*First appeared in the Feb. 12th edition of the Laurel Chronicle newspaper.
In January, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released its annual report on union membership in the United States. The report, aptly titled “Union Members – 2013,” included some interesting statistics.
In 2013, the union membership rate was 11.3 percent, or 14.5 million workers. This is a significant decline below the first year for which comparable data was collected (1983), when more than 20 percent, or 17.7 million workers, participated in unions. Today’s figures equal about 18 percent fewer unionized workers than in ‘83.
We often stereotype unions, and there’s probably a reason for that…or at least according to the 2013 data. At 35.3 percent, public sector workers had a union membership rate more than five times higher than that of private sector workers (6.7 percent rate). Within the public sector, the union membership rate was highest for local governments (40.8 percent), which includes heavily unionized occupations like teachers, police officers, and firefighters.
I joke about those “liberal states” like California and New York, and guess what? Turns out they have the most union members, with 2.4 million and 2 million workers calling California and New York home, respectively. No big surprise there, huh?
It’s interesting to note that over half of all American union workers live in just seven states (California, New York, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Michigan, New Jersey, and Ohio), even though “these states accounted for only one-third of wages and salary employment nationally.”
Curiously, Democrats control the governorships of three of those states, while Republicans control the governorships of the other four. Maybe union members are coming around to Republican ideas?
In Mississippi, we are one of nine states with union membership below 5 percent. In 2013, 3.7 percent of workers were members of unions. The rate increases to 4.2 percent when you include both union members and workers who report no union affiliation but whose jobs are covered by a union or an employee association contract.
Mississippi’s low rate of unionized workers is in line with other southern states. The report notes that “all states in the East South Central and West South Central divisions had rates” below the national average.
Despite the dwindling membership rolls of unions, labor bosses haven’t given up the fight just yet. Their heyday appears to have been a thing of the past, but make no mistake: They still wield considerable political influence (and the corresponding PACs to provide it), particularly in Democrat circles.
I guess it’s no surprise that unions have begun to focus on the southern region as a way to beef up membership rolls. The automotive industry has been targeted by labor bosses who call for the unionization of southern autoplants, including at the Nissan plant in Canton. While their efforts in our state haven’t yet been successful, one can never rule out the tenacity of unions. They are, after all, driven by a desperate need to bolster membership rolls and, in turn, bank accounts.
Whether their efforts will succeed is anyone’s guess, though it appears to me that, for now at least, most Americans view unions – and their role in the workplace – as a thing of the past.
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
Friday, January 31, 2014
Selected observations on the State of the Union
*Originally appeared in the Jan. 30 edition of the Laurel Chronicle newspaper
Tuesday night marked the fifth State of the Union delivered by President Obama, thus fulfilling his duty to “from time to time give to the Congress information of the state of the union, and recommend to their consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient.”
As expected, he called on Congress to extend unemployment benefits, enact measures to ensure equal pay for equal work, and establish a minimum wage of $10.10. The President who has claimed his is the “most transparent” of all administrations allotted all of one sentence to talk about transparency and reforms in America’s surveillance programs.
His sharpest tone came when defending his signature healthcare law, a.k.a. Obamacare. Suggesting Republicans haven’t come up with specific plans to improve healthcare, the President said the “American people are not interested in refighting old battles” and that we “all owe it to the American people to say what we’re for, not just what we’re against.”
Translation: Obamacare is the law. I don’t want to talk about how it increases healthcare costs and raise taxes on Americans. I don’t want to talk about my administration’s complete failure to set up a website – a website! – to enroll participants. Let’s just move on. Nothing to see here.
Obama wasted no time in making one thing clear: He’ll move forward with priority agenda items with or without Congressional approval. His words: “Wherever and whenever I can take steps without legislation…that’s what I’m going to do.”
Translation: Nah nah nah nah boo boo.
It’s interesting how aggressive this statement was, given the President is not exactly enjoying high marks from the public right now. For the first time on the eve of a State of the Union address, “more Americans rate his performance negatively than positively, with 50 percent disapproving” according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll. Even more people – 69 percent – think it’s better for Obama to work with Congress than go around it, according to a Rasmussen poll.
It’s also interesting to note how freely the President discusses his authority to implement policies through executive action. For a constitutional scholar, Obama seems to dismiss this document as little more than a loosely arranged set of recommendations.
The President spent some time talking about economic policies, although I won’t focus on the entirety of his proposals in this column. I was pleased to hear his support for investing in proven (that’s an important word) job training programs that train workers in high-growth and high-demand areas where jobs actually exist. He cited on-the-job training and apprenticeship programs as models that work, and I tend to agree.
Just as I was nodding my head in agreement, however, he went to talking about extending unemployment benefits – again. Unemployment insurance is a temporary program that has already been extended eleven times. Eleven times. Not only do I think this is fiscally irresponsible, I also think it’s just bad public policy to treat a temporary program as a permanent solution to today’s economic challenges.
After the speech, I stumbled across Roll Call newspaper’s “State of the Union in Three Words” hashtag (#sotuin3words). Here is a sampling of how several members of Congress summed up the speech:
“Talk is cheap.” “A home run.” “Lame duck quacking.” “No jobs plan.” “Invest in America.”
Of course, there were also a few that exceeded the three word limit (“Skills Act; pass it!”) that made me chuckle.
This won’t come as a surprise to those who know me, but my favorite line in the State of the Union was related to the Winter Olympics: “Next week, the world will see one expression of that commitment [to dignity and equality] – when Team USA marches the red, white, and blue into the Olympic Stadium – and brings home the gold.”
For those of you who wonder about “worst-case” scenarios (terrorist attack, zombie apocalypse, etc.) wiping out the president and his team during the State of the Union festivities, fear not. This year, as is tradition, one member of the President’s Cabinet stayed behind to ensure continuity of the U.S. government should we be faced with ravenous zombies. The lucky designee was U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz, a.k.a. the “designated survivor.”
I’ll leave you with another interesting fact that I didn’t learn until this week’s annual address. Turns out, this speech hasn’t always been one. Our nation’s third president Thomas Jefferson disliked the idea of giving a “state of the union” speech, as he considered it too imperial-like. Instead, Jefferson opted to send his thoughts in writing, thus starting a tradition that would last over a century (until President Woodrow Wilson decided to revive the spoken address).
Tuesday night marked the fifth State of the Union delivered by President Obama, thus fulfilling his duty to “from time to time give to the Congress information of the state of the union, and recommend to their consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient.”
As expected, he called on Congress to extend unemployment benefits, enact measures to ensure equal pay for equal work, and establish a minimum wage of $10.10. The President who has claimed his is the “most transparent” of all administrations allotted all of one sentence to talk about transparency and reforms in America’s surveillance programs.
His sharpest tone came when defending his signature healthcare law, a.k.a. Obamacare. Suggesting Republicans haven’t come up with specific plans to improve healthcare, the President said the “American people are not interested in refighting old battles” and that we “all owe it to the American people to say what we’re for, not just what we’re against.”
Translation: Obamacare is the law. I don’t want to talk about how it increases healthcare costs and raise taxes on Americans. I don’t want to talk about my administration’s complete failure to set up a website – a website! – to enroll participants. Let’s just move on. Nothing to see here.
Obama wasted no time in making one thing clear: He’ll move forward with priority agenda items with or without Congressional approval. His words: “Wherever and whenever I can take steps without legislation…that’s what I’m going to do.”
Translation: Nah nah nah nah boo boo.
It’s interesting how aggressive this statement was, given the President is not exactly enjoying high marks from the public right now. For the first time on the eve of a State of the Union address, “more Americans rate his performance negatively than positively, with 50 percent disapproving” according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll. Even more people – 69 percent – think it’s better for Obama to work with Congress than go around it, according to a Rasmussen poll.
