Bill Waller in 2019 MS Governor's race
On Families & Children:
Follows "Billy Graham rule": never alone with a woman
Just days after state Rep. Robert Foster said he wouldn't be alone with a woman not his wife, even in a professional context, a second Republican candidate for governor has said he, too, follows what's known as the "the Billy Graham rule."After the
Republican Women's Candidate Forum in Jackson, former state Supreme Court Chief Justice Bill Waller Jr. told Mississippi Today that he would not be alone with a woman who isn't his wife, even in a personal or professional context.
"I just think it's common sense. I just think in this day and time, appearances are important and transparency's important, and people need to have the comfort of what's going on in government between employees and people.
And there's a lot of social issues out there about that. My goal is to not make it an issue so that everyone's comfortable with the surroundings and we can go about our business," Waller said.
Source: MississippiToday.org on 2019 Mississippi Gubernatorial race
Jul 15, 2019
On Education:
Pay raise for good teachers & to attract new ones
Increasing Teacher Pay to Support, Attract and Retain High Quality Teachers: Teachers are working hard, and we need to support them even more with a pay raise that keeps good teachers here and attracts new teachers. Students, parents and
teachers deserve more focus than they're getting now. Currently, Mississippi has the lowest teacher salary in America, and clearly, our teachers need a pay raise so we can get their salary up to the Southeastern average as quickly as possible.
Source: 2019 Mississippi Governor campaign website BillWallerJr.com
May 2, 2019
On Health Care:
More accessible, quality health care to address crisis
When nearly half of Mississippi's rural hospitals are in high financial risk of closing, we have a health care crisis in our state. Ignoring the problem is not going to bring about a solution to ensuring access to quality, affordable health care,
particularly in rural areas. [We need] improvements in health care, that reforms Medicaid in a way that doesn't put taxpayers or our state budget at risk, and maximizes Mississippi's potential to bring about more accessible, quality health care.
Source: 2019 Mississippi Governor campaign website BillWallerJr.com
May 2, 2019
On Principles & Values:
Service to God, to family, to state and country
In everything I've done in my life, I have believed in the concept of service--to the God that I serve, to my family that I love, to the state that is my home and to the country that is still the greatest hope for liberty and freedom in the world.
For all of these reasons, I'm announcing my campaign to be your next Governor of Mississippi.
As a lifelong conservative, I won elections three times to the Mississippi Supreme Court, and I was honored to be endorsed by the Mississippi
Republican Party because of my record, values and principles. Given the undeniable landscape of this year's election, I am the conservative Republican with the best chance to win in November.
Source: 2019 Mississippi Governor campaign website BillWallerJr.com
May 2, 2019
On Technology:
More funds to take care of our crumbling roads and bridges
Mississippi's roads and bridges are in critical need of improvement. They are a key factor for public safety and economic growth--now and in the future.We can't stick our head in the sand and hope these problems will go away. We've got to address
this issue in a long-term, sustainable way that protects taxpayers, whether it be through a tax swap or some other mechanism that generates adequate funds so we can take care of our crumbling roads and bridges.
Source: 2019 Mississippi Governor campaign website BillWallerJr.com
May 2, 2019
On Homeland Security:
Served in Army National Guard & then on state Supreme Court
State Rep. Robert Foster and former state Supreme Court Chief Justice Bill Waller Jr. faced off in the first debate of this campaign season. "The (state) commander-in-chief needs to be experienced, and
needs to understand what the issues are," said Waller, underscoring his background with the Army National Guard, as a private practice lawyer, and more than two decades on the state Supreme Court.
Source: Clarion-Ledger on 2019 Mississippi gubernatorial race
Apr 2, 2019
On Technology:
Fixing roads and bridges so far? A raindrop in a puddle
State Rep. Robert Foster and former Justice Bill Waller Jr. faced off in the first debate. Foster has painted himself as a "conservative outsider," sought to align himself with President Donald Trump on many issues.Waller, meanwhile, has long avoided
partisan politics because of his time on the Mississippi Supreme Court. He left the court in January. He's sought to portray himself as a steady, more traditional Republican candidate. He's said he's not interested in courting Trump and has a better
chance of beating Democrat Jim Hood, the current attorney general, in the November election. Waller's late father served as governor from 1972 to 1976.
