Supreme Court Rules on Ballot Dispute

The governor actually lost an election issue in front of the Mississippi Supreme Court.

You can read the opinion (written by Justice Dickinson) on Folo, but the long and short of it is that the Court said the Senate election should go at the beginning of the ballot with other federal elections.

Hopefully, the Governor & Secretary of State abide by the ruling so the Justice Department does not have to become involved.

Hat Tip: Folo

DSCC To Air Ads In Support Of Ronnie Musgrove Starting Today (Tuesday)

Roll Call:

"As Sen. Roger Wicker (R) continues to air a series of campaign ads in central and Gulf Coast Mississippi this month, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee is going up on television in the Magnolia state beginning today.

The DSCC television purchases in Mississippi means the party will be on the air in the Magnolia State ahead of the Democratic Senate nominee, former Gov. Ronnie Musgrove, who has yet to buy television ads in the special Senate election."

Swing State Project

Roger Wicker has been on the air in South Mississippi for more than a month painting himself falsely as a champion of the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

LA Times on the Musgrove, Wicker Senate race

There was a really good article in the LA Times today focusing on the Wicker -Musgrove Mississippi Senate race. The central theme of the piece is how the Obama campaign has energized the Democratic voter base, especially African-Americans, to the benefit of not only the Obama campaign, but to down ticket Democratic candidates as well. Here is a good excerpt,

The Mississippi race between Democratic former Gov. Ronnie Musgrove and Republican Sen. Roger Wicker distills the wide range of factors that have put congressional Republicans in their weakest position since the Watergate scandal of the 1970s.

The overall political climate, shaped by the sluggish economy and President Bush's low approval ratings, is souring many voters on Republicans. The party has been hobbled by a stampede of retirements by senior Republicans, including Mississippi Sen. Trent Lott. After Lott quit in 2007, Wicker was appointed to replace him.

Barack Obama's presidential campaign has generated a big boost in Democratic voter registration, especially among African Americans, who make up more than a third of Mississippi's population. Other quirks, such as ethics scandals, are putting more Republican Senate seats at risk than seemed likely a year ago.

Doctors attack Cochran & Wicker

The American Medical Association is not too pleased with U.S. Senate. The AMA is running ads in Mississippi, and a few other places attacking ten senators, including Wicker & Cochran for their recent vote on Medicare. (Seven of the ten are up for re-election this year.)

From the Clarion-Ledger:

Former Mississippi Gov. Ronnie Musgrove, a Democrat running against Wicker, said Wednesday that Wicker's recent vote shows he's influenced by special interests, including insurance companies. "He chose private insurance companies over Mississippi citizens," Musgrove said.

But Wicker said the bill would cut benefits to 27,109 Mississippi seniors who receive heath care through Medicare Advantage, private health insurance plans that receive Medicare dollars.

"That is a horrible and unnecessary choice, and one that is the result of a majority party deciding to play a game of political chicken at the expense of the elderly," Wicker said.

Nearly every year, Congress votes to reinstate the money that would be automatically cut when Medicare spending reaches a certain level. But this year's bill, which Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid plans to bring up again next week, would prevent the cut by reducing payments to insurers.

President Bush wants to avoid cutting Medicare fees for doctors but doesn't like the idea of reducing payments to insurers or other aspects of the bill. This week, his administration delayed the processing of Medicare claims to give Congress more time to block the cuts.

From Kaiser:

AMA's advertisements, which began running Tuesday, target by name 10 Republican senators who voted against the measure: John Cornyn (Texas), Kay Bailey Hutchison (Texas), John Sununu (N.H.), John Barrasso (Wyo.), Mike Enzi (Wyo.), Bob Corker (Tenn.), Lamar Alexander (Tenn.), Roger Wicker (Miss.), Thad Cochran (Miss.) and Arlen Specter (Pa.). Seven of the senators face re-election this year (Wayne, CQ Today, 7/1). The television and radio ads, which are running in six states, reference the Fourth of July and say, "There's no celebrating for the millions of seniors, the disabled and military families who will lose their access to health care. A group of U.S. senators voted to protect the powerful insurance companies at the expense of Medicare patients' access to doctors" (Yen, AP/Tampa Tribune, 7/1).