It’s also interesting to note how freely the President discusses his authority to implement policies through executive action. For a constitutional scholar, Obama seems to dismiss this document as little more than a loosely arranged set of recommendations.
The President spent some time talking about economic policies, although I won’t focus on the entirety of his proposals in this column. I was pleased to hear his support for investing in proven (that’s an important word) job training programs that train workers in high-growth and high-demand areas where jobs actually exist. He cited on-the-job training and apprenticeship programs as models that work, and I tend to agree.
Just as I was nodding my head in agreement, however, he went to talking about extending unemployment benefits – again. Unemployment insurance is a temporary program that has already been extended eleven times. Eleven times. Not only do I think this is fiscally irresponsible, I also think it’s just bad public policy to treat a temporary program as a permanent solution to today’s economic challenges.
After the speech, I stumbled across Roll Call newspaper’s “State of the Union in Three Words” hashtag (#sotuin3words). Here is a sampling of how several members of Congress summed up the speech:
“Talk is cheap.” “A home run.” “Lame duck quacking.” “No jobs plan.” “Invest in America.”
Of course, there were also a few that exceeded the three word limit (“Skills Act; pass it!”) that made me chuckle.
This won’t come as a surprise to those who know me, but my favorite line in the State of the Union was related to the Winter Olympics: “Next week, the world will see one expression of that commitment [to dignity and equality] – when Team USA marches the red, white, and blue into the Olympic Stadium – and brings home the gold.”
For those of you who wonder about “worst-case” scenarios (terrorist attack, zombie apocalypse, etc.) wiping out the president and his team during the State of the Union festivities, fear not. This year, as is tradition, one member of the President’s Cabinet stayed behind to ensure continuity of the U.S. government should we be faced with ravenous zombies. The lucky designee was U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz, a.k.a. the “designated survivor.”
I’ll leave you with another interesting fact that I didn’t learn until this week’s annual address. Turns out, this speech hasn’t always been one. Our nation’s third president Thomas Jefferson disliked the idea of giving a “state of the union” speech, as he considered it too imperial-like. Instead, Jefferson opted to send his thoughts in writing, thus starting a tradition that would last over a century (until President Woodrow Wilson decided to revive the spoken address).
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Public opinion on Snowden mixed, but spy revelations impact politics, policy
*Originally appearing in Jan. 23 edition of the Laurel Chronicle
A few nights ago I watched the movie J. Edgar. With the talk of wiretaps, conspiracy, and governmental spying on American citizens, I couldn’t help but draw a parallel to today’s NSA.
Former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden rocked the world with his revelations about intelligence gathering practices conducted by the NSA.
The revelations caused swift and unexpected reactions. The public was outraged (though perhaps not for long?), and political alliances were forged based on concern for personal privacy or national security, not political party affiliation.
Yeah, it was weird.
Today, it seems the public has (somewhat) moved on from the NSA leaks, even as President Obama and others promise to reform the way we collect information that can help protect our national security interests.
In a Jan. 17 nationally televised speech on NSA reforms, President Obama recognized that in our “rush to respond to a very real and novel set of threats,…the possibility that we [lost] some of our core liberties in pursuit of security also became more pronounced.”
The President recommended a series of reforms, including prohibiting spy agencies from storing Americans’ phone records (though experts agree this will take months, if not longer, to implement); restricting how we spy on foreign allies; and creating a new public advocates panel to weigh in on these issues.
His words sounded good, but his promises were ambiguous. I assume that’s intentional, since he’s walking a not-so-enviable line between protecting personal privacy and protecting America from security threats.
You could say he’s between “Iraq” and a hard place. (Government spying increased after 9/11, which led to searches for weapons of mass destruction, the fall of an Iraqi dictator, and an ever-growing NSA data collection program…)
To those who have questioned whether Snowden’s leaks have done more to harm the country than to help it, I say only this: Without the Snowden revelations, there would be no presidential address on NSA reforms and no meaningful discussion about the role of the government in spying on American citizens. It’s a simple truth, but an important one.
So, are you paying attention? According to a Pew Research Center poll, a mere eight percent of Americans have heard a lot about Obama’s proposals. Seventy-three percent say the President’s changes will have zero impact on protecting personal privacy (two out of three people felt similarly in a Rasmussen poll). Skepticism of the NSA surveillance programs keeps on growing, with 52 percent of Americans disapproving and only 38 percent saying they trust leaders to ensure spy programs are constitutional.
In the midst of this, I wondered how Jones Countians felt about the NSA spying on citizens, Edward Snowden (hero or traitor?), and general attitudes toward government overreach. Toward this end, I polled folks on Facebook…and got a dismal response. Either folks don’t care (see above), didn’t see my post, or simply didn’t want to be quoted in a column.
One response I did get, however, was insightful. Aaron Jacobson, who I know from church many years ago, said Snowden is neither a “hero or traitor. It seems a little too easy to classify in those terms.” Snowden has raised “some very serious issues that strike at the very heart of what our democracy means and what privacy and freedom mean within it.”
My father reminded me of a Ben Franklin quote, which I will paraphrase here: Those who sacrifice liberty for security deserve neither. I certainly agree with that philosophy, but its practice is more complex.
So, in summary, Snowden’s actions are controversial, but they’ve had an impact on the way leaders are publicly dealing with security and privacy issues. Whether the impact is reality or perception, long-standing or fleeting remains to be seen. Public outcry has waned, but skepticism about the spy programs keeps growing. And to top it all off, these issues really aren’t driven by either political party.
A few nights ago I watched the movie J. Edgar. With the talk of wiretaps, conspiracy, and governmental spying on American citizens, I couldn’t help but draw a parallel to today’s NSA.
Former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden rocked the world with his revelations about intelligence gathering practices conducted by the NSA.
The revelations caused swift and unexpected reactions. The public was outraged (though perhaps not for long?), and political alliances were forged based on concern for personal privacy or national security, not political party affiliation.
Yeah, it was weird.
Today, it seems the public has (somewhat) moved on from the NSA leaks, even as President Obama and others promise to reform the way we collect information that can help protect our national security interests.
In a Jan. 17 nationally televised speech on NSA reforms, President Obama recognized that in our “rush to respond to a very real and novel set of threats,…the possibility that we [lost] some of our core liberties in pursuit of security also became more pronounced.”
The President recommended a series of reforms, including prohibiting spy agencies from storing Americans’ phone records (though experts agree this will take months, if not longer, to implement); restricting how we spy on foreign allies; and creating a new public advocates panel to weigh in on these issues.
His words sounded good, but his promises were ambiguous. I assume that’s intentional, since he’s walking a not-so-enviable line between protecting personal privacy and protecting America from security threats.
You could say he’s between “Iraq” and a hard place. (Government spying increased after 9/11, which led to searches for weapons of mass destruction, the fall of an Iraqi dictator, and an ever-growing NSA data collection program…)
To those who have questioned whether Snowden’s leaks have done more to harm the country than to help it, I say only this: Without the Snowden revelations, there would be no presidential address on NSA reforms and no meaningful discussion about the role of the government in spying on American citizens. It’s a simple truth, but an important one.
So, are you paying attention? According to a Pew Research Center poll, a mere eight percent of Americans have heard a lot about Obama’s proposals. Seventy-three percent say the President’s changes will have zero impact on protecting personal privacy (two out of three people felt similarly in a Rasmussen poll). Skepticism of the NSA surveillance programs keeps on growing, with 52 percent of Americans disapproving and only 38 percent saying they trust leaders to ensure spy programs are constitutional.