Despite their contrasting backgrounds, Foster and Waller came together on a number of issues.
Both agreed not enough has been done to fix the state's roads and bridges, with Waller saying a special legislative session to address the problem last summer had only been a "raindrop" in a problem the size of a "puddle."
Source: Clarion-Ledger on 2019 Mississippi gubernatorial race
Apr 2, 2019
On Health Care:
Work with federal government to expand Medicaid in MS
Retired Mississippi Supreme Court Chief Justice Bill Waller Jr. and first-term state Rep. Robert Foster spoke to an audience of about 100 people at the first debate of the 2019 campaign season, each saying he would make a long-term commitment to
increasing teacher pay, improving highways and bridges and making health care more affordable.Both said Mississippi should consider some sort of Medicaid expansion, possibly seeking permission from the federal government to let people buy coverage.
Medicaid provides health insurance coverage for the needy, aged, blind and disabled, and expenses are paid by the federal and state governments. Nearly 721,000 people are enrolled in Medicaid in Mississippi.
Under the federal health law that then-
Pres. Barack Obama signed in 2010, states have the option of expanding Medicaid to the working poor. Mississippi Republican leaders have declined to do so, citing concerns that the federal government might not honor its promise to pay for the expansion.
Source: MS Business Journal on 2019 Mississippi gubernatorial race
Apr 1, 2019
On Abortion:
Pro-life; and healthcare is a right-to-life issue
With the first primary debate scheduled for next week, the picture may start to fill in. Waller told the Daily Journal that he's pro-life and "socially conservative." He lent his voice in support of a bill signed last week by
Gov. Phil Bryant to virtually ban abortion after a fetal heartbeat is detected.
Waller showed a willingness, however, to cast his pro-life identification on a wider scale. "I think access to healthcare in a related way is also a right to life issue,"
Waller said. "County seats traditionally have some type of front line medical care with a hospital and an emergency room and that is something I think we've got to preserve."
Source: Tupelo Daily Journal on 2019 Mississippi governor's race
Mar 26, 2019
On Corporations:
Level playing field on taxes, to avoid special company deals
In the first Republican gubernatorial debate, hosted by the Mississippi State University College Republicans, questions posed by the panelists centered around economic development, education, infrastructure, and healthcare.
Regarding economic development in the state, Foster said he would like to level the playing field when it comes to taxes and would look to states like Texas, Tennessee, and Florida as examples of what
Mississippi could do. "We are always having to make special deals to get companies to come to Mississippi," said Foster.
If we are able to level that tax playing field to something that is flat and that everyone can prosper in their business with then we are going to be more competitive in drawing business to Mississippi."
Source: NewsMS.FM on 2019 Mississippi gubernatorial race
Mar 26, 2019
On Education:
Community colleges teach job skills at high schools
When asked about his vision for expanding Mississippi's economy, Waller said the workforce must be better prepared in the future. "I support bringing more community colleges into high schools to help teach job skills so students who
don't go to college can still have real opportunities to get a good-paying job to support their family and live the American dream," said Waller.In discussing education, both
Waller and Foster said they would commit to a yearly teacher pay raise to reach the southeastern average. "Teachers deserve our full support," Waller said. "Instead of just an election year teacher pay raise, we need to think bigger with a goal
of increasing teacher salaries every year to get to the Southeastern average--which means we can keep, and attract good teachers, and that results in better student outcomes."
Source: NewsMS.FM on 2019 Mississippi gubernatorial race
Mar 26, 2019
On Energy & Oil:
Gas tax to sustainably fund roads & bridges
Mississippi's growing infrastructure problems were a recurring point during the debate with both candidates agreeing that something needs to be done."Mississippi's roads and bridges are in critical need of improvement," said Waller. "We can't stick
our head in the sand and hope these problems will go away. We've got to address this issue in a long-term, sustainable way that protects taxpayers and generates adequate funds so we can take care of our crumbling roads and bridges."
Both candidates said that something along the lines of a gas tax would be something they would consider as a way to fight the road and bridge issues Mississippi is dealing with.
"We have got to get away from a personal income tax," said Foster. "The people that are driving through as tourists [should] pitch in to maintain the infrastructure that they are using."
