Jackson Free Press

Haley Barbour's granting clemency to more than 200 people precipitated so much fallout that there's now fallout to the fallout.

In a statement this morning, House Democrats lashed out at legislative Republicans for proffering legislation late last week aimed at reducing the powers of the state attorney general's office, which Democrat Jim Hood occupies.

Democrats characterized the measures as "retaliatory stunts" for Hood's success in blocking the pardons of 21 prisoners. Barbour granted reprieves to more than 200 people convicted of offenses that include murder, rape, assault, forgery and drug crimes on his way out of office.

"At this moment, (Attorney) General Hood is working to recover tens of millions owed to the state's retirement system; now is not the time to tie his hands," Rep. Bob Evans, D-Monticello said in the press release.

Together, the Sunshine Attorney Act (SB2084) and the Transparency in Private Attorney Contracts Act (SB2102) revises the state AG's power to contract out legal work to private firms. SB2084 mandates that the attorney general issue requests for proposals for legal work, requires the state Personal Service Contract Review Board to provide oversight of the agreements, and would allow state agencies, typically represented by the AG, to hire their own outside counsel in "certain situations."

Meanwhile, SB2102 requires the attorney general to justify using outside counsel, caps the fees outside lawyers can collect, and requires the attorney general to post copies of the contracts on the office's website.

The clemency decrees signed the morning Barbour's term ended Jan. 10 spurred a maelstrom across Mississippi and nationwide. Hood said last week that a preliminary investigation revealed that the majority of those pardoned did not give public notice of their release state law requires.

State Sen. John Horhn, D-Jackson, said he doesn't agree with all the Barbour pardons based on what he read in media reports but that he doesn't want to question the former governor's motives.

"Governors and presidents have (clemency) power because we understand that our system is not perfect. There are extenuating circumstances," Horhn said. "Do I agree with all the pardons? No, I don't. Some of them, the circumstances were a lot more heinous. I wouldn't have made that call."

Previous Comments

ID

165771

Comment

So Horn doesn't want to question Haley Barbour's motives????? WHY NOT????

Author

justjess

Date

2012-01-16T22:48:02-06:00