Gov. Phil Bryant rails against 'damn lies,' hints at special session in Neshoba
PHILADELPHIA — Limited to two terms and with no need for a stump speech, Gov. Phil Bryant spent much of his time on the speaker’s podium at the Neshoba County Fair Thursday pushing back against remarks made by Democratic officials that highlighted the state’s hardships.
“One of the Democrats got up and said those Republicans are going to tell you good things about Mississippi and don’t you believe it because it’s going to be lies and damn lies. I’m sure he probably regrets that he said that,” Bryant said in reference to state Attorney General Jim Hood, who is predicted to run for governor in 2019.
The Republican then asked if fairgoers had spotted hand fans passed out by the Mississippi Development Authority, which works to draw business to the state, touting the state’s unemployment rate.
“This is a fan that has the truth on it,” Bryant said. “When I came into office unemployment was 9.4 percent I stood here running for governor and said I want to get it down to 7 (percent). My staff said governor don’t do that — it’s (now) 4.7 percent. If I were to say it was a damn lie, I would insult all of those people who went out and got a job."
Read more: https://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2018/08/02/gov-phil-bryant-still-open-special-session-infrastructure/890863002/