so we can ask the people of Iowa, when they see him, to come home and call a special session.

Please help us get Haley home so we can pass a budget. Any donation will help. $10. $20. $100.

Of course, Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant could call the special session himself. I made a public statement to the press earlier today asking him to do just that. I’ve shared that statement below.

Thanks for your continued support of the Mississippi Democratic Party. With your support, we can build a stronger Mississippi made up of leaders who love this state and want to make it great more than they want to take care of their own political career and the career of politicians in other places like Iowa and New Hampshire.

Sincerely,

Chairman Jamie Franks

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PRESS RELEASE: Statement by Chairman Jamie Franks on need for special session

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 backpeddled,” 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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