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Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America

Former Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour attends Gov. Tate Reeves inauguration ceremony inside the House chamber at the Capitol in Jackson, Miss. Jackson, Miss., Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2020.

In 2006, the story goes then-Republican Gov. Haley Barbour was meeting with legislative staff about the extra federal funds the state received to respond to Hurricane Katrina that ravaged the Mississippi Gulf Coast when someone innocently proclaimed the Legislature will need to appropriate the funds.

Barbour, according to reports, said calmly in his deep, slow Southern drawl, that was not going to happen.

It did not. Such is the legend of Haley Barbour in the annals of the Mississippi Legislature.

Bobby Harrison

There were legislators, especially in the then Democratic-controlled House, who wanted the Legislature to have more oversight and more authority over the funds the state received in the aftermath of Katrina. They also wanted more control of the more than $1 billion in federal stimulus funds the state received to help plug budget holes caused by a dramatic drop in revenue after the Great Recession in 2008-09.

In each instance Barbour remained in firm control. And Phil Bryant, who followed Barbour, controlled most of the money the state received as a result of the 2010 BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

But now Republican Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann and House Speaker Philip Gunn are trying to take away the authority of fellow Republican Gov. Tate Reeves to have the authority over $1.25 billion in federal funds the state is receiving to deal with costs and other issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This episode is the most significant split of Republican leaders since the party garnered control of nearly every aspect of state government in 2012.

Why are legislative Republicans not willing to grant Reeves the same spending authority over federal funds that Barbour, and to a lesser extent, Bryant had before him?

The answers are varied. One is that Barbour exerted an influence, especially over the Senate where first Amy Tuck presided and then Bryant presided, that was in many ways greater than the influence of those presiding officers.

During the budget negotiations it was not unusual for an agreement to be reached between House and Senate leaders only for the Senate to renege after discovering Barbour did not like the deal.

It was unthinkable before Barbour to think legislative leaders would alter their decisions based on the wishes of the governor.

For decades, legislators routinely overrode the vetoes of governors and essentially ignored their wishes. There were noticeable exceptions, but Barbour took the governors authority to a new level.

Part of that was the force of his personality and his communication skills. In addition, Republicans were finally gaining a foothold in the state and they were in unison. Legislative Republican were reluctant to fight with their fellow Republican governor.

Reeves has the misfortune of serving as governor at a time that the party has matured and it could be argued that the Legislature is more interested in reclaiming its traditional power than protecting the governor.

And the fact cannot be lost that Reeves served two terms as lieutenant governor where he presided over the Senate as a vocal and aggressive advocate. He clashed routinely with key members of the House such as Ways and Means Chair Trey Lamar, R-Senatobia, and Pro Tem Jason White, R-West, over how to deal with infrastructure woes and what bonds to pass to finance long-term construction projects

It also is rumored that he and Hosemann do not have the best relationship. Recently Reeves argued that he is working with the Legislature in the disbursement of the funds, saying he has talked with the speaker, Black Caucus members and others. He did not mention specifically talking with the lieutenant governor.

Perhaps that was an innocent oversight. When asked later he said he had talked with Hosemann multiple times. But the oversight if it was fits the narrative that two of the three most powerful politicians in the state do not have the best relationship.

In short, Reeves has made enemies. Both Hosemann and Gunn say the issue is not personal, but about upholding the constitutional mandate that the Legislature controls the purse strings and is in a better position to appropriate the money in a more transparent manner.

Both praised Reeves work in dealing with the pandemic and multiple other crises that have developed since he took office in January.

Reeves concedes that the Legislature has the prerogative to force the funds to go through its appropriations process.

I dont really give a damn who is in charge of this money, Reeves said recently. What I care about is the people who need it and they need it now.We cant allow politics, bureaucracy to cost them the money they so badly need.

Legislative leaders say they have the same goals as Reeves, but that they have the constitutional mandate.

