Mississippians appreciate Sen. Thad Cochran because he has been so effective for our state and our people. He recognized the federal disaster assistance laws that were in place before Hurricane Katrina were grossly insufficient to deal with the worst natural disaster in American history. Because of the respect he enjoys and the influence he wields on behalf of our state, he led the effort that passed new emergency disaster assistance laws that not only helped the Coast rebuild bigger and better after the storm, but his legislation became the model for future disaster assistance.

This is but one obvious reason Sen. Cochran is so well-regarded here. Another reason, however is that Thad is a gentleman who tells the truth and sticks to his word.

Regrettably, the author of a column in the Sun Herald last week is not bound by the facts. Instead, the op-ed written by former Congressman Chris Chocola is as hypocritical as it comes. I expected as much when I read the headline, “Thad Cochran is a liberal.” But with all the out-of-state money being pumped into our state by groups like Chocola’s Club for Growth, distortion was to be expected.

Chocola, a former two-term congressman from Indiana, runs a political action committee that spends most of its money trying to defeat Republican incumbents in GOP primaries. That group succeeded in defeating long-term Indiana Sen. Dick Lugar in the Republican primary in 2012, allowing a Democrat to win what had previously been a safe Republican Senate seat.

In his column, Chocola attacked Sen. Cochran for voting to increase the federal debt ceiling. What Chocola doesn’t say is that he himself voted to increase the federal debt ceiling every time it came up while he was in Congress. So this “gentleman” attacks Cochran for doing exactly what he did every chance he got during his four years in Congress. How hypocritical can you get?

This is reminiscent of Chocola’s preferred candidate in Mississippi, plaintiff lawyer Chris McDaniel. McDaniel campaigns against the Common Core education standards that the Mississippi Department of Education is implementing. What McDaniel doesn’t tell you is that he has repeatedly voted in the state Senate for Common Core education standards legislation. In fact, he voted twice to fund the implementation of Common Core. Even though he is a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, which wrote this bill, he recently defended his votes to fund Common Core by saying he did not realize the funding was in the bill. Priceless.

This hypocrisy is bad enough, but then Chris Chocola flatly states that Sen. Cochran voted to fund Obamacare. What a fraudulent claim.

Sen. Cochran has stood against Obamacare at every turn: he has voted against its passage, to repeal it, to amend it and to defund it. Over and over again. What Chocola claims as voting to fund Obamacare was actually the fact that Thad Cochran voted to reopen the federal government after the shutdown last October.

The federal government shutdown, which was a failed political tactic, threatened the livelihoods of tens of thousands of workers on the Coast, from Ingalls Shipyard to Keesler Air Force Base, from the Seabee Base to Stennis Space Center, and more.

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., whom no one has ever accused of being a “liberal,” said before and after the shutdown that it was a tactic that had no chance of success.

Still, Sen. Cochran voted to defund Obamacare when the House sent the bill to the Senate in September. Indeed, he has continually fought and voted against Obamacare, despite the false claims of Chris Chocola.

Sen. Cochran has not only represented Mississippi well in the Senate, he was the giant who stood tall and produced for our state at our greatest hour of need after Katrina. I don’t know where we would be today if not for his effectiveness.

The great news is Thad is line to be chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee if Republicans win control of the Senate, as experts say appears increasingly likely this November.

He will again be able to ensure Mississippi and the Gulf Coast are treated fairly and the runaway spending of the Obama Administration is stopped in the last two years of President Obama’s term.

Everybody reading this knows Cochran and his record of service. Every one of you can judge his service.

But don’t be swayed by some out-of-state phonies who couldn’t tell you the difference between Pascagoula and Pontotoc.

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Today, U.S. Senator Thad Cochran announced that he has been endorsed for reelection by the National Rifle Association (NRA).

“The Second Amendment is a pillar of freedom upon which our great nation was built,” Senator Cochran said. “My pledge to the people of Mississippi is to continue supporting our gun rights, and to keep fighting any efforts that infringe on our Constitutional right to bear arms. I am honored by the support of the National Rifle Association and I appreciate their support of my campaign.”

Chris Cox, Chairman of the NRA, cited Cochran’s “A+” rating from the organization, stating that highest rating is, “Reserved for legislators not only with an excellent voting record on all critical NRA issues, but who has also made a vigorous effort to promote and defend the Second Amendment.”

Cox also noted Senator Cochran’s seniority and influence on the Appropriations Committee as a valuable tool in the fight against the Obama Administration’s gun control agenda:

“You prevented taxpayer funds from being used for gun control and anti-gun studies, while also cutting red tape for law abiding gun owners adversely impacted by arbitrary policies put in place by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms,” said Cox.

Click here to read the full endorsement letter.

Since 1978 Senator Thad Cochran has been a leader in formulating agricultural policy through the development and funding of farm bills every five years. In 1985 Cochran was instrumental in adding Title XII “Conservation” to the farm bill for the first time. This addition was historic in that it added significant provisions that protected wetlands and created a Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) which now provides over 23 million acres nationwide, offering wildlife habitat.