In the midst of this, I wondered how Jones Countians felt about the NSA spying on citizens, Edward Snowden (hero or traitor?), and general attitudes toward government overreach. Toward this end, I polled folks on Facebook…and got a dismal response. Either folks don’t care (see above), didn’t see my post, or simply didn’t want to be quoted in a column.
One response I did get, however, was insightful. Aaron Jacobson, who I know from church many years ago, said Snowden is neither a “hero or traitor. It seems a little too easy to classify in those terms.” Snowden has raised “some very serious issues that strike at the very heart of what our democracy means and what privacy and freedom mean within it.”
My father reminded me of a Ben Franklin quote, which I will paraphrase here: Those who sacrifice liberty for security deserve neither. I certainly agree with that philosophy, but its practice is more complex.
So, in summary, Snowden’s actions are controversial, but they’ve had an impact on the way leaders are publicly dealing with security and privacy issues. Whether the impact is reality or perception, long-standing or fleeting remains to be seen. Public outcry has waned, but skepticism about the spy programs keeps growing. And to top it all off, these issues really aren’t driven by either political party.
Tech Master program smart idea
*Originally appeared in the Jan. 16 edition of the Laurel Chronicle
Last week, the Mississippi Economic Council announced a joint partnership with some large employers to improve state workforce readiness. The Mississippi Scholars Tech Master program, as it is officially called, provides specific standards for a tech-prep course of study with an emphasis on science, engineering, technology, and math (also known as STEM). This year, the program will be piloted in seven counties, including Jones County.
The crux of the program is to direct more students to careers in craft, such as welding, machining, or other technical jobs that aren’t always on a high school student’s radar.
Tech Master is a smart idea, especially considering recent projections from the Bureau of Labor Statistics for 2012 through 2022. Two-thirds of the 30 occupations with the largest projected employment increase over this time period aren’t expected to require postsecondary education for entry (craft jobs typically don’t require a college degree, for example). While no degree may be necessary, skills will be required according to the report.
What’s interesting to me is the inclusion of a “soft skills” component in the Tech Master program. Not only are students expected to take certain STEM-focused classes, they are also required to log at least 20 hours of community and/or volunteer service during the year. Communications, multitasking, and other skills gained by participating in community service activities help ensure students are employable upon graduation.
Those who complete the Tech Master program will be recognized both at their high school graduation and by some of the state’s largest employers looking to hire new workers. Irwin Edenzon, president of Ingalls Shipbuilding and corporate vice president of Huntington Ingalls Industries, said his company would give preference to Tech Master graduates during their hiring process.
This is great news for students in the Free State. High schoolers have an opportunity to get a competitive edge in the labor market, and that’s no small feat. While our state may be slowly recovering from the economic recession, the unemployment rate remains elevated and the job market competitive. Programs like the Tech Master initiative can spur economic growth in the Pine Belt, but only if students – and those who influence them – understand their options.
Becoming a “Tech Master” may not sound appealing to high schoolers who dream of “making the big bucks.” But I’ll bet that if you dig deeper, these students don’t actually understand the dynamics of the job market nor the wages that can be earned as craftspeople. To borrow another quote from Ingalls’ Edenzon, craft jobs pay well, with “many of our craftspeople [earning] beginning salaries higher than a starting salary of a four-year, liberal arts graduate.” When students begin to understand that craft jobs can provide a comfortable living, I imagine their tune about career ambitions may change.
But, really, it’s up to parents, teachers, advisors, and other influencers to make sure students understand their options, including a realistic look at what jobs are available. These influencers should steer clear of any comments that may intentionally or unintentionally stigmatize jobs in the skilled trades.
The Tech Master program may not be for everyone. There are certainly a large number of students who aspire to (and should) attend a four-year university. But not everyone fits into that socially-acceptable mold. The new Tech Master program gives these students a way to succeed and feel good about it. Let’s encourage them to do so!
Last week, the Mississippi Economic Council announced a joint partnership with some large employers to improve state workforce readiness. The Mississippi Scholars Tech Master program, as it is officially called, provides specific standards for a tech-prep course of study with an emphasis on science, engineering, technology, and math (also known as STEM). This year, the program will be piloted in seven counties, including Jones County.
The crux of the program is to direct more students to careers in craft, such as welding, machining, or other technical jobs that aren’t always on a high school student’s radar.
Tech Master is a smart idea, especially considering recent projections from the Bureau of Labor Statistics for 2012 through 2022. Two-thirds of the 30 occupations with the largest projected employment increase over this time period aren’t expected to require postsecondary education for entry (craft jobs typically don’t require a college degree, for example). While no degree may be necessary, skills will be required according to the report.
What’s interesting to me is the inclusion of a “soft skills” component in the Tech Master program. Not only are students expected to take certain STEM-focused classes, they are also required to log at least 20 hours of community and/or volunteer service during the year. Communications, multitasking, and other skills gained by participating in community service activities help ensure students are employable upon graduation.
Those who complete the Tech Master program will be recognized both at their high school graduation and by some of the state’s largest employers looking to hire new workers. Irwin Edenzon, president of Ingalls Shipbuilding and corporate vice president of Huntington Ingalls Industries, said his company would give preference to Tech Master graduates during their hiring process.
This is great news for students in the Free State. High schoolers have an opportunity to get a competitive edge in the labor market, and that’s no small feat. While our state may be slowly recovering from the economic recession, the unemployment rate remains elevated and the job market competitive. Programs like the Tech Master initiative can spur economic growth in the Pine Belt, but only if students – and those who influence them – understand their options.
Becoming a “Tech Master” may not sound appealing to high schoolers who dream of “making the big bucks.” But I’ll bet that if you dig deeper, these students don’t actually understand the dynamics of the job market nor the wages that can be earned as craftspeople. To borrow another quote from Ingalls’ Edenzon, craft jobs pay well, with “many of our craftspeople [earning] beginning salaries higher than a starting salary of a four-year, liberal arts graduate.” When students begin to understand that craft jobs can provide a comfortable living, I imagine their tune about career ambitions may change.
But, really, it’s up to parents, teachers, advisors, and other influencers to make sure students understand their options, including a realistic look at what jobs are available. These influencers should steer clear of any comments that may intentionally or unintentionally stigmatize jobs in the skilled trades.
The Tech Master program may not be for everyone. There are certainly a large number of students who aspire to (and should) attend a four-year university. But not everyone fits into that socially-acceptable mold. The new Tech Master program gives these students a way to succeed and feel good about it. Let’s encourage them to do so!
Thursday, January 9, 2014
Correctional system costly, but reforms possible
*First appeared in the Jan. 9 edition of the Laurel Chronicle
In December 2013, the Mississippi Corrections and Criminal Justice Task Force released a series of recommendations in a 24-page report (which, in case you'd like some light reading, can be found at www.legislature.ms.gov). The legislatively-created task force was charged with developing policies that improve public safety, ensure clarity in sentencing, and control corrections costs.
Legislators recognized the ballooning costs of the correctional system, which spurred the creation of this task force. Task force studies show Mississippi's prison population has grown by 17 percent over the last ten years, with our state having the second-highest imprisonment rate in the country. "Absent policy change...Mississippi will need to house an additional 1,990 inmates by 2024," and that growth will require more than a quarter of a billion dollars - $266 million - in new spending, based on task force estimates.
It doesn't take a mathematician to understand that's a lot of money.
The task force recommendations have received bipartisan support, and most every member of the state's legislative leadership has embraced the notion of adopting some, if not all, of these changes to curb exploding costs.
The recommendations to control prison population and growth include expanding judicial discretion in imposing alternatives to incarceration, ensuring clarity and certainty in sentencing, focusing prison space on violent and career criminals, and strengthening supervision and intervention. Check out the full report for the 19 specific recommendations.