Click here to see what the AMA President had to say about the U.S. selling out to private health insurance companies.

If you find the ad on YouTube, please let us know or post the link in the comments.

Barbour family profiting off later election

According to Senate Guru, there may be another reason Governor Barbour wanted the election in November.

Mississippi: George W. Bush was just in Mississippi for a high-dollar fundraiser for the ethically questionable Roger Wicker. But the fundraiser was behind closed doors. Now why would Wicker want to hide his devotion to George W. Bush? The response from Wicker's camp:

"Sen. Roger Wicker is honored to have President Bush to Mississippi to support his campaign," Wicker campaign manager Austin Barbour said in a news release. "President Bush has offered America strong leadership in a unique moment of danger in our history."

Before you swallow your tongue over the declaration of George W. Bush's "strong leadership," it's worth pointing out that Wicker's campaign manager is Austin Barbour. Who is Austin Barbour? Austin Barbour is a lobbyist and the nephew of Republican Gov. Haley Barbour. On that point, it's worth recalling that Gov. Barbour bent Mississippi election law as far as it would go to delay the special election in which the younger Barbour is now managing Wicker's campaign against former Governor Ronnie Musgrove. It's good to see that Haley Barbour's family can profit off of ol' Haley's shady political maneuvering.

Hotline TV On The Mississippi Senate Race

It's a good little show and in many ways shows what will soon be the conventional wisdom of Washington D.C.

The Mississippi section of the clip starts at the 1 minute mark.

Is Senator Roger Wicker A Coward? He's Already Backed Out Of The First Debate

Wicker runs away from Neshoba County Fair Debate

Crawfishes on commitment, 

blames Democratic Leader for scheduling votes

…but none are currently scheduled

From a press release:

Interim U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker yesterday backed out of a scheduled candidate debate with Gov. Ronnie Musgrove. The debate, scheduled for July 31 at the Neshoba County Fair in Philadelphia, was accepted by both candidates more than a month ago.

Wicker claimed the press of Senate business, and important votes, yet was able to find time out to speak at the fair on Wednesday morning, July 30. Wednesday is smack in the middle of the Senate work week.

"I like to believe you can take a man at his word, but Wicker agreed to this debate weeks ago and now he crawfishes out of it," said Tim Phillips, campaign manager for Musgrove's Senate campaign.

There has been no change in the Senate schedule in the weeks since Wicker agreed to the debate. While it is possible that votes may be scheduled on July 31, none are currently scheduled. It is just as possible that votes might be scheduled on June 30, when Wicker will be at the Fair.

A copy of the Senate yearly schedule, prepared at the beginning of the year, is attached. (calendars can be found below)

"If he can't keep his word about this, how can Mississippi voters trust anything he says?" added Phillips.

Roger Wicker Voted Against Providing Shelter To People Left Homeless By Hurricanes

As we’ve shown you here and here Roger Wicker seems determined to whitewash his record of failing the Coast. This is example #3 of how Roger Wicker failed our Gulf Coast and why for showing such lack of foresight he should not be allowed to serve as one of Mississippi’s United States Senators.

Roger Wicker was the only member of the Mississippi delegation to vote against extending FEMA assistance.

In 2007, Wicker was the only member of the Mississippi House delegation to vote against an amendment to the Gulf Coast Hurricane Housing Recovery Act that would extend FEMA housing assistance for evacuees of Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma until December 31, 2007 and provide tenant-based rental assistance upon termination of FEMA housing assistance.

Roger Wicker is no “longtime friend of the Gulf Coast” as he claimed in his first ad.

