No, Barbara Blackmon is handicapped

WLBT following up on Jackson Jambalaya's post reported it was lobbyist and former state senator Barbara Blackmon driving the car parked in the handicapped spot. She faxed in a handicapped placard to WLBT but would not discuss it. JJ also has a shot of the car at the Hilton in a handicapped spot.

Ed Blackmon Handicapped?

We have been critical of Ed Blackmon when he failed to pay his taxes, and when he killed open meetings reform, when he championed secrecy, and generally as he has led the Party of No even when it comes to school bus safety for children.

But our prayers go out to him now because apparently he has been in an accident. That would be the only explanation we could think of for him stealing a handicapped parking spot from those who actually need it. Jackson Jambalaya has the photos of Blackmon's BMW (with his legislative tag clearly seen) parked in a handicapped spot at Bravo's on Friday. Of course, maybe it was someone else driving Ed Blackmon's car. Or even, someone else's car with Ed Blackmon's license plate. Or maybe its a plot of the vast right wing conspiracy.

Ed Blackmon leads Mississippi's "Party of No"

Open Meeting's Reform - Ed Blackmon says NO

Attorney General Sunshine Legislation - Ed Blackmon says NO

Nathan's Law / Children on School Bus Protection - Ed Blackmon says NO

Blackmon champions secrecy

The Sun Herald noted Representative Ed Blackmon, Jr. "single-handedly killed legislation last week that would have strengthened Mississippi’s Open Meetings law."

David Hampton at the Clarion Ledger wrote "Blackmon's claims that the amendment to improve the bill somehow violated the unwritten sovereign honor code of the committee system is as bogus as his claims this bill could be a hardship on local officials who might not know the law. His colleagues, other committee chairmen and the House speaker should have called his hand on this obvious abuse of power. Such acts undermine the credibility of the House and the internal process."

Friday we called Blackmon's move an "arrogant abuse of power."

The House of Representatives voted for this legislation 98-22. The Senate voted for this legislation 49-0. Who gave Ed Blackmon the power to defeat the measure? Not the voters of his district because while they elected him, they did not give him the power to thwart the majority. House Speaker Billy McCoy is the one who vested that power in Ed Blackmon.

Blackmon kills Open Meetings Reform

Representative Ed Blackmon, Jr. killed the Open Meetings Reform bill in the House of Representatives this week.

The bipartisan measure passed the Senate 49-0. Once in the House, Blackmon amended it in committee (pulling the teeth out of the bill). On the floor, the full House amended it (66-44) back to the strong bill the Senate crafted. Then the full House voted overwhelmingly to pass the bill 98-22.

Blackmon then killed the reform with a procedural move in an arrogant abuse of power. Thank-you House Leadership.

Ed Blackmon...Pay your Taxes!

No wonder Democrats don't care about taxes. Why should they when they don't pay them? Take, for example, the law firm of Ed Blackmon, Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. The following information is courtesy of Madison County on April 16.