This isn't the first time lawmakers have grappled with rising costs at the Department of Corrections. In fact, it reminds me of - guess who - former Governor Haley Barbour and his "Operation: Streamline" initiative to eliminate the state’s more than $700 million budget shortfall over a two-year period. Doing so would require getting a handle on skyrocketing prison costs.
Part of Governor Barbour's "Operation: Streamline" plan was to ask the Legislature to give management authority and flexibility to departments and agencies that report directly to him. The Legislature approved this extra flexibility for the Dept. of Corrections, giving them freedom from State Personnel Board regulations.
What happened? Dept. of Corrections Commissioner Chris Epps used that authority to make significant changes. According to a 2004 Dept. of Corrections press release, the agency streamlined day-to-day operations by reducing staff "who were not coming to work consistently," eliminating unnecessary positions, and reorganizing operations. In addition to personnel actions, the Dept. of Corrections also removed 81 vehicles from its fleet of operation and also eliminated usage of 52 cell phones and pagers.
In his 2005 State of the State address, Gov. Barbour said the Corrections Department spent "5 percent less than last year - not 5 percent less than predicted, but 5 percent less than in FY 2004! And this despite a 3 percent increase in the number of prisoners incarcerated. That is a $15 million savings in one year by the department."
It was an impressive accomplishment made possible by cooperation between the Legislature, Governor Barbour, and the Dept. of Corrections. Commissioner Epps, who has served under multiple governors and still holds the same position at the department, deserves a lot of credit.
Mississippi's correctional system is in need of reform, and the current programs are too costly. But as we've seen before, smart reforms to cut costs without jeopardizing safety are possible to achieve in a relatively short amount of time.
In December 2013, the Mississippi Corrections and Criminal Justice Task Force released a series of recommendations in a 24-page report (which, in case you'd like some light reading, can be found at www.legislature.ms.gov). The legislatively-created task force was charged with developing policies that improve public safety, ensure clarity in sentencing, and control corrections costs.
Legislators recognized the ballooning costs of the correctional system, which spurred the creation of this task force. Task force studies show Mississippi's prison population has grown by 17 percent over the last ten years, with our state having the second-highest imprisonment rate in the country. "Absent policy change...Mississippi will need to house an additional 1,990 inmates by 2024," and that growth will require more than a quarter of a billion dollars - $266 million - in new spending, based on task force estimates.
It doesn't take a mathematician to understand that's a lot of money.
The task force recommendations have received bipartisan support, and most every member of the state's legislative leadership has embraced the notion of adopting some, if not all, of these changes to curb exploding costs.
The recommendations to control prison population and growth include expanding judicial discretion in imposing alternatives to incarceration, ensuring clarity and certainty in sentencing, focusing prison space on violent and career criminals, and strengthening supervision and intervention. Check out the full report for the 19 specific recommendations.
This isn't the first time lawmakers have grappled with rising costs at the Department of Corrections. In fact, it reminds me of - guess who - former Governor Haley Barbour and his "Operation: Streamline" initiative to eliminate the state’s more than $700 million budget shortfall over a two-year period. Doing so would require getting a handle on skyrocketing prison costs.
Part of Governor Barbour's "Operation: Streamline" plan was to ask the Legislature to give management authority and flexibility to departments and agencies that report directly to him. The Legislature approved this extra flexibility for the Dept. of Corrections, giving them freedom from State Personnel Board regulations.
What happened? Dept. of Corrections Commissioner Chris Epps used that authority to make significant changes. According to a 2004 Dept. of Corrections press release, the agency streamlined day-to-day operations by reducing staff "who were not coming to work consistently," eliminating unnecessary positions, and reorganizing operations. In addition to personnel actions, the Dept. of Corrections also removed 81 vehicles from its fleet of operation and also eliminated usage of 52 cell phones and pagers.
In his 2005 State of the State address, Gov. Barbour said the Corrections Department spent "5 percent less than last year - not 5 percent less than predicted, but 5 percent less than in FY 2004! And this despite a 3 percent increase in the number of prisoners incarcerated. That is a $15 million savings in one year by the department."
It was an impressive accomplishment made possible by cooperation between the Legislature, Governor Barbour, and the Dept. of Corrections. Commissioner Epps, who has served under multiple governors and still holds the same position at the department, deserves a lot of credit.
Mississippi's correctional system is in need of reform, and the current programs are too costly. But as we've seen before, smart reforms to cut costs without jeopardizing safety are possible to achieve in a relatively short amount of time.
Sunday, January 5, 2014
Mississippi’s resolutions for the new year
*First appeared in the Jan. 5 edition of the Laurel Chronicle
It’s hard to believe it was 14 years ago when we were faced with a Y2K technological cataclysm. Looking back, it seems kind of funny, doesn’t it? One decade we’re worried our computers can’t handle a rollover to “00”; the next decade, we’re worried our government is spying on us through this same technology. My how times have changed.
Yet one thing doesn’t ever seem to change: Our desire to start each new year anew, replete with resolutions on how we’re going to live life to the fullest, eat better and exercise, and spend more time with loved ones.
It got me to wondering what kind of resolutions our beloved state might have if it were, you know, the resolutin’ type.
Resolution Number One: Finally kick the habit (that is, our addiction to federal funds).
Regardless of what type of federal assistance we’re talking – from housing funds to Medicaid, to unemployment and welfare, Mississippi relies on a hefty chunk of federal funds to operate its federal-state programs. As one of the poorest states in the union, I doubt we’ll make good on this resolution anytime soon.
Resolution Number Two: Read more.
It seems our state recognizes the connection between kickin’ the federal funds addiction and higher literacy rates. More quality education tends to generate more wealth, which in turn would reduce our reliance on the federal gub’ment.
Fortunately, steps are being taken to increase the state’s literacy rates. Charter schools, nontraditional public schools that must meet certain performance marks or shut their doors, will begin operating within the next year. The new “third-grade reading gate” legislation will require intensive assessments of third graders to ensure reading comprehension levels are up to snuff. After all, it’s said the third grade is when students stop learning to read and begin reading to learn.
Resolution Number Three: Eat better, exercise more, and finally lose weight.
Said differently, Mississippi has an interest in its citizens being healthier (and skinnier), which could be achieved by all of us eating better and exercising more. But that’s the thing – we don’t talk about wellness as much as we talk about healthcare. There is a difference. Instead of focusing on “cure,” we fight over “care.” For sure, healthcare (both quality and availability) is a critical public policy issue, especially as it relates to strapped government budgets. But I wonder how we’ve sent a man to the moon yet remain stumped in our efforts to find a cure for the common cold. Is this simply my misunderstanding of science and technology, or indicative of a larger focus on healthcare instead of prevention?
(By the way, kudos to Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves and other members of the Miss. Legislature for leading the way on getting more active. Their involvement in the Fit 4 Change exercise program demonstrates a commitment to health beyond a new year resolution.)
Resolution Number Four: Spend more time with friends and family.
You’re thinking, “how does a state spend more time with friends and family?” Easy. It keeps its citizens at home by providing opportunities for personal growth and development. Far too many of Mississippi’s young people are leaving our state. We raise them; we educate them; and then we export them to other states where they work, pay taxes, and raise their families.
Not only does this “brain drain” harm our economic growth, it also jeopardizes our state’s long-term ability to survive. We need talented young people to invest here, to live here, and to raise their little ones here. Thankfully, efforts are underway to turnaround this trend, such as our state’s focus on attracting better paying jobs as well as groups like the Mississippi Brain Drain Commission.
This imaginary list could go on and on, but you get the idea. It’s funny how these statewide resolutions aren’t so different than most of our personal resolutions. Perhaps Mississippi, or any state for that matter, really is just the sum of its parts (or, specifically, its people).