Cochran led the effort to establish the Wetland Reserve Program (WRP) in 1990 which has established, to date, long-term easements on 2.3 million acres nationwide. Over 150 thousand acres are in Mississippi and planted back to acorn producing bottomland hardwoods.

The Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP) was introduced by Cochran and passed by congress in 1996. This bill elevated wildlife to the level of soil and water as national natural resource concerns. The welfare of wildlife is inextricably tied to agricultural operations..

The chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) under USDA, established a Wildlife Habitat Management Institute on recommendations of a 35-member scoping team as to agency wildlife needs. I was appointed director of the WHMI. The purpose of WHMI was to conduct technical research on wildlife issues and the effectiveness of farm bill programs on wildlife populations. NRCS field people also needed technical answers when helping landowners apply wildlife practices. Congress needed such results in making farm bill decisions. I asked Senator Cochran to “cut a ribbon” at the opening of the Institute October 15, 1997, in Madison, MS. He graciously accepted. The Institute was staffed by seven prople, four interspersed across the nation, and three in headquarters at Madison, MS.

The worthiness of the WHMI became evident when a report was produced in 2000 entitled “A Comprehensive Review of Farm Bill Contributions to Wildlife Conservation 1985-2000”. Testimony in an early farm bill hearing asked the Agricultural Committee for 5 million more acres of CRP to be authorized for the Upper Great Plains states, primary breeding ground for waterfowl. The chairman asked “What good has CRP done thus far?” Dr. Rollie Sparrow, who was testifying on behalf of wildlife interest, replied “According to this report by the WHMI in NRCS, Madison, MS, from 1992 to 1997, 10 million more ducks (mallards) have been produced as a result of CRP.” Five million more acres of CRP were granted.

An average of $2.5 million came to the Institute for the next ten years, along with a name change to the Agricultural Wildlife Conservation Center. Over 160 projects nationwide were conducted. Over 700 pieces of technical information were developed. Cornell University uses the WHMI comprehensive report of 2000 in teaching its graduate course in Wildlife Management. Mississippi State University (MSU) led a nine-state bobwhite quail research study that provides recommendations on bringing bobwhite back from declines from a high population in 1980. Scott County, Missouri, has returned to the 1980 population by using such recommendations and working closely with Missouri farmers.

According to the US Fish and Wildlife Service’s National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wiildlife-associated Recreation issued December 2012, 90.1 million people expended 144.7 billion dollars in pursuit of their pastime during 2011. Not only is the wildlife resource of our nation valuable to our economy, it is essential to the value of our lives and spiritual well-being. 90.1 million enjoy wildlife with a passion. The rest of us, about 220 million, cannot deny the pleasure of hearing a flock of wild geese migrating overhead in a fog-shrouded sky or the joy of hearing the male cardinal’s mating song in early spring, “what-cheer…what-cheer…what-cheer”.

No other person has made such a positive impact as Senator Thad Cochran in formulating effective farm bills and conservation and wildlife programs in his state and nation.

Pete Heard

Brandon

Though he is too humble to say it himself, Sen. Thad Cochran has been Mississippi’s conservative Republican champion in Washington well before others even ran for office as a Republican. When others refused to stand up to the Democrats, Thad Cochran ran and won a statewide election as a Republican – the first person in Mississippi to do so since Reconstruction. He ran as a Republican when it was not an easy thing to do because he is a man of principle. Among those principles is a steadfast belief in the right to life.

There is a difference between talking about defending life and actually getting something accomplished. Perhaps the single most important pro-life policy to come out of Washington in the last 40 years is known as the Hyde Amendment, which bans the use of certain federal funds to pay for abortions. Through his role on the Appropriations Committee, Senator Cochran has been a strong supporter of the Hyde Amendment, ensuring that it remains in yearly appropriations bills, thus sparing Mississippi taxpayers from having their hard earned dollars spent on abortions.

In addition to legislating, one of the most important ways a senator can protect the rights of the unborn is to support pro-life nominees for the U.S. Supreme Court. Senator Cochran stepped up and helped President Ronald Reagan, President George H.W. Bush, and President George W. Bush steer constitutional, pro-life candidates through the confirmation process in the United States Senate. When liberals smeared the reputations of good men like Clarence Thomas, Antonin Scalia, and Samuel Alito, Senator Cochran stood with these justices and ensured they were successfully confirmed to the U.S. Supreme Court.

One of the most egregious character assassinations in the history of the Senate took place against one of our own, Judge Charles Pickering. Liberals in the Senate derailed Judge Pickering’s nomination to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals by distorting his record on civil rights. Thad Cochran fought them every step of the way and strongly encouraged President Bush to give Judge Pickering a recess appointment, which he did.

