Jim Hood in 2019 MS Governor's race
On Families & Children:
No "Billy Graham rule": Treat female journalists the same
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." 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.Hood said he does not practice the Billy Graham rule. "If I couldn't meet with women
alone to discuss issues important to them and to Mississippi, I wouldn't be able to do my job. As Governor, women will play an important role in my administration. I will move to pass an equal pay law for women; continue to fight domestic violence
against women; and provide economic opportunities in business and industry for women. And I will do all these things while meeting with women--alone if necessary--to hear their voices and champion their causes," Hood said in an emailed statement.
Source: MississippiToday.org on 2019 Mississippi Gubernatorial race
Jul 15, 2019
On Health Care:
Uncovered industry-wide plan to inflate drug prices
Unsealed court documents in a lawsuit filed by Mississippi and 41 other states show how drug companies coordinated to inflate the price of generic drugs, according to a press release from Attorney General Jim Hood. "The evidence shows an industry-wide
conspiracy to hinder access to drugs that Americans rely on every day," "It shows that these people knew that what they were doing was illegal and then took measures to make sure their actions weren't uncovered. Today, their cover is blown."
Source: Clarion-Ledger on 2019 Mississippi gubernatorial race
Jun 26, 2019
On Tax Reform:
Tax cuts to wealthy caused mental health budget cuts
Hood in 2017 and 2018 often linked the Department of Mental Health's budget cuts to the package of corporate tax cuts Reeves championed in 2016. "They ran out of money because they gave it all away. They gave it to tax cuts to the wealthy," Hood told
Mississippi Today about the origins of the lawsuit in 2017, adding: "The state needs to step up and pay for more on mental health."
Source: Mississippi Today on 2019 Mississippi gubernatorial race
Jun 3, 2019
On Education:
Increase teacher pay until state reaches regional average
"It's an area that likes public education and many of the issues that I support people down here support," Hood said. He's calling out state leaders including Lt. Governor Tate Reeves on using teacher pay as election year politics. Hood has committed to
a teacher pay increase until the Southeastern average is met. "I think we ought to do it every year until we get to the Southeastern average --is to commit to pay our teachers for all the things that they put up with ."
Source: WJTV.com on 2019 Mississippi gubernatorial race
Apr 17, 2019
On Corporations:
Invest in small business to turn around MS economy
Hood advocated for investing in small "main street businesses" rather than big out-of-state corporations to keep young adults in the state. "Many of
those main street businesses have been kicked to the curb," Hood said, citing the hundreds of millions in tax cuts out-of-state corporations receive
Source: The Meridian Star on 2019 Mississippi gubernatorial race
Apr 12, 2019
On Education:
Keep students here by keeping college debt down
Some of these kids have $70,000 in debt. They can't come back to a two-lane town. They're going to Nashville, Austin and Atlanta.
The way to keep those kids is to keep college debts down."
Source: The Meridian Star on 2019 Mississippi gubernatorial race
Apr 12, 2019
On Environment:
BP spill continues to harm coast's environment and economy
General Hood said, "This tragedy continues to hurt Mississippians, and the culpable companies are answerable to pay their part and help recovery efforts. I'm glad that, as requested when we settled this case, most of the settlement money will be spent
on Coast recovery. The Coast is both an environmentally precious part of our state and an economic driver in Mississippi that deserves our help in reaching its full potential."
Source: Y'all Politics on 2019 Mississippi gubernatorial race
Apr 3, 2019
On Government Reform:
Apply "Open Records Act" to state legislative email
The AG opinion [on PERS retirement rules] apparently created a buzz among the Republican legislative leadership based on the correspondence they had with the administrators of the retirement system. The correspondence of legislators has long been
exempt from the state's public records laws, but Mississippi Today was able to obtain that correspondence through a public records request to the Public Employees Retirement System.Emails and others correspondence reveal that numerous key legislators
all were receiving updates on how the PERS Board of Trustees might change its regulations to adhere to the AG's opinion.
Hood said the emails prove that the law should be changed so that legislators are not exempt from the public records law. "These
communications clearly show why legislators should be subject to the Open Records Act like all other state and local elected officials," he said. "They should have to list those with whom they meet on legislation or who wines and dines them."