If you’ve got a suggestion on why Roger Wicker is bad for Mississippi in general or bad for the Coast specifically please e-mail us at cottonmouthblog AT gmail DOT com or leave a comment.

Roger Wicker Opposed Federal Relief Dollars For Levees and Coastal Restoration

As we’ve shown you here and here Roger Wicker seems determined to whitewash his record of failing the Coast. This is example #1 of how Roger Wicker failed our Gulf Coast and why for showing such lack of foresight he should not be allowed to serve as one of Mississippi’s United States Senators.

Roger Wicker was the only member of our Mississippi delegation to oppose $465 million for levees and coastal restoration after Katrina.

In March 2006, Wicker voted against Rep. Melancon’s amendment to increase emergency supplemental funding for the Army Corps of Engineers by $465 million. Of that, $35 million would go to general coastal restoration and hurricane protection and $430 million would go to levee armor. Rep. Pickering was one of 11 Republicans to vote for the funding, making Wicker the only member of the Mississippi delegation to vote No.

Roger Wicker is no “longtime friend of the Gulf Coast” as he claimed in his first ad.

If you’ve got a suggestion on why Roger Wicker is bad for Mississippi in general or bad for the Coast specifically please e-mail us at cottonmouthblog AT gmail DOT com or leave a comment.

Republicans Are Scared: Wicker Running Ads > 5 Months Before Election In MS

Wicker barely ventured to South Mississippi before he decided he wanted to be a Senator.

He even admitted that he had rarely visited the coast, though as a congressman he was tasked with representing all of Mississippi.

Now he wants to take credit for the good work of Senator Lott and and Congressmen Taylor and Thompson in his first TV ad which I believe is only playing on the Coast where he is weak.

Roger Wicker has the benefit of the fundraising networks of the most powerful Republicans in the nation and the massive political machine that Haley has built.

I'll be happy to see when Musgrove's campaign gets firing on all cylinders, because it doesn't appear to be doing so yet.

Biden calls it like he sees it

Former Presidential nominees are making the rounds in news today. I'm sure it's somewhere else, but the CNN Political Ticker blog posted this speech from Sen. Joe Biden today.

The chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Joe Biden, D-Delaware, called President Bush’s comments accusing Sen. Barack Obama and other Democrats of wanting to appease terrorists "bullshit” and said if the president disagrees so strongly with the idea of talking to Iran then he needs to fire his secretaries of State and Defense, both of whom Biden said have pushed to sit down with the Iranians.

“This is bullshit. This is malarkey. This is outrageous. Outrageous for the president of the United States to go to a foreign country, sit in the Knesset…and make this kind of ridiculous statement,” Biden said angrily in a brief interview just off the Senate floor.

“He’s the guy who’s weakened us. He’s the guy that’s increased the number of terrorists in the world. His policies have produced this vulnerability the United States has. His intelligence community pointed that out not me. The NIE has pointed that out and what are you talking about, is he going to fire Condi Rice? Condi Rice has
talked about the need to sit down. So his first two appeasers are Rice and Gates. I hope he comes home and does something.”

He quoted Gates saying Wednesday that we “need to figure out a way to develop some leverage and then sit down and talk with them.”

Wicker raised more $ than he can use

Here are some excerpts from a Daily Journal article today explaining Wicker's campaign fund overages.

New interim U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker of Tupelo is such a good fundraiser, he's collected more money than he can use as he campaigns to succeed Trent Lott in the U.S. Capitol.

Republican Wicker reports raising more than $3 million in the first three months of 2008 in his race against Democrat former Gov. Ronnie Musgrove.But some of that money must be returned because it's over campaign limits.

Musgrove's campaign manager terms it "illegal." The Federal Elections Commission sees it as "overage" collected for an election that won't happen.

In Wicker's situation, he raised $211,000 from 62 individuals and 20 political action committees that he cannot use this year because there's only one election to raise money for - the Nov. 4 general election.

