By Bonnie Holland

Guest Columnist 

Happy New Year! On the local front the Republican Women of Greater Picayune hosted Jim Luke at our last meeting which was held on January 9, 2014, at the Crosby Library.

City Manager Jim Luke was a wealth of information as to positive changes being initiated and continued within the city limits. As we see the old hospital being torn down there is the birth of a new era for this piece of property. Many options are being considered from a walking historical trail to an amphitheatre. Please contact the City Manager’s office if you have input into this project.

On the state level March 1, 2014, at 5 p.m. is the qualifying deadline for party affiliated and independent candidates for the U.S. House and Senate.

In District 4 for the United States Senate seat we have challenger Chris McDaniel, currently a Republican State Senator from Ellisville challenging long time incumbent Republican U. S. Senator Thad Cochran. Senator McDaniel is endorsed by the Tea Party. Thad Cochran is a long time Senator who sits on several committees.

I encourage all of you to research all candidates that may qualify for this seat and make an informed choice at the primary election which will be held on June 3, 2014. The primary runoff will be held on June 24 if necessary.

Mississippi has a closed party system, which means in the primary you may chose between the Republican primary and the Democratic primary, but you cannot vote on both ballots. The general election for this seat as well as any open Judgeships will be held on November 4, 2014.

On the national level the Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives voiced tentative support on Tuesday of this week for a 1.1 trillion spending bill, signaling likely passage. This budget bill increases 45 billion in military and domestic spending, easing automatic “sequester “ budget cuts and 85 billion in Afghanistan war funding for this fiscal year. The bill did pass the house on Wednesday of this week. The bill somewhat preserves the tighter government spending demanded by Republicans by denying funding for high speed rail projects, international monetary reforms and an increase in funding for implementation of the Affordable Care Act.

However, the Democratic leadership received a 1 billion increase in funding for head start (Reuters, January 14, 2014). The lack of drama in passing the bill is surely a result of the government shutdown in the fall, which polls show hurt both parties. Several lawmakers from both parties are facing re election in the fall.

Republican Women will be announcing their next event in the February newsletter.

(Bonnie is the President of the Republican Women of Greater Picayune.)