Source: Mississippi Today on 2019 Mississippi Gubernatorial race
Mar 14, 2019
On Social Security:
Let public employees run for office & still draw pensions
House Speaker Philip Gunn (R-Clinton) predicted that the next attorney general will reverse the official opinion issued by the office of Attorney General Jim Hood saying that retired public school teachers and state employees can serve in the
Legislature while drawing their pension. Gunn said the ruling, issued late last year, was flawed.Some education supporters envisioned that the ruling would result in more pro-education retired teachers running and winning legislative seats.
Of Gunn's prediction that the opinion would be changed, Hood said, "The PERS Board voted overwhelmingly to move forward with adopting regulations effective at the start of the 2020 legislative session that would allow state retirees to serve in the
Legislature without forfeiting their hard-earned retirement. This won't change with a new AG. I support everyone's right to run, and I think people who have worked as public servants for the state would make great lawmakers."
Source: Mississippi Today on 2019 Mississippi Gubernatorial race
Mar 14, 2019
On Social Security:
Encourage more state retirees to run for state legislature
The Mississippi Public Employees Retirement System is on track to update its rules to let retired state government workers collect pension benefits while serving in the Legislature. The new rule would affect people who win legislative seats in this
year's round of state elections. For years, the Mississippi retirement system had a rule that state elected officials could not receive salaries and pension benefits at the same time. Attorney General Jim Hood issued a legal opinion contradicting that
rule.The once obscure question of whether retired public employees can collect state pensions while serving in the Mississippi Legislature looms large in some Democrats' electoral hopes for 2019 [by allowing more experienced candidates to run for
the state legislature]. Hood accused Republicans of trying to pressure the pension system board to flout his opinion or delay complying until after the March 1 election qualifying deadline. That could cut retired public employees running for office.
Source: US News & World Report on 2019 Mississippi Governor's race
Feb 12, 2019
On Principles & Values:
1890s election law designed to disenfranchise blacks
Imagine a scenario where Hood garners 48% of the vote and Reeves gets 47%. In that scenario, the election for governor could be decided by the 122 members of the Mississippi House of Representatives. Mississippi's 1880s Constitution [requires that a]
candidate for governor or for the other seven statewide offices garners a majority vote, and also requires the winning candidate to win a majority of the 122 House districts in order to capture the seat.It is generally conceded the language was added
to the 1890s Constitution by the white ruling class as a safeguard to ensure that African Americans, who were still a majority in Mississippi, would not win election to statewide office. By that time, laws also were being put in place to disenfranchise
black voters and legislative districts were not based on population.
Legislation to change the Constitution so that the top vote-getter would win statewide posts is likely to die this session as it has in other sessions.
Source: Biloxi Sun-Herald on 2019 Mississippi Gubernatorial race
Feb 4, 2019
On Corporations:
Watchdog over corporate wrong-doers
[Summarizing his accomplishments as Mississippi Attorney General]:- Passionate champion of children. General Hood has worked tirelessly to prevent children from being abused and exploited, especially by internet predators. His efforts have served
as a model for other states.
- Dedicated public servant. General Hood has served the people for 25 years as an assistant attorney general, district attorney, and attorney general.
- Friend of consumers. After Hurricane Katrina,
General Hood worked to strengthen laws to protect consumers, while prosecuting offenders for home repair fraud, price gouging, identity theft, and financial scams.
- Watchdog over corporate wrong-doers. General Hood's commitment
to holding corporations accountable has recovered more than $3 billion for taxpayers.
- Guardian of the Gulf Coast. General Hood worked to provide relief to coastal residents and business owners after the 2010 Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill.
Source: 2019 Mississippi governor campaign site HoodForGovernor.com
Dec 31, 2018
On Education:
Statewide, universal, public pre-kindergarten program
Education is the building block to success. Investing in Mississippi's public education system means investing in every Mississippian. As your governor I will: - Advocate for a statewide, universal pre-kindergarten program
-
Focus on making community colleges and universities more affordable
- Improve our public-school system
Source: 2019 Mississippi governor campaign site HoodForGovernor.com
Dec 31, 2018
On Environment:
Provide relief & protection after oil spills & hurricanes
After Hurricane Katrina, General Hood worked to strengthen laws to protect consumers, while prosecuting offenders for home repair fraud, price gouging, identity theft, and financial scams.