How did this happen? After Wicker was appointed senator by Gov. Haley Barbour and was tapped the GOP candidate for the race, Democrats Musgrove and former U.S. Rep. Ronnie Shows said they were in, too. Ultimately, Shows bowed out, which meant a November runoff wasn't in the cards.

But Wicker had raised some money for the runoff. Now that there won't be one, his campaign has put the funds into a special account, said its treasurer, Paul Breazeale of Jackson. The FEC says it must be returned. For example, the maximum a political action committee can contribute "per election" is $5,000. Tupelo's BancorpSouth PAC gave Wicker's campaign two gifts of $5,000 in February before Shows announced he was pulling out. Now, BancorpSouth is due a $5,000 refund.

Some $545,000 of Wicker's total is from his House campaign fund, Friends of Roger Wicker.

Wicker has capitalized on his Washington experience and contacts,
raising $742,250 from 296 political action committees.

Otherwise, he reports some 1,886 PAC/individual donations and $80,667 from "unitemized" contributions, which are less than $200 each.

By comparison, when Mississippi senior Sen. Thad Cochran ran for re-election in 2002, he raised $1.7 million - $868,560 from PACs and $721,236 from individuals.

Wicker leading Musgrove in campaign cash

Currently, Wicker has out-raised Musgrove by a hefty amount. This, of course, is no great surprise to us since Republicans always outraise the Democrats. The Musgrove camp, however, has done some research on where exactly all the money has come from. (Keep in mind, there are limits on donations to Federal campaigns.) I hate to put up such a long post, but it's interesting.

From the Clarion Ledger:

Republican Sen. Roger Wicker has raised more than five times the campaign cash raised by his Democratic rival, former Gov. Ronnie Musgrove. Wicker raised about $2.5 million in the first three months of the year and Musgrove raised about $447,000, according to summary pages of Federal Election Commission filings released by the candidates Tuesday.

"I am grateful for the wide range of support from thousands of donors throughout Mississippi and the rest of the nation who have chosen to invest in our campaign," Wicker said.

Gov. Haley Barbour appointed Wicker to fill former Sen. Trent Lott's seat until a special election in November.

Musgrove campaign spokesman Tim Phillips said Wicker raised campaign cash by "doling out pork" to contributors.

Wicker's campaign said 77 percent of the donors are Mississippians. But the senator's FEC report showed nearly a third of the money came from political action committees, which usually represent industry or other special interests.

Wicker's FEC report shows he transferred $545,000 from his House campaign account to his Senate account. After spending nearly $300,000, his campaign reported about $2.8 million in cash on hand on March 31.

Musgrove's campaign ended the reporting period with about $337,000 in cash.

From a Musgrove press release:

From 2002-2007, Wicker never opposed a single appropriations bill while they were being loaded with $122 billion in pork barrel spending, and he doled out a whopping $39 million in earmark goodies for his campaign contributors—attaching them to appropriations bills with no Congressional hearings or debate. Several earmarks, which Wicker slipped into appropriations bills, are directly linked to campaign contributions.

Pay To Play

In 2007, Wicker Obtained $6 Million Defense Earmark for Aurora Flight Sciences: In March 2007, Wicker requested an earmark for the company Aurora Flight Sciences “to develop a high altitude UAV to meet urgent national requirements for persistent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, beyond line of sight communications, and assist in further development of key technologies needed for long-term operations in near space.” An Army spokesman said that the Army did not request the appropriation. The final FY08 Defense Appropriations Bill then included $6 million for Aurora’s Orion High Altitude Long Endurance UAV. (Wicker Appropriations Letter, 3/22/07; Taxpayers for Common Sense Earmarks Database; “Wicker’s earmark elicits crititcism”,Washington Post, 1/16/08

In 2006, Wicker Supported $11 Million Earmark for Aurora Flight Sciences: In June 2006, Wicker touted the FY07 Defense Appropriations Bill, which included $11 million for Aurora Flight Sciences. (Wicker Press Release, 6/21/06)

