Jackson Free Press

Obviously, people weren't paying attention when, right after the reelection of Barack Obama to a second term, Mississippi asked for permission to secede from the Union.

(Again.)

Or whenever Gov. Phil Bryant says he doesn't want anything to do with the Obamacare -- which extends to a state health-care exchange that's been in the works since before Bryant took office.

Clearly, people thought Mississippi was kidding last week when Bryant called on state lawmakers to resist any new federal gun regulations.

And today, at the urging of Republicans, the House even passed a bill that lets the Department of Public Safety ignore companies who try to levy fines on Mississippi residents who get out-of-state photo traffic tickets.

So Reps. Jeff Smith and Gary Chism, both Republicans from Columbus, have a bill that make it clear once and for all:

Hey, federal government, leave us alone!

Their HB 490 clarifies that "protected rights under state sovereignty may not be infringed upon by federal action(s)." The provisions of the act include:

TO ASSERT THE SOVEREIGNTY OF THE STATE UNDER THE MISSISSIPPI CONSTITUTION OF 1890

TO PROHIBIT THE INFRINGEMENT OF THE CONSTITUTIONALLY PROTECTED RIGHTS OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, OR ITS PEOPLE BY MEANS OF ANY FEDERAL STATUTE, MANDATE, EXECUTIVE ORDER, JUDICIAL DECISION OR OTHER ACTION DEEMED BY THE STATE TO BE UNCONSTITUTIONAL

TO CREATE THE JOINT LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE ON THE NEUTRALIZATION OF FEDERAL LAW

TO PROVIDE FOR THE MEMBERSHIP AND DUTIES OF THE COMMITTEE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

That Chism and Smith look like a couple of extras out of Django Unchained isn't the only reason their bill has been making the Internet sad all day. It's also because invoking the word sovereignty tends to give thinking Mississippians chills. As Smith and Chism are no doubt fully aware, the Mississippi State Sovereignty Commission was a clandestine organization the Legislation created to spy on Mississippi’s citizens involved with the Civil Rights Movement.

For now, HB 490 fate rests with Constitution Committee Chairman Scott Delano, R-Biloxi. We'll see if it has legs.

I am working on a series of JFP Interviews with Jackson mayoral candidates. I'm looking to interview a candidate for the third installment by Jan. 23. So if you know candidates Regina Quinn, Francis Smith or Chokwe Lumumba, please tell them to call me at 601-362-6121 ext. 22 and set up an interview as soon as possible.

You can read the first two candidate interviews in the series here:

Jonathan Lee

William Bright

Every 20 minutes or so, someone says something like "We've got to do something about this outta-control spending!" It occurs to me that these people generally aren't talking about the defense and security budgets, which take up about 2/3 of discretionary spending. Most of the time they seem to want to cut someone else's Social Security or someone else's health care.

Why is this so important? The outta-control-totally-irresponsible Obama Deficit, of course.

But did you know We've Already Done $2.4 Trillion in Deficit Reduction?

Says Matt Yglesias of Slate.com: But don't let anyone convince you that nothing's being done. The economic recovery is reducing the deficit, and measures already enacted are bringing further deficit reductions.

The City and Stewpot’s Opportunity Center are teaming up to provide emergency shelter for those in need tonight. The center is located at 845 Amite Street. It will open at 6 p.m.

Stewpot and the City’s Department of Human and Cultural Service’s Homeless Division every year to provide night-time shelter to citizens in need whenever the temperature is 32 degrees or lower. The temperature could drop to the upper 20s tonight.

For more information, you can call Stewpot at 601-949-3540 or the Department of Human and Cultural Services at 601-960-0335.