[On the Gulf Coast], General Hood worked to provide relief to coastal residents and business owners after the 2010 Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill.
Source: 2019 Mississippi governor campaign site HoodForGovernor.com
Dec 31, 2018
On Health Care:
Accept federal dollars to help struggling rural hospitals
Jesus said to take care of the widows, orphans, the elderly, and the least among us. When it comes to health care, Mississippi has not followed His word. As your governor I will: - Work to make health care affordable for everyone
-
Fight for those who can't fight for themselves
- Support law enforcement in the fight against the opioid epidemic
- Accept federal dollars to help our struggling rural hospitals
- Focus on improving rural access to health care
Source: 2019 Mississippi governor campaign site HoodForGovernor.com
Dec 31, 2018
On Technology:
We need to get back to swinging hammers and building bridges
Mississippi needs to get back to swinging hammers and building bridges--that's how we grow our economy and build stronger communities. As your governor I will:- Stop the Legislature from running up our debt
- Create high-paying jobs
-
Put money in Mississippian's hands, not out-of-state corporations
- Support our main street merchants
- Put working people back to work by building highways and bridges
- Support workforce development programs
Source: 2019 Mississippi governor campaign site HoodForGovernor.com
Dec 31, 2018
On Government Reform:
Let retired teachers keep pensions AND serve in legislature
Hood's office says retired state employees may serve in the Legislature while continuing to receive their government pension. Hood's office issued a nonbinding legal opinion saying state retirees may still collect pension benefits while working in
part-time government jobs, including in the state House or Senate.For decades, retired teachers and other retired state employees have abstained for running for legislative offices because of concerns about hurting themselves financially.
The state has about 321,500 retired state government workers. The public education advocacy group Parents' Campaign said that the attorney general's opinion is "game-changing," because retired teachers could serve in the Legislature without taking a hit
to the pocketbook.
#"Teachers and superintendents of education and people that worked in state government--they understand how state government works," Hood said. "I think if those people run for office, we would have a better-educated Legislature."
Source: Jackson Free Press on 2019 Mississippi Gubernatorial race
Dec 4, 2018
On Budget & Economy:
State economy is not moving; we've got to drain the swamp
Hobnob, the annual business and political get-together in Jackson, saw the most fiery speech come from a candidate for Mississippi governor. Democrat Jim Hood, the current attorney general, said despite the rosy picture the state's Republican leadership
paints, Mississippi's economy, its number of jobs and employment rate, and its salaries, lag behind neighboring states and the rest of the nation. "Our economy is not moving," he said. The candidate told the crowd of about
1,000 business leaders: "The problem is, nobody's got the guts to step out and lead," Hood said. "The fact is, we've got to drain the swamp in our Legislature."
Both Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves and Gov. Phil Bryant cited indicators of
an improved economy and outlook in Mississippi, including the lowest unemployment rates in state history, creation of thousands of new jobs and the highest high school graduation rates in state history.
Source: Mississippi Clarion Ledger on 2019 Mississippi governor race
Nov 1, 2018
On Technology:
Put some money where your mouth is on infrastructure
[At the annual business "Hobnob",] Jim Hood argued a larger push to repair roads and other infrastructure by the state would help get the economy moving at a more rapid pace. "You're going to have to put some money where your mouth is,"
he said, "and they haven't done that at the Legislature."Hood also took a direct swipe Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves, the front-runner for the Republican nomination for governor, saying, "we need to pave public roads,
and not someone's private driveway." The comment was a reference to a road project, now halted by transportation officials, that would have primarily served Reeves' gated neighborhood.
Gov. Phil Bryant [responded at the same event that] the state was spending roughly $200 million per year improving roads and infrastructure.
