Speaker McCoy statement on legislative redistricting: ‘The matter is settled’

SPEAKER BILLY McCOY

JACKSON (Wednesday, March 16, 2011) – The state House has had it. Leaders are tired of the political games and stonewalling of Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant, who does not want the Senate to approve the House redistricting plan.

Bryant, who serves as president of the 52-member state Senate, is more interested in playing partisan politics with redistricting. He appears to be willing to sacrifice a solid, fair redistricting plan approved by the state House and drag this issue to court.

And Bryant appears ready to force taxpayers to foot the costly and unnecessary bill of funding two legislative elections, one under the current plan in November 2011 and another under new districts that likely would be held in November 2012.

Hmmm. Something doesn’t feel right about this. Let’s see.

The Clarion-Ledger: Senate panel rejects House redistricting plan

JACKSON (Tuesday, March 8, 2011) – Well, Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant got his way: A state Senate panel rejected the state House-approved redistricting plan AND passed a Senate map drawn by – guess who??? – Bryant himself.


We haven’t seen this kind of heavy-handed ruling and arm-twisting in the state Senate in more than 20 years. It seems that the lieutenant governor is intent on throwing himself full-force in executive AND legislative issues. This makes you wonder if he ever heard of “separation of powers.”

The Clarion-Ledger: Phil Bryant balks at plan to put Hattiesburg in majority black Senate district

JACKSON (Tuesday, March 8, 2011) – Witness this incredibly interesting report that paints Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant for what he is – an extremely partisan elected official intent on throwing redistricting into the courts and forcing voters to elect lawmakers for two years in a row.

The Clarion-Ledger reports on Bryant’s motives today. And this is something you have to read to believe. For example, Bryant is balking at a plan to create a black-majority state Senate district in black-majority Hattiesburg.

Why? Because he prefers his own redistricting map that would keep three GOP-friendly districts by splitting Hattiesburg.

The Clarion-Ledger: Contrary to Phil Bryant, redistricting needs oversight

JACKSON (Tuesday, March 8, 2011) – So, our esteemed Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant – who is throwing around his weight like no other lieutenant governor has done in more than 20 years – has a problem with the Voting Rights Act and Section 5.

Hmmm. Well, The Clarion-Ledger took Bryant to task – rightfully so. The Ledger, in an editorial published today, also commented on the blatant partisan politics the Republican Party has infused into the fight over redrawing House and Senate districts.

An excerpt:

It's beginning to be clear why Bryant may not want too close scrutiny of Mississippi's redistricting plans.