Read more from the original source:
Why Republican legislators might be tougher on Reeves than on recent past governors - Mississippi Today

On election night in Wisconsin last week, I spoke to a mother of two undergoing chemotherapy treatment. She prides herself on being an active participant in our democracy, and she made a timely request for an absentee ballot. But it didnt arrive until after Election Day. And with the COVID-19 pandemic, going to a polling location could have been extremely hazardous to her health. One would think the elected officials who represent her would fight to make sure she could make her voice heard without risking her safety. Instead, Wisconsin Republicans fought to suppress her constitutional right to vote.

She is not alone. Thousands of voters across Wisconsin were disenfranchised for no other reason than craven Republican self-interest. They wanted to win the election for a seat on the states Supreme Court. They knew they couldnt win it by letting people vote, so what did they do? They exploited a public health emergency in an attempt to steal the election. One Wisconsin voter brought a sign to the polls that said it best: This is ridiculous.

But guess what? It didnt work. Against all odds, Wisconsin voters fought back and elected Judge Karofsky to the states Supreme Court. I know Judge Karofsky will be fair and make decisions based on the rule of law, not a hyper-partisan agenda. And Wisconsinites will be well-served by her sound judgement.

This remarkable result speaks to the grassroots enthusiasm for Democrats in Wisconsin and across the country. And it should terrify Donald Trump and every other Wisconsin Republican.

But even though Republicans failed this time, you can bet theyre going to keep trying to suppress peoples votes all the way through November. Theyre going to keep forcing millions of Americans to choose between their safety and their vote. And to add insult to injury, theyre going to keep defending their actions by pushing the widely debunked myth of widespread voter fraud.

Time and again, the GOP has resorted to this lie to deny voters their constitutional rights. Now theyve stepped up the mythmaking, claiming without any evidence that vote-by-mail ballots would result in increased fraud. Theres just one problem with that theory: Its patently false, and Republicans know it.

Several states, including Oregon, Colorado and Utah, have already employed expanded vote-by-mail successfully in their elections. Not only that, but President TrumpDonald John TrumpMichael Cohen to be released early from prison amid coronavirus pandemic: report Biden assembling White House transition team Top Republicans call on Trump to fund WHO pending director-general's resignation MORE, first lady Melania TrumpMelania TrumpMelania Trump discusses coronavirus response with wife of German president Melania Trump tweets photo of herself in a mask, encourages Americans to wear them in public 'The Art of Her Deal': Unauthorized Melania Trump biography due out in June MORE, Vice President Pence and Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDanielRonna Romney McDanielRNC brings in more than million in February GOP chairwoman negative for COVID RNC chairwoman recommended COVID-19 test after experiencing symptoms MORE have all voted by mail. They just dont want to afford you that right.

This is not a war on voter fraud; its a war on voters.

Even some Republican governors and secretaries of state arent willing to go along with their partys lies. Ohio, for example, is using vote-by-mail for upcoming elections. In fact, just last week, the spokesperson for the Republican Ohio secretary of State said, Ohioans can be confident that their vote-by-mail ballots are as safe and secure as the votes cast on Election Day.

As a career civil right rights lawyer, Ive seen and fought against a lot of voter suppression in my day. I thought I was old enough that nothing could surprise anymore. But this is a whole new level of corruption. This is voter suppression on steroids, and its the foundation of the Republican Partys strategy.

Republicans know they cant win on their ideas, so they have to suppress the vote to have any chance of victory. This is the oldest trick in the GOP playbook. In fact, in 1980, prominent conservative Paul Weyrich admitted as much, saying, I dont want everybody to vote. [Republican] leverage in the elections, quite candidly, goes up as the voting populace goes down. Now, theyre exploiting a public health crisis to gain that leverage, and endangering millions of lives in the process.

But the American people know a con job when they see it, and they wont be fooled.