Source: Mississippi Clarion Ledger on 2019 Mississippi governor race
Nov 1, 2018
On Principles & Values:
1890 law requires winning majority AND state House districts
An anti-democratic relic of Mississippi's 1890 Jim Crow constitution could stand in Hood's way--even if he wins the most votes on Election Day.??? The provision requires gubernatorial candidates to win both a majority of the statewide vote and a majority
of the 122 districts that make up the state House. If no candidate wins both the popular vote and a majority of districts, the state House then picks the winner from the top two finishers. That stacks the race against Hood or any other Democrat twice
over: first, gerrymandered districts make it much harder for a Democrat to win a majority of House ; and second, because the GOP majority in the House could simply install the Republican candidate as governor even if he loses the statewide vote. That
effectively gerrymanders the gubernatorial election in favor of the Republicans, since Hood would have to win the statewide vote by a wide margin in order to also carry a majority of House districts and avoid having his fate determined by the House.
Source: DailyKos.com blog on 2019 Mississippi Gubernatorial race
Oct 5, 2018
On Civil Rights:
Help marginalized communities, like Jesus taught
In his announcement speech, Hood said the focus of his campaign would be on helping traditionally marginalized communities: "Jesus taught us to fight for the poor and the elderly and the widows and the children--the least among us,"
he said. "That's what's been ingrained in my public service."
Source: Mississippi Today on 2019 Mississippi Gubernatorial race
Oct 3, 2018
On Corporations:
Criticizes tax give-aways to out-of-state corporations
Hood criticized the Legislature's giving away hundreds of millions in tax cuts to out-of-state corporations. He floated expanding Medicaid, saying "we shouldn't leave hundreds of millions of federal dollars on the table."
He expressed concern about the brain drain epidemic in Mississippi, saying state leaders should turn their focus to keeping young Mississippians in the state.
Source: Mississippi Today on 2019 Mississippi Gubernatorial race
Oct 3, 2018
On Principles & Values:
End self-dealing in Jackson
[In his campaign announcement speech], Hood took a subtle shot at Tate Reeves. In July, several outlets raised questions about what influence Reeves might have wielded to build a $2 million frontage road connecting his gated neighborhood to a state
highway. Reeves denies any involvement. Hood's office has been investigating that allegation."I'm tired of self-dealing in Jackson," Hood said. "People are more worried about paving private driveways than they are about anything else."
Source: Mississippi Today on 2019 Mississippi Gubernatorial race
Oct 3, 2018
On Health Care:
Sue drug companies for over-charging Medicaid
Attorney General Jim Hood, with the help of outside counsel, is suing a group of pharmaceutical companies, alleging they engaged in an "unlawful scheme" to force the state to pay for drugs that were not eligible for Medicaid reimbursement.Hood
contends the companies' scheme involves false representations, made by the defendants to the state, that their National Drug Codes, or NDCs, are FDA approved and eligible for Medicaid reimbursement. "The State directly relies on these representations in
approving the reimbursement for providers of prescription drugs," the Hood explained. "Defendants marketed these unapproved drugs to healthcare providers as being Covered Outpatient Drugs (or CODs), and therefore reimbursable by the State," resulting in
increased market share and profits for the companies while essentially leaving the state in a lurch. In 2011, for example, the state Medicaid program forked out about $551 million on prescription drugs, according to the Attorney General's Office.
Source: Mississippi Today on 2019 Mississippi gubernatorial race
Oct 1, 2018
On Technology:
Focused Attorney General's office on cybercrime
Democratic Attorney General Jim Hood will announce on his plans to run for governor in 2019, he confirmed. The four-term attorney general is the state's lone statewide Democratic elected official
Hood has focused on cybercrimes during his tenure as attorney general. His use of outside legal counsel, particularly to pursue lawsuits against large corporations, has been controversial at times--particularly among Republicans.
Source: Mississippi Today on 2019 Mississippi gubernatorial race
Oct 1, 2018
On Immigration:
Stay out of DACA fights; it's a federal issue
Mississippi's top law enforcement officer is staying out of a legal battle over a recent controversial announcement from President Donald Trump. Fifteen Democratic attorneys general filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration on Sept. 6 over the
announcement that he would eliminate the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program unless Congress intervenes.The state AGs say the decision violates the due process rights of people participating in the program, which allows immigrants whose
parents brought them to the US without authorization to remain in the country.
Attorney General Jim Hood said, "Immigration's really a federal issue and normally I don't get involved unless it affects a Mississippi law," Hood told reporters.