Happy New Year, y’all.
It’s hard to believe it was 14 years ago when we were faced with a Y2K technological cataclysm. Looking back, it seems kind of funny, doesn’t it? One decade we’re worried our computers can’t handle a rollover to “00”; the next decade, we’re worried our government is spying on us through this same technology. My how times have changed.
Yet one thing doesn’t ever seem to change: Our desire to start each new year anew, replete with resolutions on how we’re going to live life to the fullest, eat better and exercise, and spend more time with loved ones.
It got me to wondering what kind of resolutions our beloved state might have if it were, you know, the resolutin’ type.
Resolution Number One: Finally kick the habit (that is, our addiction to federal funds).
Regardless of what type of federal assistance we’re talking – from housing funds to Medicaid, to unemployment and welfare, Mississippi relies on a hefty chunk of federal funds to operate its federal-state programs. As one of the poorest states in the union, I doubt we’ll make good on this resolution anytime soon.
Resolution Number Two: Read more.
It seems our state recognizes the connection between kickin’ the federal funds addiction and higher literacy rates. More quality education tends to generate more wealth, which in turn would reduce our reliance on the federal gub’ment.
Fortunately, steps are being taken to increase the state’s literacy rates. Charter schools, nontraditional public schools that must meet certain performance marks or shut their doors, will begin operating within the next year. The new “third-grade reading gate” legislation will require intensive assessments of third graders to ensure reading comprehension levels are up to snuff. After all, it’s said the third grade is when students stop learning to read and begin reading to learn.
Resolution Number Three: Eat better, exercise more, and finally lose weight.
Said differently, Mississippi has an interest in its citizens being healthier (and skinnier), which could be achieved by all of us eating better and exercising more. But that’s the thing – we don’t talk about wellness as much as we talk about healthcare. There is a difference. Instead of focusing on “cure,” we fight over “care.” For sure, healthcare (both quality and availability) is a critical public policy issue, especially as it relates to strapped government budgets. But I wonder how we’ve sent a man to the moon yet remain stumped in our efforts to find a cure for the common cold. Is this simply my misunderstanding of science and technology, or indicative of a larger focus on healthcare instead of prevention?
(By the way, kudos to Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves and other members of the Miss. Legislature for leading the way on getting more active. Their involvement in the Fit 4 Change exercise program demonstrates a commitment to health beyond a new year resolution.)
Resolution Number Four: Spend more time with friends and family.
You’re thinking, “how does a state spend more time with friends and family?” Easy. It keeps its citizens at home by providing opportunities for personal growth and development. Far too many of Mississippi’s young people are leaving our state. We raise them; we educate them; and then we export them to other states where they work, pay taxes, and raise their families.
Not only does this “brain drain” harm our economic growth, it also jeopardizes our state’s long-term ability to survive. We need talented young people to invest here, to live here, and to raise their little ones here. Thankfully, efforts are underway to turnaround this trend, such as our state’s focus on attracting better paying jobs as well as groups like the Mississippi Brain Drain Commission.
This imaginary list could go on and on, but you get the idea. It’s funny how these statewide resolutions aren’t so different than most of our personal resolutions. Perhaps Mississippi, or any state for that matter, really is just the sum of its parts (or, specifically, its people).
Happy New Year, y’all.
Thursday, December 26, 2013
Legislative session policies sometimes predictable, sometimes not
*First appeared in the Dec. 26 edition of the Laurel Chronicle
It’s two days before Christmas as I write this final column of 2013. C-SPAN is on the tube, and I’m suffering from the seasonal cold…which reminds me that today is my last day to sign up for Obamacare and be covered at the start of the new year.
Bah-humbug.
Healthcare is going to be one of the big items in the 2014 Legislative Session: Should we expand the Medicaid program? How much money does the Division of Medicaid actually need? And so on.
Education issues have already bubbled up, with some calling for across-the-board teacher pay raises. One article I saw said teachers haven’t gotten raises in seven years, but that’s not true (unless someone isn’t following the law…and then we’ve got another problem). Mississippi law (§37-19-7) requires teaches to get a bump in pay every year, and you get more based on tenure and education level.
According to the Miss. Dept. of Education, the base salary for an entry-level teacher (that is, with a bachelor’s degree and no full-time teaching experience) is $30,900. Compare that amount to the average entry-level salary for all occupations in Mississippi - $17,730, according to the Miss. Dept. of Employment Security. In addition to base pay, public school teachers get state health insurance and a pretty sweet state retirement.
I’ve heard rumblings from others about pay raises for regular state employees coupled with refrains that “state employees haven’t gotten raises in five, six, seven years.” I guess these folks have turned a blind eye to the fact the Legislature and individual state agencies authorize pay raises for employees every single year. For example, about $12 million worth of pay raises were given this year, and nearly double that, or $23 million, were given last fiscal year.
(By the way: I am not against pay raises. I am simply for a full presentation of facts.)
It remains to be seen whether gun laws or a focus on mental health issues will arise in 2014, as a result of the Newtown shootings.
What is not a mystery, though, is that the T1 Coalition will make a splash as it advocates increasing the gas tax as a way to generate more revenue to maintain Mississippi roads and bridges. To my knowledge, no statewide elected official has endorsed raising taxes in 2014.
Last week, a study committee released recommendations on ways to cut costs in the state’s correctional system without jeopardizing the safety of law-abiding citizens. It’s hard to see a scenario in which the 2014 Legislative Session doesn’t at least consider several of those proposals, if for no other reason than to identify savings and redirect those funds to other priority areas like education (see also, “pay raises”).
Of course, all of these issues relate back to my personal favorite issue: The state budget. Teacher and/or state employee pay raises; Medicaid expansion; actual Medicaid costs; corrections reform; and even mental health reform comes with a major price tag. It will be interesting to see these policies shape up within the context of a limited state budget and a restrained appetite for bonding.
This is just a snapshot of issues to be discussed and, as any seasoned session-watcher knows, is by no means all-inclusive of the topics du jour. There will be issues that arise during the session that no one is thinking about today (and no one will care about tomorrow). That’s why legislative sessions are always exciting ways to ring in the new year.
Merry Christmas, y’all, and see you in this space next year.
It’s two days before Christmas as I write this final column of 2013. C-SPAN is on the tube, and I’m suffering from the seasonal cold…which reminds me that today is my last day to sign up for Obamacare and be covered at the start of the new year.
Bah-humbug.
Healthcare is going to be one of the big items in the 2014 Legislative Session: Should we expand the Medicaid program? How much money does the Division of Medicaid actually need? And so on.
Education issues have already bubbled up, with some calling for across-the-board teacher pay raises. One article I saw said teachers haven’t gotten raises in seven years, but that’s not true (unless someone isn’t following the law…and then we’ve got another problem). Mississippi law (§37-19-7) requires teaches to get a bump in pay every year, and you get more based on tenure and education level.
According to the Miss. Dept. of Education, the base salary for an entry-level teacher (that is, with a bachelor’s degree and no full-time teaching experience) is $30,900. Compare that amount to the average entry-level salary for all occupations in Mississippi - $17,730, according to the Miss. Dept. of Employment Security. In addition to base pay, public school teachers get state health insurance and a pretty sweet state retirement.
I’ve heard rumblings from others about pay raises for regular state employees coupled with refrains that “state employees haven’t gotten raises in five, six, seven years.” I guess these folks have turned a blind eye to the fact the Legislature and individual state agencies authorize pay raises for employees every single year. For example, about $12 million worth of pay raises were given this year, and nearly double that, or $23 million, were given last fiscal year.
