Roger Wicker addresses the Stennis Capital Press Luncheon

Roger Wicker spoke at the Stennis Capital Press Luncheon at the University Club in downtown Jackson. Bobby Harrison of the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal introduced the guest of honor after we were allowed time to eat.

Wicker began his talk by telling the crowd that he felt he spoke for a lot of Mississippians when he said there is too much partisanship in Washington. The majority of his address dealt with bipartisan measures, some of which had passed and some of which were in the works. Keep in mind that Roger Wicker's party is in the minority and any measure that passes, that he votes for, has to be bipartisan. There are not enough Republican Senators to pass legislation without some Democratic votes.

Below are some of the highlights from my notes I made while listening to Roger Wicker.

• Wicker took credit for helping pass three "bipartisan" measures. He mentioned the Farm Bill, the GI Bill, and the economic stimulus package.
• Wicker spoke on the FISA compromise. He said that if you are an American citizen, the government has to go through a court to get permission to wiretap your phones or computer, "just like they always have" as Wicker noted. No Roger, this President has broken the law and wiretapped without going through the courts, which is why we are hung up on telecom immunity as part of the FISA package.
• Medicare is being used as a political football according to Wicker.
• He mentioned something about $350 million for barrier island protection for the coast. He spoke of protecting our coastline, by returning the barrier reefs to pre-Camille levels.
• Then with his next breath he called for more drilling on the coast. he repeated the myth that drilling will have an immediate impact on gas prices. The Dept. of Energy has said it will be 2030 before any effect on the market would be felt by drilling.
• Blamed Clinton for not allowing drilling in ANWR. I laugh when I hear this, because the Republicans controlled the Senate, House and had the presidency from 2000 to 2006. Why did they not pass it then when there was nothing to stop them?
• Drilling would help us have "oil independence". The questions that I want to ask any Republican are, one are they going to nationalize the oil like Hugo Chavez? Won't the energy companies sell the oil in the global market? How is the oil gleaned from the U.S. going to be forced to stay in the country? I am sure Exxon-Mobile will love to sell oil here for $100 a barrel when they can get $150 a barrel overseas.

Next month the guest speaker will be former Governor Ronnie Musgrove