By Geoff Pender, The Sun Herald, Biloxi, Miss.

Jan. 4--JACKSON -- House Democratic leaders on Wednesday failed to take up a Coast insurance-bailout bill, which could have easily passed, drawing accusations of hypocrisy, partisanship and gamesmanship from the GOP, whom the Democrats had blasted a day earlier for blocking a vote on the measure.

In a tongue-in-cheek way, Rep. Michael Janus, R-Biloxi, said, "Perhaps the House leadership has now recognized, as we believe, that they were moving a little too quickly in spending half the state budget within the first couple of hours of the legislative session, when many members had not even read the bills being voted. They must agree with us now that we need to be a little more pragmatic in our approach to the state's budget."

Janus added, "How sincere were they that these bills had to pass yesterday, when they didn't even bring them up today, when they are guaranteed to pass? I'll probably vote for every piece of legislation they brought out Tuesday, but I would like the courtesy and opportunity to review the bills and the budget."

A $30 million bailout of the state insurance wind pool to try to lower skyrocketing premiums and resolution of an overall Coast insurance crisis appear to be thoroughly embroiled in election-year, partisan politics in Jackson.

Democratic House Speaker Billy McCoy in a Wednesday interview with the Sun Herald angrily blasted the majority of Coast Republicans, who helped thwart a Tuesday vote on the insurance and other bills. He said one reason he wanted the measure passed Tuesday was because a delegation of Coast business leaders had lobbied him to quickly address such issues because the insurance crisis threatens Katrina recovery.

He also said he suspects the move was at the behest of Gov. Haley Barbour, whom he referred to as "the Godfather of Good," a nickname he coined last year when complaining Barbour has prevented the Legislature from helping with Katrina recovery and has hogged all the credit for recovery work.

McCoy, at times becoming quite angry, said: "They didn't even want to hear the bill discussed, for whatever damnable reason they want to name! Apparently, they're willing to follow the governor down the road to hell! You can't follow the Godfather of Good every day and still do what's best for your people! I have never seen such a callous attitude toward the needs of the people of this great state, when we have the ways and the means this year to meet those needs.

"The House has time and again gone above and beyond what the governor says to help people (on the Coast) and has been criticized for it! The governor says, 'Wait on Washington. Wait on Washington.' We haven't been content to do that! We have heard the cries of our citizens! I can't believe some members of the Coast delegation would put off the opportunity to help a real effort to provide affordable, sustainable insurance. I have never seen members of an area's delegation turn down an offer of help from the rest of the state!

"My office was filled yesterday with the private business leadership of the Coast, saying 'please help us, and help us now.' We attempted to do that!... The governor has people here in this building who work with the House. Why were they not here supporting this? Shame on him! Double shame on him! Wait for Washington, my foot!"

When asked why he didn't call the insurance bill and other measures to the floor for a vote Wednesday when they could have easily passed, McCoy said, "We're in the throes of other things right now. It may be a few days before those come back up."

-----

Copyright (c) 2007, The Sun Herald, Biloxi, Miss.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News.

For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.