JACKSON — The idea that “four more years” of Speaker Billy McCoy's leadership in the House is in some manner unprecedented or onerous is one that ignores more than a century of Mississippi's history.
The names are legendary in the state's political history — some famous, some infamous. But the post of speaker of the Mississippi House of Representatives is one that has evolved from a launching pad for gubernatorial aspirations to one of genuine power in its own right.
Past speakers have included: James K. Vardaman, the so-called “Great White Chief”; Col. William Alexander Percy, the revered “Gray Eagle” of the Confederate army and brother of the founder of the legendary Percy family in Greenville; Mike Connor, father of Mississippi's general sales tax; and former Magnolia State Govs. Tom Bailey and Fielding Wright.
While the increased partisanship of state government at all levels has changed the political landscape on which a House speaker operates, McCoy's tenure has been short in comparison to some of his predecessors.
In terms of sheer power and longevity, Rosedale's Walter Sillers, who served from 1944 until 1966, holds the record. Former Speaker Tim Ford, now a lobbyist, was next with 16 years leading the House.
Sillers and later Clarence Benton “Buddie” Newman (1976 to 1988) ruled the House when the speaker's power was absolute and unchecked. Sillers was perhaps the first speaker to seek the post not because he had higher political aspirations - as had Vardaman, Connor, Bailey and Wright — but for the raw power the speaker's post gave him in controlling the state's limited resources.
Newman was an acolyte of the Sillers model of ruling the House. He cultivated a trusted inner circle of legislators to serve as his “go team” and to control legislation at all points in the House.
Newman controlled virtually every step in the process. Without his blessing, legislation or the pet projects of any group or individual — including the governor — simply didn't make it.
One memory I have of Newman's reign was a scene at the old Patio Club one evening when Newman — who opted for tropical Philippine linen shirts — was enjoying dinner and drinks with his “boys.” Newman minted some commemorative coins (“doubloons,” he called them) that he gave to official visitors, and Newman liked the nightlife.
Not unlike a puppeteer or a kid playing with dolls, I remember Newman pairing up men and women to dance that evening — and being amazed that they followed his instructions.
Newman's love of the Legislature — and he did love it - came from his father's service in that body. That's a trait that he shares with McCoy, whose father served in the House before him.
McCoy is no puppeteer. In many ways, it's not McCoy's strength as speaker that put a target on his back — it's the lack of it.
In Newman's House and even to a degree in Ford's House, party identification wasn't really a factor. A member's success or failure and the success or failure of that member's bills and projects depended on his loyalty and his word being his bond in legislative affairs.
Too often in McCoy's House, his loyalty to the people closest to him and a perceived propensity to interpret the House rules differently for Democrats loyal to him than for Republicans not loyal to him created some of the problems he's faced over the last year.
McCoy will keep his leadership post and his dignity after enduring some withering attacks. McCoy's career accomplishments in substantially bettering the state's transportation, public education and public health care systems don't need defending here.
If you liked the AHEAD highway program, thank Billy McCoy. If your child attends a quality public school, thank McCoy. If your mom or aunt or grandfather is being taken care of by the state Medicaid program in their old age, thank McCoy.
That said, McCoy is now tasked with leading an angry, divided House. To do so successfully, McCoy must not resort to the politics of retribution. He must change his way of interpreting the rules and truly democratize the House.
If he implements the “scorched earth” policies that some believe he will, then his next term as speaker will be a miserable, unproductive one.
The House rules have to apply to all representatives, regardless of their party, on an equal basis.
Jeff Smith didn't parrot the talk radio crowd in attacking McCoy in a disrespectful manner. He didn't call McCoy names and make light of his health problems or his status as a farmer. Smith was quick to say that McCoy deserved better than that, and he certainly did.
What Smith did was raise legitimate issues. McCoy and his camp had better heed some of those issues if they want to make much progress during the 2008 session.
