Voter ID has long been a Republican wedge issue used to attack Democrats.
Though the right to vote is expressly enumerated, Republicans in many states have pushed for mandatory photo ID to vote.
Mandatory photo ID has been proven to cut legitimate voter turnout.
It also unnecessarily brings up the specter of poll taxes and purposeful voter suppression in the minds of many older Mississippians.
Scottie Cuevas supports Voter ID laws as proven by his yes vote on Senate Bill 2067 in 2005.
More recently the State Senate faced the decision whether to keep our sales tax (the highest in the nation) where it is OR cut it in half and make up the difference in state revenues by increasing the cigarette tax. This would have both saved people money on food and helped people quit smoking leading to a lower public burden.
One of the key votes on the tobacco tax/grocery tax swap occurred on January 6, 2006, when the Senate (with Amy Tuck pushing it) passed SB 2310 by a margin of 36-15. Cuevas was one of the 15 NO votes and was one of only TWO Democrats who voted against the bill. The vote to override the governor's veto of this bill took place on March 22, 2006, which failed by 28-22 (they needed 2/3's). Cuevas was one of the 22 no votes. After the Senate failed to override the governor's veto of this bill, Tuck came back with another bill, specifically designed to address the concerns of he cities (with regard to the sales tax distribution). That bill passed the Senate on March 3, 2006 by a margin of 28-19, and again Cuevas voted NO.
In addition he has done unDemocratic things like vote to "delete the poverty level aged and disabled (PLAD) category from those individuals eligible for Medicaid assistance" (2004 SB 1434) and voted against teaching civil rights in public schools (2006 SB 2718).
Thankfully Senate District 46 voters have a strong Democratic choice in David Baria who will make a fine State Senator and advocate for Mississippi's Gulf Coast.
I heard Cuevas was going to switch parties if he got elected. Maybe he'll never get that chance!
ReplyDeleteI don't know Scottie Cuevas so I can't comment on those Blog comments. I do know David Baria very well and agree with the Blog that he will make an excellent senator for District 46. David has integrity, drive, passion for Mississippi, and a deep conviction that now is the time for strong leadership in our state senate. We are fortunate to have a man of such conviction and character willing to step forward to serve us in the senate.
ReplyDeleteI am in the same boat with Mr. Ray. I have not lived in Bay St. Louis all my life, so I don't know Mr. Cuevas. I do, however, know David Baria. As a Democrat, resident of Hancock County and life-long Mississippian, I can say without hesistation that I believe David Baria to be the best candidate for District 46. David can provide the leadership we need for swift recovery and positive growth.
ReplyDeleteWe are so excited to have David Baria as a fresh new voice for Hancock County and all of District 46. When elected, he will represent us well in the state senate. I have great confidence in his ability to lead us forward in the fight for insurance reform and with other issues that are important to our region.
ReplyDeleteEach one of you that has posted a blog has said you do not know Senator Scottie Cuevas and by reading your blogs, I will tell you, you do not know him. And has any of you thought to call Senator Cuevas on these issues or your local city leaders to see why he voted the way he did. I have known Senator Cuevas ALL my life and I will tell you when he says "Solid Values for a Solid Future", he has meant this for the last 12 years. Senator Cuevas has been here for the people of Harrison and Hancock County. So I suggest, if you have any questions, try asking him first by looking in the phone book and getting his number. Second, before you make statements, I think you should check into the source and find out why he made the decisions he did and not just take someone elses word for a vote.
ReplyDeleteHmmm, "anonymous 2:46"
ReplyDeleteIf you would like to have some credibility here you might want to use your name like the other folks who commented on this thread.
First off, I would like to express my dissapoinment for Mr. Baria not inviting me on his campaign funded tournament fishing team. Secondly, as for Scottie Cuevas he can say honestly he did not take advantage of Katrina to make money off of his local coastians. As for the grocery tax, Coastal counties could not afford to reduce our taxes after the Storm. Hell, that was our only coastal income. So if you base your vote on who truely has the Coast in mind, the choice is obvious, Cuevas. Or vote for someone who has money on the mind as Mr. Baria ,a lawyer, as he has already demonstrated.
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting Mike!
ReplyDeleteThe concern over reduced local revenue was addressed in the later bill which would increase the percentage local governments received from the remaining tax meaning that the total dollars received at the local level would remain the same.
If you have never needed or used the services of a lawyer then you can claim the profession bad as a whole, otherwise...
Are you upset that Baria started a business after the storm keeping recovery money local?
Mr. Baria started a company after the storm...correct. He was like everyone else....getting in on the big bucks to be made from the damage of Hurricane Katrina. The way I understand helping someone is done not for money but out of consideration of others. Like viewing News Watch 13 the other night with Ronnie Barker of Long Beach. He refused any money from his neighbors and city officials after Katrina to help them get back on their feet. That is how you help the community. Go to WWW.rhinocon.com and look at the jobs Mr. Baria did after Katrina and the money he made on these jobs. He also states on his literature that he is "the only one candidate gave everything up to help them rebuild." Iknow after the storm Senator Cuevas helped to pass for Casinos to be brought to land so that thousands would have jobs back. Also Senator Cuevas worked 7 days a week, 12-15 hours a day getting not only our residence, but hospitals, MS. Power, Coast Electric and local Fire Departments propane gas for generators and etc. to provide services for our community. I am a business owner and I am not knocking Mr. Baria for making money. But for him to write in his literature and the paper that he is the only one that gave up all is hideous.
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