In 2005, Wicker Supported $5.2 Million Earmark for Aurora Flight Sciences: In December 2005, Wicker touted the FY06 Defense Appropriations Bill, saying that Aurora Flight Services “will benefit from a $5.2 million project that includes production of an Orion-class UAV as well as flight testing, sensor installation and related activities on the vehicle.” (Wicker Press Release, 12/20/05)

Wicker Has Received $17,500 From Aurora Employees; They Were Top Donor in ’06 Cycle: Over the years, Aurora Flight Sciences have contributed at least $17,500 to Wicker’s campaigns. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Aurora Flights Sciences was the top donor to Wicker’s 2006 election, with employees contributing $13,000 that cycle. (Center for Responsive Politics, accessed 1/7/08)

Wicker Obtained $4 Million Defense Earmark for Miltec Corp: In March 2007, Wicker requested an earmark for Miltec Research and Technology, to develop sensor technology. The final FY08 Defense Appropriations Bill then included $4 million for Miltec. (Wicker Appropriations Letter, 3/22/07; Taxpayers for Common Sense Earmarks Database)

In 2006, Wicker Supported $2.5 Million Earmark for Miltec: In June 2006, Wicker touted the FY07 Defense Appropriations Bill, which included $2.5 million for Miltec Corporation. (Wicker Press Release, 6/21/06)

Wicker Has Received Over $24,000 From Miltec Employees: Over the years, Miltec employees have contributed at least $24,500 to Wicker’s campaigns and his leadership PAC, Responsibility & Freedom Work PAC. (Center for Responsive Politics, accessed 1/7/08)

Wicker Obtained $1 Million Earmark for Rite Kem: In March 2007, Wicker requested an earmark for Rite Kem to develop and produce an aircraft corrosion protective compound. The final FY08 Defense Appropriations Bill then included $1 million for Rite Kem. (Wicker Appropriations Letter, 3/22/07; Taxpayers for Common Sense Earmarks Database)

Less Than One Month After Requesting Earmark, Wicker Received Campaign Check From Company Exec: Less than one month after requesting the earmark for Rite Kem, company President Mark Lovil contributed $2,000 to Wicker’s campaign committee. (Center for Responsive Politics, accessed 1/7/08)

Wicker Obtained $1.2 Million Earmark for Radiance Technologies: In March 2007, Wicker requested an earmark for Radiance Technologies “to develop and demonstrate capabilities such as man-portable radar systems, reduced power consumption, greater target detection ranges, increased target discrimination, and lower operating cost.” The final FY08 Defense Appropriations Bill then included $1.2 million for Radiance Technologies. (Wicker Appropriations Letter, 3/22/07; Taxpayers for Common Sense Earmarks Database)

In 2006, Wicker Supported $2.5 Million Earmark for Radiance Technologies: In June 2006, Wicker touted the FY07 Defense Appropriations Bill, which included $2.5 million for Radiance Technologies. (Wicker Press Release, 6/21/06)

In 2005, Wicker Supported $3.1 Million Earmark for Radiance Technologies: In December 2005, Wicker touted the FY06 Defense Appropriations Bill, which included $3.1 million for Radiance Technologies. (Wicker Press Release, 12/20/05)

Wicker Has Received Over $5,000 From Radiance Tech Employees: Over the years, Radiance employees have contributed at least $5,500 to Wicker’s campaigns. (Center for Responsive Politics, accessed 1/7/08)

In 2006, Wicker Supported $2.5 Million Earmark for Planning Systems Inc: In June 2006, Wicker touted the FY07 Defense Appropriations Bill, which included $2.5 million for Planning Systems Inc. “to develop advanced reconnaissance technology for military aircraft to transmit real-time information to troops on the ground.” (Wicker Press Release, 6/21/06)

Wicker Has Received $8,000 From Planning Systems Inc: Over the years, Wicker has received at least $8,000 from Planning Systems Inc. PAC and employees. (Center for Responsive Politics, accessed 1/7/08)

Governor Ronnie Musgrove At Choir Practice

How people spend their time reveals their character. Whether it was coming to the Coast dozens of times after Hurricane Katrina to help in a private capacity (and without media coverage) or being one of many in his church's choir. Governor Ronnie Musgrove shows character.