Wisconsin should teach us two things. First, the GOP will stop at nothing, including putting peoples lives at risk, to win an election. And second, the American people have the power to stop them, just like they did in Wisconsin.

The right to vote is the right that protects all others. It is the foundation of our democracy. And Democrats are showing true leadership during this crisis by advocating for the health and safety of the American people and the integrity of our elections. Thats why weve called on all states to employ vote-by-mail, expand early voting, and implement a variety of other reforms to make it easier and safer for Americans to make their voices heard during this pandemic. Because you shouldnt have to win the geographic lottery to exercise your right to the ballot.

We believe elections should be about which party has the best ideas, not which party can silence the most voters. We believe government has a fundamental role in keeping people safe and allowing them to exercise their fundamental freedoms.

We cannot let this pandemic bring our democracy to a halt or silence the voices of people across the country, especially in communities of color, which have been among the hardest hit by the coronavirus and historically targeted by Republican voter suppression efforts. Trump and Republican leaders are playing games with peoples lives and constitutional rights. And American voters will make them pay the price on Election Day when they elect Joe BidenJoe BidenBiden assembling White House transition team Manchin to back Biden for president Joe Biden must pick a progressive black woman as VP if he wants to win MORE as the next president of the United States.

Tom PerezThomas Edward PerezClintons top five vice presidential picks Government social programs: Triumph of hope over evidence Labors 'wasteful spending and mismanagement at Workers Comp MORE is the chair of the Democratic National Committee. During the Obama administration, Perez served as head of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division and then as secretary of Labor. Follow him on Twitter @TomPerez.

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Republicans put lives in danger to try to steal an election now they want to take your away right to vote | TheHill - The Hill

Republicans on the House Foreign Affairs CommitteeapplaudedPresident TrumpDonald John TrumpMichael Cohen to be released early from prison amid coronavirus pandemic: report Biden assembling White House transition team Top Republicans call on Trump to fund WHO pending director-general's resignation MOREs decision Thursday to suspend funding to the World Health Organization (WHO), calling on the administration to make the United Statess voluntary contributions to the health body contingent on the resignation of WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

In a letter sent to Trump on Thursday, Foreign Affairs Committee ranking member Mike McCaul (R-Texas) and 16 members of the panel raised concerns over the WHO and the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) initial response to the coronavirus outbreak.

The lawmakers argued that there was misinformation spread during the early stages that led to preventable fatalities across the world.

This resulted in countries around the world, including ours, fighting the virus with incomplete information and valuable time wasted. Sadly, as a result, we will have to count the lives lost in China and around the world for far too long, they wrote.

The group went on to note that the U.S. contributes more funding than any other country to the WHO despite having a lower population than some countries.

The lawmakers also blasted the international body for allegedly ignoring early warning signs, citing experts in Taiwan cautioning human-to-human transmission of the virus.

As you know, the United States is the largest funder of the WHO, contributing more than $893 million during their current two-year budget cycle. ... In comparison, during the same budget cycle, the People's Republic of China (PRC) contributed approximately $86 million in both assessed dues and voluntary contributions, they continued.

According to a professor of global health law at Georgetown University, the WHO's public statements misled public health experts, giving a false sense of assurance that contributed to the spread of the disease, they wrote.

The group went on to criticize the WHO for whatit claimed was a delayed decision to declare COVID-19 a pandemic, alleging thatTedros has a troubled record of response to health emergencies and a record of embracing PRC propaganda and policies, arguing his close ties with the PRC undermines his ability to serve impartially as Director General.

As such, we have lost faith in Director-General Tedros' ability to lead the World Health Organization. We understand, and value, the vital role that the WHO plays around the world, especially in acute humanitarian settings. At times, the WHO is the only organization working on the ground in the worst places in the world, and the U.S. should continue to support this important work, the letter read.

In light of the information presented in this letter, we recommend that you condition any future Fiscal Year 2020 voluntary contributions to the WHO on the resignation of Director-General Tedros, it continued.

