JACKSON – Rep. Jerry Turner, R-Baldwyn, voted against fellow Prentiss Countian Billy McCoy for the post of speaker.
But it appears that the fact they both represent Prentiss County might have helped Turner when McCoy started making committee assignments.
McCoy gave Turner a coveted spot on the Ways and Means Committee. Slots on the two money committees – Ways and Means and Appropriations – are determined primarily through seniority based on the 1990s congressional districts.
The speaker does have some so-called wild call appointments to the money committees, but the vast majority of the membership is determined by seniority.
Turner was one of five members tied – based on seniority – for the last 1st District spot. The 1st District includes most of Northeast Mississippi.
All five voted against McCoy. Four of the five are Republican. Margaret Ellis Rogers of New Albany is the only Democrat in the group of five. McCoy opted to select Turner over a fellow Democrat. Rogers did get the slot of vice chair of Oil, Gas & Other Minerals.