New York Times: Trent Lott Seat is in Play

There is a great article in Friday's New York Times about the Democratic Party's push to achieve a super-majority in the Senate. Currently the Dem's have a 51-49 advantage in large part to two Independents who caucus with them. We all know one of them is a Republican in waiting with our own Benedict Arnold, Joe Lieberman. If the Democrats can achieve a gain of 9 seats at the minimum, they can reach the magic number of 60, filibuster proof.

The article goes on to break down how this is possible and highlights the Mississippi race as a winnable by the Democrats.

Four Republican incumbents are potentially vulnerable because voters in their states increasingly identify with Democrats. They are John E. Sununu of New Hampshire, Norm Coleman of Minnesota, Gordon H. Smith of Oregon and Susan Collins of Maine. To get to 60, the Democrats would need to win the three open seats and these four, protect their incumbents and still pick up two seats in traditionally Republican states like Mississippi and Oklahoma.

In Mississippi, Ronnie Musgrove, a well-known former governor, is the Democratic candidate for the seat vacated by Trent Lott, who retired in December and was replaced by Roger Wicker, a lesser-known United States representative.

For a while this race was ignored by the MSM. Some of us were yelling loudly that there was a race to be had here. With Obama on the top of the ticket this race is more than winnable.

MS-Sen: Erik Fleming Has First Ads Out (In Race Against Cochran)

First Spot
Second Spot

The ads will run in selected media markets beginning March 5th and I suspect they will run for about a week (with the primary March 11th).

Roger Wicker Says College Is Valuable, But Is Unwilling To Assist Students In Paying

DSCC:

In a column in (Cotton Mouth Note: (in his weekly column statewide)), Roger Wicker touts his position on the Community College Caucus and praises the “important role community colleges play in our educational system.” But Wicker has voted against higher education initiatives throughout his career, including the very Pell Grant funding that he says plays an “integral role in the success of our community colleges.” Wicker has even been the lone member of the Mississippi delegation to oppose proposals that would save students and taxpayers money.

“It’s great that Roger Wicker says he supports higher education, but it’d be a lot more helpful to Mississippians if he actually voted in support of it,” DSCC spokesman Matthew Miller said. “Penning a column from his Washington office won’t generate the results that families in Mississippi want and need. With the rising cost of college a major concern for all families, maybe Roger Wicker should spend more time fighting for the people of Mississippi and less time spouting empty rhetoric.”