(By the way: I am not against pay raises. I am simply for a full presentation of facts.)
It remains to be seen whether gun laws or a focus on mental health issues will arise in 2014, as a result of the Newtown shootings.
What is not a mystery, though, is that the T1 Coalition will make a splash as it advocates increasing the gas tax as a way to generate more revenue to maintain Mississippi roads and bridges. To my knowledge, no statewide elected official has endorsed raising taxes in 2014.
Last week, a study committee released recommendations on ways to cut costs in the state’s correctional system without jeopardizing the safety of law-abiding citizens. It’s hard to see a scenario in which the 2014 Legislative Session doesn’t at least consider several of those proposals, if for no other reason than to identify savings and redirect those funds to other priority areas like education (see also, “pay raises”).
Of course, all of these issues relate back to my personal favorite issue: The state budget. Teacher and/or state employee pay raises; Medicaid expansion; actual Medicaid costs; corrections reform; and even mental health reform comes with a major price tag. It will be interesting to see these policies shape up within the context of a limited state budget and a restrained appetite for bonding.
This is just a snapshot of issues to be discussed and, as any seasoned session-watcher knows, is by no means all-inclusive of the topics du jour. There will be issues that arise during the session that no one is thinking about today (and no one will care about tomorrow). That’s why legislative sessions are always exciting ways to ring in the new year.
Merry Christmas, y’all, and see you in this space next year.
Thursday, December 19, 2013
On the first day of Session, my Legislature gave to me…
*First published in the Dec. 19 edition of the Laurel Chronicle
It’s mid-December already. Can you believe it? We’re one step closer to welcoming St. Nick into our houses and legislators into our capitol. This column (the third installment of a four-part series on the legislative session) will look at the political dynamics coming Jan. 7, the first day of the 2014 Regular Legislative Session.
I’ve been feeling some major Christmas spirit this year, so I’d like to look at session politics through a “12 Days of Christmas” prism.
On the first week of session, legislators will give to us their best partridge (in a pear tree?) impressions. The famous bird of song has an aversion to high places and long flights, and it doesn’t build its nest in trees (too risky). Like this bird, I imagine most legislators will exercise caution not to fly too high initially while they scope out the political dynamics of 2014.
Don’t expect to see any peace-bearing turtle doves gliding through the hallways of the State Capitol this year, either. These second gifts of Christmas likely won’t perch at the dome, considering the upcoming race between Jones County native State Senator Chris McDaniel and incumbent U.S. Senator Thad Cochran; partisan fights over Obamacare; and so on. Remember that we’re inching closer to re-election year (2015), which means everything will be weighed against its campaign implications.
With so much at stake this year, you can bet your bottom dollar the session will be chock full of French hens. (Finally we have found a Christmas gift appropriate for legislative proceedings!) I guarantee we’ll see passionate floor speeches, hyper-partisan legislation introduced, the works. I’d wager a few legislators will play the role of calling (or, more accurately, “Colly”) birds which are known for reacting favorably toward shiny bills (hey, it takes money to run for re-election, right?).
There’s always some kissing of the rings at the Capitol, which leads us to our five golden rings of Christmas. This time-honored tradition usually reaps its own reward, much like the production of the eggs from the six geese-a-laying. You’ve got to sow seeds of political goodwill to get any legislation passed, regardless of the bill’s individual merit. The payoff? An egg or two in your favor.
Capitol staff (lawyers, policy wonks, budgeteers, committee assistants, and others) will be working hard to keep the legislative swans a-swimming along as peacefully as possible, and for that they should be commended.
Lobbyists and advocates will do their best milk-maid impressions to squeeze out legislative support for their various clients, interests, and causes. It’s not a popular nor easy job, but in many ways very necessary to keeping the government wheels a-spinning.
If you’re wondering where one might find ladies dancing and lords-a-leaping during the session, that’s easy: At any of the numerous legislative receptions held during the session. Receptions are a must for capitol dwellers, as they provide a double whammy – a place to network and a place to get free food and drink.
We’re sure to see more than eleven pipers piping about bills, initiatives, and so on. Bagpipes have traditionally been used in a military context, and it seems the political equivalent is hosting press conferences to announce the onset of a political battle. Expect lots of press conferences, events, and other media-driven bagpipes during these next three months.
Much like pipers, drummers drumming have played crucial roles by providing a steady marching beat to armed forces. This session, be on the lookout for anyone who’s not marching to the beat of his army’s drum cadence, as that is usually a sign of political unrest.
My disclaimer, of course, is that I make these tongue-in-cheek comparisons to give readers a somewhat humorous look at the political dynamics in every legislative session – regardless of which political party is currently in power. The capitol culture is an environment in which quirks are the norm, personalities rule the day, but, importantly, those in positions of power truly want to help their constituents. This shared goal is what makes the capitol dome go ‘round, and it is what drives the adoption of policies that help Mississippians from the top to the bottom of the state.
The process isn’t always pretty, but the fact that good legislation is adopted is, you could say, something of a Christmas miracle.
It’s mid-December already. Can you believe it? We’re one step closer to welcoming St. Nick into our houses and legislators into our capitol. This column (the third installment of a four-part series on the legislative session) will look at the political dynamics coming Jan. 7, the first day of the 2014 Regular Legislative Session.
I’ve been feeling some major Christmas spirit this year, so I’d like to look at session politics through a “12 Days of Christmas” prism.
On the first week of session, legislators will give to us their best partridge (in a pear tree?) impressions. The famous bird of song has an aversion to high places and long flights, and it doesn’t build its nest in trees (too risky). Like this bird, I imagine most legislators will exercise caution not to fly too high initially while they scope out the political dynamics of 2014.
Don’t expect to see any peace-bearing turtle doves gliding through the hallways of the State Capitol this year, either. These second gifts of Christmas likely won’t perch at the dome, considering the upcoming race between Jones County native State Senator Chris McDaniel and incumbent U.S. Senator Thad Cochran; partisan fights over Obamacare; and so on. Remember that we’re inching closer to re-election year (2015), which means everything will be weighed against its campaign implications.
With so much at stake this year, you can bet your bottom dollar the session will be chock full of French hens. (Finally we have found a Christmas gift appropriate for legislative proceedings!) I guarantee we’ll see passionate floor speeches, hyper-partisan legislation introduced, the works. I’d wager a few legislators will play the role of calling (or, more accurately, “Colly”) birds which are known for reacting favorably toward shiny bills (hey, it takes money to run for re-election, right?).
There’s always some kissing of the rings at the Capitol, which leads us to our five golden rings of Christmas. This time-honored tradition usually reaps its own reward, much like the production of the eggs from the six geese-a-laying. You’ve got to sow seeds of political goodwill to get any legislation passed, regardless of the bill’s individual merit. The payoff? An egg or two in your favor.
Capitol staff (lawyers, policy wonks, budgeteers, committee assistants, and others) will be working hard to keep the legislative swans a-swimming along as peacefully as possible, and for that they should be commended.
Lobbyists and advocates will do their best milk-maid impressions to squeeze out legislative support for their various clients, interests, and causes. It’s not a popular nor easy job, but in many ways very necessary to keeping the government wheels a-spinning.
If you’re wondering where one might find ladies dancing and lords-a-leaping during the session, that’s easy: At any of the numerous legislative receptions held during the session. Receptions are a must for capitol dwellers, as they provide a double whammy – a place to network and a place to get free food and drink.
We’re sure to see more than eleven pipers piping about bills, initiatives, and so on. Bagpipes have traditionally been used in a military context, and it seems the political equivalent is hosting press conferences to announce the onset of a political battle. Expect lots of press conferences, events, and other media-driven bagpipes during these next three months.