Obamacare became law over the strenuous opposition of Thad Cochran and the Republican minority in Congress. The legislation broke longstanding tradition and included taxpayer subsidies for health insurance plans that cover abortions. In response, Thad co-sponsored the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act in 2011. He is also a co-sponsor of a bill that would require every health plan offered on an Obamacare insurance exchange to disclose any coverage of abortion in the plan’s marketing and advertising materials. The National Right to Life strongly supports this legislation and gives Senator Cochran a 100 percent rating in the 113th Congress for his fight on behalf of unborn children.

Senator Cochran has carried the pro-life banner for Mississippi from the moment he stepped into office. Anybody who tries to tell you Thad Cochran is not pro-life is just not telling you the truth.

Thad Cochran has spent his adult life in service to the state of Mississippi. He always puts us first and stands up for our values. Part of that effort includes tireless advocacy on behalf of the most vulnerable Mississippians, the unborn. He has more than earned the support of all pro-life Mississippians for another term in the Senate.

That is just one of the many reasons I am strongly supporting Thad Cochran’s re-election campaign. I know he will continue being a strong voice for pro-life policies.

We must keep leaders with the right experience and values standing up for Mississippi, and that is why I encourage you to support Thad Cochran in this upcoming June 3 Republican Primary election.

Rep. Alan Nunnelee, R-Tupelo, represents Mississippi’s 1st Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.

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GULFPORT — U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran is no stranger to the Harrison County Republican Club and Harrison County Republican Women and it was evident he had a lot of friends in the crowd at the groups’ meeting Wednesday at the Island View Casino.

“Welcome to the second largest city in the state of Mississippi,” said Gulfport Mayor Billy Hewes III, who introduced the six-term senator. “Also known as Thad Cochran Country.”

Hewes said Cochran, who is in a Republican Party primary race with state Sen. Chris McDaniel, has been a very helpful friend to have in Washington.

“Whether it’s one on one, whether it’s with a group, I have seen him at work at the capital,” Hewes said. “With his colleagues in the party, reaching across party lines to get things done, he understands what it takes to, quite frankly, be effective.”

He called Cochran the difference maker, “from a economic standpoint, a cultural standpoint, from every point from Pascagoula, where you have Ingalls, … to Stennis, one of the most the most influential and effective space agencies in the nation, to here at the port. We’ve done well.”

He said Cochran took the initiative on flood insurance, and Katrina relief.

The senator, he said, met with leaders on the Coast and took their advice to Washington.

“Politics is a team sport and a lot of folks worked both sides of the aisle,” Hewes said of the push to get changes to the Biggert-Waters Act, which overhauled the National Flood Insurance Program. “But Thad Cochran really got the attention of the Senate as a minority member. Majority-minority never mattered to him because he was always there to do the right thing.”

He called Cochran’s work to get Katrina recovery money “one of our finest moments.”

Cochran followed with a stump speech, but spent most of the time talk about others rather than himself.

He praised the economic development and the quality of life of in South Mississippi,

“The strength, the resilience and the optimism of the Mississippi Gulf Coast

are truly inspiring,” he said. “For all you’ve been through to still say, ‘I’m going to make good things happen here in my community, in my town, in our community,”

He said he would support policies at the federal level that would support economic growth and job creation.

“This includes, first of all, a rational federal budget process that leads to lower tax rates,” he said. “Secondly, cooperation with local law enforcement to promote safe neighborhoods. Energy policies that fairly balance our economic and conservation interests. And a health care system that puts patients and their doctors at the center of the decision-making process. And a national defense policy of peace through strength.”

All those got applause from the crowd, but once again the biggest applause line involved the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

“While we’re making legislative decisions, this is a good time for us to repeal legislation known as Obamacare,” he said. “We need to do that and we need to do that now.”

He said the country needs a Republican majority in the Senate to do that.

“And we need to win the White House while we’re at it,” he said.

Cochran got good reviews.

Steve Guyton, who handles appointment to the military academies for U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker and U.S. Rep. Gregg Harper, said Cochran has been very helpful.

“It’s very important to support the senator because of his support for the United States military academies,” he said. “I appreciate all he has done to get appointments for the students on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.”

Bob Usey of Gulfport, who served in the state Senate, said Cochran would be one of the most powerful men in the country if the Republicans take back the Senate.

“And we go way back,” he said.

Jerry Young of Gulfport said she has always supported Cochran, “so I don’t want to quit now.”

“I thought (the speech) was excellent, and the crowd also did by the applause,” she said.

Brian Lamar, an undecided voter from Woolmarket, said though he has been on the Coast only three years, he quickly learned a lot about Cochran.

“He hit on all the topics,” he said. “Economic prosperity is one, the gridlock in D.C. is another issue he talked about. He hit on all the topics people around here are interested in.”Rena Wiggins on Woolmarket said she was glad to hear the phrase “We the people.”

“I respect the Constitution,” she said. “And to know he is going to support it made me proud.”

“It’s up to us — we the people — and we can do it,” Cochran said in his speech.

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