Wicker: “We Must Slow The Rate” Of Student Loans. "We have to deal with the deficit on two fronts, we must slow the rate of growth of mandatory entitlement programs like student loans, Medicare and Medicaid, that's where the money is. Those programs have been growing at twice the rate of inflation ... growth on the appropriations side has been flat the last two years," Wicker said in 2005. [AP, 12/27/05]
Wicker Has Voted At Least Nine Times Against Pell Grant Funding. [Vote 864, 9/7/07; House Appropriations Committee Markup, 6/13/06; Vote 301, 6/24/04; AP, 6/25/04; Washington Times, 6/25/04; House Appropriations Committee Markup, 6/9/04; House Appropriations Committee Markup, 6/25/03; Vote 415, 7/19/00; House Appropriations Committee Markup, 5/24/00; Vote 124, 5/5/98; House Appropriations Subcommittee Markup, 6/13/96]
Wicker Voted Against Largest Student Aid Increase Since the GI Bill. In September 2007, Wicker voted against the bipartisan bill to boost financial aid for college students by cutting some $20 billion in government subsidies to banks that make student loans. The bill also increased the maximum Pell Grant from $4,310 a year to $5,400 a year and would cut interest rates on federally backed student loans to poor and middle-class students from 6.8 percent to 3.4 percent over four years. [Vote 864, 9/7/07; AP, 9/7/07]
Wicker Was Only Member of MS Delegation to Oppose Initial Student Loan Rate Cut Plan in 2007 That Could Save Students $2,300. In January 2007, Wicker was the only member of the Mississippi delegation to vote against the House student loan bill, which passed 356-71. The bill was“designed to cut interest rates on college loans, creating a plan that potentially could save students $2,300 over the course of a loan.” It cut the federal student loan rate from 6.8% to 3.4%, with the reduction sun setting after five years. [Vote 32, 1/17/07]
Wicker Voted For The Largest Cuts To Federal Student Aid In History At A Time Of Rising Tuition Costs. In 2006, Wicker voted for the largest cuts to federal student aid in history at a time of rising tuition costs. The measure cut $12.7 billion from student loan programs – the largest single cut in history. It imposed higher fees on students, increased the interest rate on parent loans and cut subsidies to lenders. The bill also put billions of dollars in student aid at risk by cutting all of the critical funds ($2.2 billion) used to carry out and administer the student aid programs. [Vote 4, 2/1/06; House Budget Committee Minority Staff, 12/19/05; Rep. George Miller Press Release, 12/18/05; CQ Today, 2/1/06; Washington Post, 2/1/06]
Wicker Voted Against Closing Student Loan Loophole. In 2005, Wicker was the only member of the Mississippi delegation to vote against closing a student loan loophole. The amendment Wicker voted against stopped a scam in the college student loan program that allowed certain lenders to pocket billions of dollars in excess profits at the expense of both taxpayers and students. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that the so-called “9.5% loan scam” cost taxpayers billions of dollars. The amendment closed this loophole ensuring that federal education dollars were available to help students and families afford college. The 9.5% guarantee was established in the high interest rate year of 1980. Congress intended for it to be phased out of existence beginning in 1993, but through a regulatory loophole, the guarantee continued. [Van Hollen Press Release, 6/24/05; Vote 316, 6/24/05]
Wicker Voted Against Making College More Affordable Through Tax Credits. In 1997, Wicker voted against amending the tax code to make college more affordable. The motion would have instructed House negotiators on the budget reconciliation bill to provide “$500-per-child tax credit to working families, support a HOPE Scholarship credit for the first two years of a college education, and include tax benefits for families paying tuition costs for the second two years of a college education out of wage and salary income.” [Vote 258, 7/10/97]

Thanks to Senate 2008 Guru

Best Site To Keep Up With Senate Elections Nationwide

It has to be Senate2008 Guru

And I'm not just saying that because they link here. :)

Shows bows out of race

Released today:

For Immediate Release
February 19, 2008

Statement by Ronnie Shows

“When Trent Lott announced his resignation from the United States Senate it was clear to me that Mississippi needed a new Independent voice to represent this great state. A voice that would fight for better health care, real immigration reform that would help Mississippi workers compete, and fight to end the partisan bickering in Washington that keeps anything from getting done.

After weeks of talking to my family and friends I have come to the conclusion that we would not be able to raise the millions of dollars needed to compete with a former Governor and the hand picked candidate from the sitting Governor therefore I will not be a candidate for the United States Senate. I love Mississippi and I hope with all my heart our new Senator will be that independent voice this state needs.

Ronnie Musgrove has a long history of working with all Mississippians to bring about change and I believe he is now our best hope to be the Independent Voice this state needs in Washington. I look forward in the coming months to helping Governor Musgrove win this election so Mississippi will have a Senator who will work to end the partisan bickering that prevents Washington from getting anything done.”

Candidates' Recent Guest Posts On Cotton Mouth

We set out some rules for the posts: HERE

MS-1: Steve Holland
MS-1: Travis Childers

MS-3: Randy Eads

MS-Sen: Erik Fleming