Source: NewsMS.FM on 2019 Mississippi gubernatorial race
Mar 26, 2019
On Health Care:
Address uncompensated care at rural hospitals
The topic of Medicaid and healthcare was an issue that both [Republican candidates Bill Waller and Robert Foster] said Mississippi should consider some sort of Medicaid expansion. Both were careful to call it Medicaid reform saying they would possibly
seek permission from the federal government to let people buy coverage. "Everybody has access to health care in America," said Foster. "The problem is, it's very unaffordable."Waller mentioned the Medicaid plans in
Arkansas, Utah, and Indiana specifically using something similar to Vice President Mike Pence's Indiana Medicaid reform. "We have 31 rural hospitals on the danger list right now and most of it can be attributed to the uncompensated care
that they are forced to give," said Waller. "So yes, we have to look at it. It is a right to life question and it has to be accessible."
Source: NewsMS.FM on 2019 Mississippi gubernatorial race
Mar 26, 2019
On Health Care:
Consider some form of Medicaid expansion in MS
In speaking about his policy priorities, Waller did not hesitate to sketch out differences with Tate Reeves and to contrast himself with the lieutenant governor by name. Indeed, Waller joins a list of Republican candidates for state
office willing to consider some form of Medicaid expansion in the state. "Everything is on the table," Waller said. "We have a healthcare crisis. We want to make sure everyone has access to healthcare."
The Affordable Care Act, often called "ObamaCare," offers significant federal funding for such an expansion of Medicaid eligibility standards. Some states, however, have won permission to expand while imposing certain requirements, including
work requirements.
Waller offered Indiana as an example of just such a such a state, which won federal permission for a modified expansion when now-Vice President Mike Pence was governor.
Source: Tupelo Daily Journal on 2019 Mississippi governor's race
Mar 12, 2019
On Technology:
Tax swap to fund infrastructure
Infrastructure funding and education were other areas Waller said he'd focus on as governor. He called an infrastructure funding proposal approved in a 2018 special session inadequate and indicated interest in a tax swap
of some kind--perhaps an increased gas tax offset by an income tax reduction. "We need to be creative," he said.
Source: Tupelo Daily Journal on 2019 Mississippi governor's race
Mar 12, 2019
On Crime:
Inmates need a passage back into society
While progress is being made in both the courts and the Legislature on criminal justice reform to help inmates try to work back into society, work still needs to be done.
"There is no doubt inmates need a passage back into society. Some of the things being done will reduce prison populations. It could be possible to take some of the savings and put into work centers and re-entry programs," he stated.
Source: Daily Times Leader on 2019 Mississippi Governor's race
Mar 6, 2019
On Immigration:
National Guard is reasonable for border security
As for the current national debate over President Trump's emergency declaration to build a wall at the nation's southern border, Waller said he had "no idea" whether the president's move violated the Constitution.
But he did agree "we have a border security issue that is more than just illegal aliens," he said, referring to illegal drugs and sex trafficking and the fact the courts are "filled with cases involving crystal meth, much of which comes from Mexico."
When asked whether he would send National Guard members from Mississippi for a year of duty supplementing border patrols, Waller said he likely would, regardless of who was in the White House.
"That is one of the missions of the National Guard. If there was a reasonable basis for the President's request, I probably would send them," he acknowledged.
Source: Daily Times Leader on 2019 Mississippi Governor's race
Mar 6, 2019
On Principles & Values:
I'm a Republican; but voting in Democratic primaries ok
In the last three local elections in 2015, 2011 and 2007, Bill Waller, the now-declared Republican primary candidate for governor has voted in the Democratic primary, according to public voting records. The judicial elections in which he was a candidate
are non-partisan. His father served as governor in the 1970s as a Democrat.The Waller campaign says voting Democrat in primaries was not an indicator of party leanings or even a faux pas. Waller's vote in statewide Democrat primaries was done
so he could vote in local elections he cared about that featured Democratic candidates he valued over Republican candidates. "Bill Waller is a conservative Republican who was endorsed by the
Mississippi Republican Party when he was elected to the Supreme Court," said a statement issued by the campaign. "He's voted in Republican presidential primaries to support John McCain, Mitt Romney and Donald Trump.
Source: YallPolitics.com blog on 2019 Mississippi Governor's race
Mar 1, 2019
Page last updated: Nov 28, 2019