In 2012, Hood also declined to participate in lawsuit brought by immigration agents against the Obama Administration for ending the practice of deporting undocumented young people. Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant later joined that lawsuit on his own.
Source: Mississippi Today on 2019 Mississippi Gubernatorial race
Sep 7, 2017
On Drugs:
Sue opioid manufacturers for deceptive practices
A growing tide of lawsuits alleges that drugmakers used deceptive practices so they could rake in huge profits from opioid painkillers while deceiving the public about the risk for addiction. Mississippi may again lead the way, as it did against the
nation's cigarette manufacturers, suing the Connecticut-based Purdue Pharma and seven other drugmakers. The state of Ohio has now filed a similar lawsuit. The lawsuits are borrowing legal tactics the state of Mississippi pioneered against Big Tobacco.
The states asserted they were victims of an industry-induced nicotine addiction that spiked health care costs for Medicaid recipients [based on deceptive marketing].Now AG Jim Hood is using a similar argument against opioid drugmakers. "These
pharmaceutical companies marketed the drug as rarely addictive and a safe substitute for non-addictive pain medications," wrote Hood, whose predecessor and professional mentor, Mike Moore, led the fight against the tobacco industry.
Source: Clarion-Ledger on 2019 Mississippi Gubernatorial race
Jun 10, 2017
On Energy & Oil:
Consumer guide on solar power panels and tax breaks
Hood is helping Mississippians considering using solar power learn the costs & benefits of choosing the alternative power source. Hood released a consumer's guide to solar power Wednesday that explains both the tax breaks and true costs of installing
solar panels, as well as how not to be scammed. Hood said Mississippians should consider the investment. "We encourage that--it's good for the environment, it's good for people to help re-generate electricity, and it's good for the economy," he said.
Source: Jackson Free Press on 2019 Mississippi gubernatorial race
May 4, 2017
On Technology:
Sued Google for data mining & marketing student information
Hood said, "Through this lawsuit, we want to know the extent of Google's data mining and marketing of student information to third parties. I don't think there could be any motivation other than greed for a company to deliberately keep secret how
it collects and uses student information." The complaint claims that through a child's educational account, "Google tracks, records, uses and saves the online activity of Mississippi's children
Source: ARS Technica on 2019 Mississippi gubernatorial race
Jan 18, 2017
On Civil Rights:
Personally opposes gay marriage ban, but defends it as AG
Mississippi Attorney general Jim Hood says the state will appeal a federal judge's ruling that struck down the 2004 ban on same-sex marriage. Hood says he personally does not agree with the ban but has a responsibility as Attorney General to defend
state law. "I don't force my personal opinions on a matter. Especially when other courts of appeal have agreed with the state's opinion. So we are going to follow it through and do our job and let the courts decide it," Hood said.Hood says he thinks
the marriage ban will eventually be overturned by the US supreme court. The state has already informed the court that it intends to appeal the ruling ahead of gay marriage potentially becoming legal in Mississippi a week from today.
Governor Phil
Bryant strongly backs appealing the ruling and says he still believes keeping same-sex couples from getting married is a good policy for the state. "Absolutely. Voted for it and continue to support it. Just like many, many Mississippians," Bryant said.
Source: MPB Public Broadcasting on 2019 Mississippi Governor race
Dec 3, 2014
On Gun Control:
Guns ok on school property, with enhanced license
On Oct. 1, 2013, the office of Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood issued an opinion reinforcing and expanding its prior decisions on the carrying of firearms by enhanced licensees on educational property. A prior opinion by the Attorney General's
office issued on Jan. 5, 2012, made clear the Attorney General's position that the state ban on possession of firearms on educational property does not apply to a person in possession of a valid license. The new opinion reaffirms the AG office's
position that the educational property ban does not apply to enhanced licensees.A spokesperson said that the enhanced license provision explicitly allows enhanced licensees to carry their handguns, which include "any elementary or secondary school
facility" and "any school athletic event."
The opinion also addressed certain locations where state law can continue to be enforced to prohibit persons from carrying concealed firearms [including] non-public areas of educational property.
Source: NRA-ILA on 2019 Mississippi Gubernatorial race
Oct 4, 2013
Page last updated: Nov 28, 2019