Much like pipers, drummers drumming have played crucial roles by providing a steady marching beat to armed forces. This session, be on the lookout for anyone who’s not marching to the beat of his army’s drum cadence, as that is usually a sign of political unrest.
My disclaimer, of course, is that I make these tongue-in-cheek comparisons to give readers a somewhat humorous look at the political dynamics in every legislative session – regardless of which political party is currently in power. The capitol culture is an environment in which quirks are the norm, personalities rule the day, but, importantly, those in positions of power truly want to help their constituents. This shared goal is what makes the capitol dome go ‘round, and it is what drives the adoption of policies that help Mississippians from the top to the bottom of the state.
The process isn’t always pretty, but the fact that good legislation is adopted is, you could say, something of a Christmas miracle.
Thursday, December 12, 2013
Third time’s the charm: An overview of the Mississippi State Capitol
*First appeared in the Dec. 12 edition of the Laurel Chronicle
As a precursor to the quickly approaching legislative session, I have decided to focus my December columns on four main components of the session: The people; the place; the policies; and the politics. Last week in this space, we met some of the people running your state Capitol; this week, let’s learn a little about the building itself.
Located on the site of the old state penitentiary, the Mississippi State Capitol (also known as the “new” capitol) has been the seat of the state’s government since 1903. Although three capitol buildings have been erected in Jackson, only two of them remain: The current New Capitol and the Old Capitol, which, from 1839 to 1903, served as our official statehouse. It has since been turned into a lovely museum.
Fun fact about the Old Capitol Museum: In 2005, it sustained extensive damage from Hurricane Katrina and had to be closed while renovations were underway. To commemorate its re-opening, the 2009 Legislative Session gaveled in at this building.
The (new) State Capitol was designed by St. Louis-born architect Theodore Link, and its construction cost in excess of $1 million. Interestingly, the bill was paid by back taxes from a lawsuit settlement with the Illinois Central Railroad.
The New Capitol seems to live up to Gov. A.H. Longino’s famous description, in which he calls the building a “reflex of the State’s public spirit, pride, and integrity.”
Modeled after the U.S. Capitol building, the New Capitol is a Beaux Arts-style building designed to house all branches of Mississippi state government. These days, however, the Capitol is the Legislature’s playground (with the exception of the ceremonial office of the Governor on the third floor and a small office for the Secretary of State).
Given my background as a governor’s staff member, I have spent many days, nights, and early mornings in that ceremonial office. It’s a beautiful, if not gritty, office that has an unexpected elevator.
On to dimensions. According to the legislative website, the “Capitol has a width of 402 feet, and the dome has a height of 180 feet. The interior Rotunda dome contains 750 lights which illuminate the blind-folded lady representing ‘Blind Justice’ and four figures that played a role in Mississippi history: two Native Americans, a European explorer and a Confederate soldier. An eagle adorns the top of the central dome and is made of copper coated with gold leaf. The eagle is 8-feet high and 15-feet wide.”
Unofficially, I’ve always been told that the copper coated eagle on top of our Capitol dome faces south – not north – in a show of post-Civil War defiance against the U.S. Capitol. I have no idea if that’s true.
If you visit the New Capitol, you’ll walk into the “front” of the building (the front faces south, like the eagle) and enter the first floor. In addition to the Capitol Gift Shop (which you should really check out), the Hall of Governors is located on this level. Portraits of the state’s governors since the creation of the Mississippi Territory in 1798 adorn the hallways; you simply cannot walk down the corridor without feeling powerful and occasionally creepy gubernatorial stares.
Fun fact about two pictures in the hallways: Walter Leake, Mississippi’s 3rd governor, is an ancestor of the 63rd chief executive, Haley Barbour. Gov. Leake’s portrait is featured in the background of Gov. Barbour’s painting.
Going up a level, you’ll find my favorite floor, as it is home to the former State Library and former Supreme Court chambers which are both now used as committee meeting rooms. Primarily these rooms are used for money committees – that is, the Ways and Means and Appropriations committees in the House and the Finance and Appropriations committees in the Senate. The Rotunda area on floor two doubles as an unofficial lobbyist hangout.
On the third floor rests the power, as this level holds the Legislative chambers (both House and Senate); the ceremonial office of the Governor, and the offices of the Lt. Gov. and the Speaker of the House. The fourth floor is home to the Capitol press corps and entrances for public viewing of the House and Senate chambers.
I haven’t even mentioned some of the coolest Capitol features, such as the “stables” (literally the old horse stables – now the Capitol café area) and the myriad materials used throughout the building such as marble, faux marble (Scagliola), and beautiful stained glass. To appreciate these aspects fully, you’ll need to see it firsthand.
The New Capitol is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday for self-guided tours. Free guided tours are offered each day at 9:30 and 11 a.m. and 1 and 2:30 p.m. If you’ve got a group, give the Capitol folks a call at 601-359-3114 to arrange a special tour (or email tours@house.ms.gov).
Making time to tour the statehouse is, well, a capitol idea.
As a precursor to the quickly approaching legislative session, I have decided to focus my December columns on four main components of the session: The people; the place; the policies; and the politics. Last week in this space, we met some of the people running your state Capitol; this week, let’s learn a little about the building itself.
Located on the site of the old state penitentiary, the Mississippi State Capitol (also known as the “new” capitol) has been the seat of the state’s government since 1903. Although three capitol buildings have been erected in Jackson, only two of them remain: The current New Capitol and the Old Capitol, which, from 1839 to 1903, served as our official statehouse. It has since been turned into a lovely museum.
Fun fact about the Old Capitol Museum: In 2005, it sustained extensive damage from Hurricane Katrina and had to be closed while renovations were underway. To commemorate its re-opening, the 2009 Legislative Session gaveled in at this building.
The (new) State Capitol was designed by St. Louis-born architect Theodore Link, and its construction cost in excess of $1 million. Interestingly, the bill was paid by back taxes from a lawsuit settlement with the Illinois Central Railroad.
The New Capitol seems to live up to Gov. A.H. Longino’s famous description, in which he calls the building a “reflex of the State’s public spirit, pride, and integrity.”
Modeled after the U.S. Capitol building, the New Capitol is a Beaux Arts-style building designed to house all branches of Mississippi state government. These days, however, the Capitol is the Legislature’s playground (with the exception of the ceremonial office of the Governor on the third floor and a small office for the Secretary of State).
Given my background as a governor’s staff member, I have spent many days, nights, and early mornings in that ceremonial office. It’s a beautiful, if not gritty, office that has an unexpected elevator.
On to dimensions. According to the legislative website, the “Capitol has a width of 402 feet, and the dome has a height of 180 feet. The interior Rotunda dome contains 750 lights which illuminate the blind-folded lady representing ‘Blind Justice’ and four figures that played a role in Mississippi history: two Native Americans, a European explorer and a Confederate soldier. An eagle adorns the top of the central dome and is made of copper coated with gold leaf. The eagle is 8-feet high and 15-feet wide.”
Unofficially, I’ve always been told that the copper coated eagle on top of our Capitol dome faces south – not north – in a show of post-Civil War defiance against the U.S. Capitol. I have no idea if that’s true.
If you visit the New Capitol, you’ll walk into the “front” of the building (the front faces south, like the eagle) and enter the first floor. In addition to the Capitol Gift Shop (which you should really check out), the Hall of Governors is located on this level. Portraits of the state’s governors since the creation of the Mississippi Territory in 1798 adorn the hallways; you simply cannot walk down the corridor without feeling powerful and occasionally creepy gubernatorial stares.
Fun fact about two pictures in the hallways: Walter Leake, Mississippi’s 3rd governor, is an ancestor of the 63rd chief executive, Haley Barbour. Gov. Leake’s portrait is featured in the background of Gov. Barbour’s painting.
