House Majority Leader Eric Cantor of Virgnia, center, joined by House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio, right, and House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy of California, left, speaks to reporters about the debt crisis showdown during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington on Thursday, July 28, 2011. (Scott Applewhite/Associated Press)
U.S. Rep. Steven Palazzo’s office has decided on a location for a reception that is set to include special guest House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, a Republican who represents the 7th Congressional District of Virginia.
It will be held at the Gulfport Yacht Club the evening of Feb. 4. the Gulfport establishment was one of the many Gulf Coast yacht clubs that were built back bigger and better after Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Palazzo said he’s looking forward to showing Cantor the unique beauty and vibrancy of the place where he grew up. Cantor has never been to south Mississippi, Palazzo has said.
Cantor is a former small businessman who has been described in Congressional Quarterly as the GOP’s “communicator, rainmaker and consensus builder.”
He co-authored the New York Times best-selling book, “Young Guns: a New Generation of Conservative Leaders,” with Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-California, and Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wisconsin.
The event costs $50 per person and includes hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar. For more information, visit www.palazzoforcongress.com/cantor
Gulf Coast food: the star of the show
Although networking is the main purpose of the annual Gulf Coast Legislative Reception at the Mississippi Trade Mart in Jackson, the smorgasbord of south Mississippi cuisine has become perhaps the main reason it’s a must-attend event.
Despite heavy rain on the way up, there was record-breaking attendance at this year’s event on Tuesday: 1,800 people. there was also more than enough food to go around.
That’s because Coast eateries, from casino restaurants to local landmarks to small mom-and-pop operations, make every effort to serve up the best they have to offer.
Dozens of vendor tents were set up in the Mart. the local seafood is a big draw, but there are also pastries such as King Cake and other Coast specialties such as barbecue.
Karen Sinopoli of the reception committee coordinates the food portion of the event, making contacts with restaurants along the Coast. Sinopoli has a team of chefs that come with her to Jackson to get the food out, according to committee member Dennis Burke.
Raw oysters and boiled shrimp provided by the Department of Marine Resources are typically the biggest hit, Burke said, and many restaurants from the Coast serve their signature dishes such as Mary Mahoney’s gumbo and Scranton’s shrimp and grits.
“I would say that any and all of the seafood dishes are greatly appreciated by our neighbors to the north,” Burke said. Indeed, many of the legislators could be seen juggling several bowls and plates at once.
This year, Ocean Springs’ the Shed drew a big crowd with its giant, medieval-style whole hog, from which servers pulled off huge chunks of tender smoked pork.
Burke said it was the first time for a whole roast pig to be featured.
Peace, love and tutus in O.S.
Friendly camaraderie appears to be returning to the Ocean Springs Board of Aldermen after many months of bickering.
Public Works Director André Kaufman attended Wednesday night’s meeting, something he rarely does. Kaufman found himself being the subject of numerous board member jokes — all in good fun — and at one point Alderman Greg Denyer jokingly nominated Kaufman to represent the city on the Mary C. O’Keefe Board.
“I come to one meeting out of the year, and this is the thanks I get,” Kaufman said in retaliation.
Alderman Matt McDonnell then let Kaufman off the hook by saying, “I just pictured André in a pink tutu. That’s enough to make me vote no.”
It rained on his parade, twice
Gov. Phil Bryant’s inaugural parade, scheduled for Saturday, as of Friday afternoon had been canceled for the second time due to bad weather.
It will not be re-scheduled, according to Bryant spokesman Mick Bullock.
In a statement, Bryant said he appreciated the hard work that went into planning the parade but puts the safety of citizens first.
Crews spent about a week building an outdoor stage for the inauguration that was forced indoors because of rain, and Bryant still may have a chance to use it for his state-of-the-state address that’s scheduled for Tuesday.
So easy an eighth-grader, or legislator, can do it
The Mississippi Democratic Trust circulated a YouTube video last week among members of the legislature showing how easy it is to verify that Attorney General Jim Hood is fair and transparent when it comes to contracts with independent counsel.
In the video, an eighth-grader demonstrates how to locate contracts with independent counsel on the Mississippi Attorney General’s website.
Brandon Jones, Chairman of the Mississippi Democratic Trust, noted that members of the Legislature will be called on to consider legislation aimed at limiting the Mississippi attorney general’s ability to contract with outside counsel in complex consumer protection cases.
“Among the arguments you will hear is that it is difficult to determine the identity of the lawyers chosen to do this work and the terms of these contracts,” Jones said.
“This video demonstrates that information about the Attorney General’s contracts with independent counsel is only a point and click away,” he added.
Mississippi Press reporters Kaija Wilkinson and Cherie Ward contributed to this report.
Palazzo reception at Gulfport Yacht Club to welcome Cantor (Political Skinny)
