Dewey Phil Bryant and Republicans Play Fast and Loose with the Facts

First Republican ad distorting the truth for Dewey Phil Bryant:


Franks' campaign responds with the facts:

Ad Watch: Anti-Franks Ad, #1

CLAIM: "Jamie Franks is a personal injury trial lawyer who tried to stop tort reform."(Anti-Franks Ad, #1)

FACT: Co-Authored Tort Reform Bill in 2004. On June 2, 2004, the House passed (92-24) HB 13, co-authored by Jamie Franks, a tort reform bill. The legislation imposed non-economic caps, caps on punitive damages, protected innocent sellers of defective products and implemented several liability restrictions. (NFIB, Jun. 2, 2004)

CLAIM: "Jamie Franks has given thousands of dollars to liberals like John Kerry, Al Gore, and Bennie Thompson who don't share our values." (Anti-Franks Ad, #1)

FACT: Total amount contributed to the above candidates: $2250. $1,000 to Bennie Thompson in 2006. $1,000 to John Kerry in 2004. $250 to Al Gore in 1999. (Center for Responsive Politics)

CLAIM: "Jamie Franks voted for millions in new taxes. And high taxes hurt families and cost jobs." (Anti-Franks Ad, #1)

FACT: On Feb. 9, 2005, the House PASSED HB 1409. The bill provided for new fees to be charged by state agencies for services provided, not a tax increase on individual taxpayers or businesses as the ad implies. (Ironically, the first fee increase in the bill was for the State Auditor's Office. Phil Bryant continuously cites the low fees he is allowed to charge as the reason his office is drastically behind in audits performed.) The bill died in Senate committee. Jamie Franks voted AYE. (BIPEC Legislative Scorecard, 2005; MS House, HB 1409, 2005)

Second Republican ad playing loose with the truth for Dewey Phil Bryant:


Franks' campaign responds again with the facts:

Ad Watch: Anti-Franks Ad, #2

CLAIM: "Jamie Franks voted against a comprehensive voter ID program to clean up election fraud." (Anti-Franks Ad, #2)

FACT: On May 19, 2004, the House PASSED HB 1 on third reading. Jamie Franks voted "aye" for initial passage.

Jamie Franks has supported voter ID legislation. On Apr. 13, 2004; the House PASSED (92-28) HB 1827. The bill required voters to present identification listed in the Help America Vote Act, but exempted persons 65 or older. Jamie Franks voted "aye." (House Journal, Apr. 13, 2004, p. 870; Clarion Ledger, Apr. 14, 2004)

CLAIM: "Jamie Franks voted against tax cuts for small business that helped create new jobs." (Anti-Franks Ad, # 2)

FACT: SB 2480 (2005, Regular Session) would have simply prevented a planned increase, not raise taxes as the ad claims. SB2480 was signed into law on 3/23 by Governor Haley Barbour.

CLAIM: "Jamie Franks voted for the beef plant boondoggle that cost taxpayers 55 million dollars" (Anti-Franks Ad, # 2)

FACT: Along with nearly every other Legislator, Jamie Franks voted to allow the Land, Water and Timber Resources Board to fund projects to promote agriculture in Mississippi. One of those projects was Mississippi Beef Processors. The State Auditor knew in April of 2002 about a fraudulent project invoice in excess of $3,800 forged by the CEO of the Beef Plant. If Phil Bryant had done his job and reported the CEO at that time, no further funds possibly would have been allocated to the project.

The Legislature provided $50,000 to Bryant to fund what they thought would be Bryant's professional oversight of all Board projects. Over the next two years, Bryant only spent $10,000 of the allocation, and never provided the Legislature with reports that warned of the project's massive problems. As the only state official with the authority to account for the taxpayers' money, Bryant simply did not do his job. Had the Legislature known what he knew, the outcome could have been vastly different. And Bryant's thirst for the spotlight insured that others who had a criminal role in the debacle will never be prosecuted because he announced an investigation the day before the Attorney General was set to wire an informant in hopes of netting other perpetrators.