Going up a level, you’ll find my favorite floor, as it is home to the former State Library and former Supreme Court chambers which are both now used as committee meeting rooms. Primarily these rooms are used for money committees – that is, the Ways and Means and Appropriations committees in the House and the Finance and Appropriations committees in the Senate. The Rotunda area on floor two doubles as an unofficial lobbyist hangout.
On the third floor rests the power, as this level holds the Legislative chambers (both House and Senate); the ceremonial office of the Governor, and the offices of the Lt. Gov. and the Speaker of the House. The fourth floor is home to the Capitol press corps and entrances for public viewing of the House and Senate chambers.
I haven’t even mentioned some of the coolest Capitol features, such as the “stables” (literally the old horse stables – now the Capitol café area) and the myriad materials used throughout the building such as marble, faux marble (Scagliola), and beautiful stained glass. To appreciate these aspects fully, you’ll need to see it firsthand.
The New Capitol is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday for self-guided tours. Free guided tours are offered each day at 9:30 and 11 a.m. and 1 and 2:30 p.m. If you’ve got a group, give the Capitol folks a call at 601-359-3114 to arrange a special tour (or email tours@house.ms.gov).
Making time to tour the statehouse is, well, a capitol idea.
Friday, December 6, 2013
‘Tis the season for meeting the people of your state capitol
*First appeared in the Dec. 5 edition of the Laurel Chronicle.
Ah, December. The month we band together to sing songs about sleigh bells and snowmen from colder, foreign, and perhaps fictitious lands up north. December means family jaunts to singing Christmas trees, holiday cantatas, and festivals of light. Tacky sweater parties rival sequin-heavy cocktail hours as the premiere events for fashionable holiday revelers.
This most wonderful time of the year brings with it almost obligatory seasonal fights: Merry Christmas versus Happy Holidays. Christ the Savior is Born versus Santa Clause is Coming to Town. And let’s not forget the separation-of-church-and-state hullabaloo about those pesky Nativity scenes displayed annually at the state capitol.
…which reminds me of something else, actually. December isn’t just a harbinger of gift giving and receiving; it also means the Legislature, like Santa, is coming to town.
In honor of the upcoming January session, I’d like to dedicate December’s columns to four components of capitol goings-on: The people, the place, the policies, and the politics.
If you aren’t familiar with the many faces of the statehouse, rest easy: ‘Tis the season to meet some of the people at your state capitol.
Let’s start with Kenny, the elevator operator who has been a Capitol fixture for as long as I can remember. Kenny takes tourists, legislators, and staff members to their desired floors, entertaining his guests with stories along the way. For someone who spends a lot of time in an elevator, Kenny knows (or believes he knows) just about everything happening within the building.
Before you get to the elevators, stop by the Capitol Gift Shop on the ground floor to meet Emily. I first met Emily during my week as a high school page for the House of Representatives. At the time, she was working for the House and was fond of my Uncle Gary for whom I was paging (he is the District 88 Representative). These days, I sometimes visit her at the gift shop where she urges me to purchase one of the many Mississippi-themed items available for sale. For Christmas, they’ve got glass ornaments in the shape of mockingbirds.
Our next person of interest is Capitol Curator Brenda Davis, who does yeoman’s work in keeping the statehouse in order. From organizing tours to ensuring stairways are painted in historically-appropriate colors, Brenda always has a project or two up her sleeve. This week, I understand she’s preparing for Friday’s Old Jackson Christmas by Candlelight Tour, which includes a stop at the Mississippi State Capitol. (Dec. 6 in Downtown Jackson – more information by calling 601.576.6800).
A lawyer by training, Secretary of the Senate Liz Welch is the next person of interest on our meet-the-people tour. In her role, Liz is involved in virtually all Senate proceedings; nothing is too large or small for her to handle. Like Brenda, Liz has a passion for preserving and promoting the Capitol. Of course, that makes sense, given her decades of experience in state government and personal connection with the building (her mother served in the House for many years).
The other chamber’s equivalent to Liz is Andrew Ketchings, Clerk of the House of Representatives. A native of Natchez, Andrew and I met many years ago while working as members of Gov. Barbour’s staff. He is a no-nonsense, get things done sort of guy who, by the way, can run faster and longer than anyone reading this column. Drawing on his background as a former legislator, Andrew also keeps the House running, so to speak, which is no easy task.
Highlighting other staff members, legislative committee assistants, budget office workers, and even elected officials themselves would take more space than is given here. But I’ve got the perfect solution: Put on your civic hat and travel to the Capitol to meet everyone yourself.
Ah, December. The month we band together to sing songs about sleigh bells and snowmen from colder, foreign, and perhaps fictitious lands up north. December means family jaunts to singing Christmas trees, holiday cantatas, and festivals of light. Tacky sweater parties rival sequin-heavy cocktail hours as the premiere events for fashionable holiday revelers.
This most wonderful time of the year brings with it almost obligatory seasonal fights: Merry Christmas versus Happy Holidays. Christ the Savior is Born versus Santa Clause is Coming to Town. And let’s not forget the separation-of-church-and-state hullabaloo about those pesky Nativity scenes displayed annually at the state capitol.
…which reminds me of something else, actually. December isn’t just a harbinger of gift giving and receiving; it also means the Legislature, like Santa, is coming to town.
In honor of the upcoming January session, I’d like to dedicate December’s columns to four components of capitol goings-on: The people, the place, the policies, and the politics.
If you aren’t familiar with the many faces of the statehouse, rest easy: ‘Tis the season to meet some of the people at your state capitol.
Let’s start with Kenny, the elevator operator who has been a Capitol fixture for as long as I can remember. Kenny takes tourists, legislators, and staff members to their desired floors, entertaining his guests with stories along the way. For someone who spends a lot of time in an elevator, Kenny knows (or believes he knows) just about everything happening within the building.
Before you get to the elevators, stop by the Capitol Gift Shop on the ground floor to meet Emily. I first met Emily during my week as a high school page for the House of Representatives. At the time, she was working for the House and was fond of my Uncle Gary for whom I was paging (he is the District 88 Representative). These days, I sometimes visit her at the gift shop where she urges me to purchase one of the many Mississippi-themed items available for sale. For Christmas, they’ve got glass ornaments in the shape of mockingbirds.
Our next person of interest is Capitol Curator Brenda Davis, who does yeoman’s work in keeping the statehouse in order. From organizing tours to ensuring stairways are painted in historically-appropriate colors, Brenda always has a project or two up her sleeve. This week, I understand she’s preparing for Friday’s Old Jackson Christmas by Candlelight Tour, which includes a stop at the Mississippi State Capitol. (Dec. 6 in Downtown Jackson – more information by calling 601.576.6800).
A lawyer by training, Secretary of the Senate Liz Welch is the next person of interest on our meet-the-people tour. In her role, Liz is involved in virtually all Senate proceedings; nothing is too large or small for her to handle. Like Brenda, Liz has a passion for preserving and promoting the Capitol. Of course, that makes sense, given her decades of experience in state government and personal connection with the building (her mother served in the House for many years).
The other chamber’s equivalent to Liz is Andrew Ketchings, Clerk of the House of Representatives. A native of Natchez, Andrew and I met many years ago while working as members of Gov. Barbour’s staff. He is a no-nonsense, get things done sort of guy who, by the way, can run faster and longer than anyone reading this column. Drawing on his background as a former legislator, Andrew also keeps the House running, so to speak, which is no easy task.
Highlighting other staff members, legislative committee assistants, budget office workers, and even elected officials themselves would take more space than is given here. But I’ve got the perfect solution: Put on your civic hat and travel to the Capitol to meet everyone yourself.
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