JACKSON (AP) — Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant officially became Mississippi’s second-in-command on Wednesday, taking the oath of office and promising to work with the governor and the Legislature to move the state forward.
Bryant and six other statewide elected officials were sworn in Thursday by Mississippi Supreme Court Chief Justice Jim Smith.
Others taking the oath of office were Attorney General Jim Hood, Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann, Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney, Treasurer Tate Reeves, Agriculture Commissioner Lester Spell and Auditor Stacey Pickering.
Hood is the only Democrat in the group.
Gov. Haley Barbour, a Republican, will be inaugurated for his second term next Tuesday.
Bryant kissed outgoing Lt. Gov. Amy Tuck on the cheek as he took over the podium. Tuck performed her last duties in office on Thursday as she presided over the Senate and the joint assembly for the swearing-in ceremony.
Bryant, surrounded by his family and friends, said he never dreamed his humble beginnings would lead to a political career. Bryant said when he was first elected to the Mississippi House in 1991, it “never should have happened.”
“Here’s a young kid from Moorhead, Mississippi, whose father was a diesel mechanic and his mother a housewife...the youngest of three boys. But there I was serving in the Mississippi House of Representatives,” he said.
Bryant used the event, which was attended by Barbour, state judges and other officeholders, to ask House members to support a resolution to shorten the 2008 Legislature from 120 to 104 days. He also talked about lawmakers’ plans to fully fund the Mississippi Adequate Education Program, a formula that ensures equitable funding for the state’s 152 school districts.
“I know, I’ve been to the budget hearings. But you see I know what we can do we do here in the state of Mississippi. I know the important issues of the day have solutions,” Bryant said. “I pledge to you the Mississippi Senate will work with you as a partner to search out those solutions.”
Most of the other statewide officials who won office last year have been going through a transition period. Chaney is one of those who actually started working in his new office months ago. Chaney defeated longtime Insurance Commissioner George Dale in the November general election. Dale, a Democrat, chose to leave the office before the new year.
Chaney now helms an office that received heavy criticism after Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast in 2005. Critics said Dale had not done enough to help policyholders recoup their full benefits after the storm.
In addition, many insurance companies increased their rates and stopped writing new policies in the state.
Chaney said he has already signed nine insurance rate reductions for the state, and another eight were on his desk waiting to be signed.
“We’re going to have some good news for the policyholders of the state toward the end of January,” Chaney said.
Hood and Reeves are starting their second terms. Spell begins his fourth. Pickering, Chaney, Hosemann and Bryant are serving their first.
Hood said he’s looking forward to continuing his fight against cybercrime and those committed against the elderly and children. Hood said his office had also begun a new initiative targeting counterfeit products from overseas.
Hood said the products include counterfeit drugs, brake pads, contact lenses and lead-contaminated toys.
“The products are shipped over here and endanger consumers, and also hurt Mississippi and American businesses,” Hood said.
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