The letter echoes the sentiments of GOP House leaders, who have argued withholding funding is a necessary action to hold the organization accountable for its role in the spread of the virus.

I think what the president is saying is he wants more accountability, because what the World Health Organization told the rest of the world put us in a worse place. There are some amazing people who work in the World Health Organization, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthyKevin Owen McCarthyTop Republicans call on Trump to fund WHO pending director-general's resignation McCarthy digs in on his calls for clean spending increase for PPP The Hill's Coronavirus Report: Frist says Manhattan Project-like initiative necessary to fight virus; WH to release plan for easing lockdowns MORE (R-Calif.) told reporters on Thursday.

I think there's a real question, who is the leader of that World Health Organization," he said. "And the president is making sure that there's accountability to the resources and the recommendations they're providing to the rest of the world we should not play politics.

House Republican Conference Chairwoman Liz CheneyElizabeth (Liz) Lynn CheneyTop Republicans call on Trump to fund WHO pending director-general's resignation Pelosi backs remote voting for House Trump taps members of Congress to advise on reopening MORE (Wyo.) told KFBC Radio that she believes holding back funding and doing an investigation is the right course of action.

I think that the World Health Organization has a crucial role to play, but as long as the Director of the World Health Organization is somebody who is doing the bidding of the Chinese Communist Party, theyre costing lives not saving lives, she said.

While Republicans have largely praised the administrations decision, top Democrats, foreign leaders and health groups have cautioned the move could hinder the global response in defeating COVID-19.

Speaker Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiTop Republicans call on Trump to fund WHO pending director-general's resignation Overnight Health Care: Trump guidelines on reopening to let governors make decision | Trump approach garners mixed reviews | Senate adjourns without deal on small business loans 14 things to know about coronavirus for today MORE (D-Calif.) went as far assaying the White Houses decision to withhold funding is illegal and that she will do everything in her power to reverse the controversial move.

This decision is dangerous, illegal and will be swiftly challenged," she said in a statement.

Read this article:
Top Republicans call on Trump to fund WHO pending director-general's resignation | TheHill - The Hill

President Trumps leadership is undergoing a stress test. The coronavirus pandemic illuminates how partisan divides can affect both how people perceive a threat and what they think should be done in the face of such a formidable challenge.

Trump voters the people who feel deeply seen and represented by the president view their president as under attack. The foes include Democrats, the viruss relentless spread and, particularly, China. I spoke with several Trump supporters about how they see their governments leadership in this time of crisis.

Maurice Rosenstein owns Casa Do Brasil, a steakhouse in College Station, Texas. He voted for Mr. Trump in 2016 and plans to vote for him again in 2020.

Hes a strong willed and minded man, Mr. Rosenstein said. I think hes done a great job with our economy.

He does not have the polish as a politician, but I think he has done a great job, Mr. Rosenstein added about the coronavirus response. He pointed toward shutting down the travel from China as a positive step. The mans just got guts, he added. He will go down in history as a very good president in my eyes.

Mr. Rosensteins restaurant has, in his words, been devastated by the pandemic restrictions. His staff of 64 is down to 20. The takeout business doesnt generate a profit.

While lauding the presidents response to the coronavirus, he directed most of his ire toward China.

I dont think I want to buy anything again from China, even if Ive got to pay double, he said. These people created a pandemic that I dont think well ever get out of 100 percent, probably in my lifetime. Its terrible.

Michael Ricciardi owns Global Cleaning USA, a commercial cleaning company in Toms River, N.J. Many of his regular customers have suspended services because their buildings are shut down, though his company is still doing specialty deep-cleans.

I think that him shutting down the travel from China early was a huge help as far as trying to contain it, Mr. Ricciardi said. It was just alarming to see how quick this thing spread.

Mr. Ricciardi believes that the coronavirus is a man-made virus by China during an election year.

He said that he would like to see the president hold China more responsible for the coronavirus. To me this is biochemical warfare.

China needs to be investigated and they need to be held responsible if found theres any evidence that they did this on purpose, he added.

The way I see it, you cant call a guy a racist for stopping travel to China a month ago and do a 360 flip a month later and say he didnt stop travel soon enough. Youre checkmated as far as Im concerned. You already made yourself look like a dummy by doing that, Mr. Ricciardi said.

Jarrett Stern is a hospital administrator in Littleton, N.H. He has worked in health care for 25 years. Mr. Stern said that he has been pretty impressed with the federal governments response to the coronavirus. Its always easier to sit back and armchair quarterback what they did.

He pointed to passing the stimulus package and advising states as to how to minimize the spread of the virus as positive steps. He said he has also been impressed with the daily White House briefings.

Jane Murphy Timken is the chairwoman of the Republican Party in Ohio. I think the president has been doing a phenomenal job, she said. He has assembled a fantastic team of leaders who are experts in their field.

The president, she said, is a take-action person. Hes not going to be sitting in his office. Hes going to be on the phone.

He has high expectations for people who work for him and theyre doing the best to deliver, Ms. Timken said. The attitude is all hands on deck. Everyone needs to step up.

For him the priority is the health and safety of the American people, she added. His America First is proving correct. We need to take care of the United States and its citizens.

Ms. Timken criticized Democrats for being critical of the federal government at this time. Theres a tendency to attack. Ive seen Democrats tend to do this, and I dont think it bodes well. When the American public is losing their jobs and concerned about their health and safety, partisan attacks dont go over well. I think there will be a backlash to that, she said.

The American people love the president because he is a fighter and he is fighting for them, Ms. Timken added.

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How Trump Is Doing vs. the Coronavirus, According to Republicans - The New York Times

Ted Cruz recently told Fox News that the mainstream media was trying to root for disaster. Both senators have just been named to a White House task force to open the economy, which makes me feel not one iota safer.

My particular favorite, though, is Ron Paul, the former congressman from Texas who published a very long column on March 16 on the Ron Paul Institute for Peace and Prosperity website headlined The Coronavirus Hoax. There just werent enough people with the disease to warrant the incursion into our civil liberties, he warned. That was just about a week before his son, Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky, came down with the faux virus himself.

I will say in defense of my state that none of these people are stupid; they arent the stereotypical yahoos that so many non-Texans like to imagine live among us in droves. No. They represent the stubborn if expediently applied strain of anti-government independence that is inherent in the Texas character, which conveniently dovetails with being a Trump toady.

Mr. Abbotts fealty to the president, along with that of our senators, could mean that Texans could become the public health guinea pigs who will suffer mightily if the state opens too soon.

What all this behavior will mean in a state that is slowly turning purple is anyones guess. We are lucky that, thanks to local stay-in-place orders and a comparative lack of density in our cities, the number of Texas cases is only over 16,000, with deaths at over 390. But we are not at peak, experts tell us, and meanwhile over one million Texans have filed for unemployment. Thats a number that will cause a lot of restiveness here, and maybe some reflection on just how much actual leadership Republican leaders have displayed during this awful time.

Not that leadership hasnt been on display in other quarters. Some of the slack has been taken up by the private sector, with restaurant and small-business owners banding together to help their colleagues and trying their best to fill in for a government that is M.I.A.

The big businesses have gotten into the act, too, in particular HEB, a San Antonio-based grocery store chain that has become a lifesaver during the kinds of climate emergencies that have become the new normal here (see: Hurricane Harvey, 2017). As my colleagues Dan Solomon and Paula Forbes reported recently in Texas Monthly, HEB has had a pandemic and influenza plan since 2005, when it first took note of the H5N1 threat. The chain put that plan in effect in 2009 when the H1N1 swine flu hit.

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Texas Republicans Have Spectacularly Failed the Coronavirus Test - The New York Times