CONSERVATION CORNER
Nation Fortunate To Have Service Of Thad Cochran
by James L. Cummins

Recently, U.S. Senator Thad Cochran was named Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. He replaced Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska.

The Appropriations chairmanship is important for any member of Congress and their state. And powerful it is. Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia was once Majority Leader of the Senate and resigned that leadership role to Chair the Appropriations Committee.

Mississippi has been successful in controlling the most powerful position in the Senate and the House. John C. Stennis retired as Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee; Jamie Whitten retired as Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. The reason for this is that when Mississippians like someone, they stick with him. Senator Arlen Spector of Pennsylvania recently told me, "When Mississippians get elected to Congress, it is for life."

Our Nation is fortunate to have the fine service of Thad Cochran. He will continue working to make government do a better job of serving the people in the most cost-effective manner. He also has a very difficult job. Due to the deficit, spending is in a declining mode and tough decisions will have to be made. I am constantly called about asking the Senator to support some funding increase for some important program. When I had the opportunity of a lifetime to serve on his staff, I don't remember listening to a constituent about a bad program. In someone's eyes all programs are important to some people. But our country, and our Senator, can't fund all of them. He has a detailed understanding of the federal budget, from defense to homeland security to agriculture to conservation to commerce to education. He understands the balances necessary in spending.

I have a lot of friends that are various staffs in Congress, in federal agencies, the private sector and in other conservation organizations. I can count on less than one hand the negative things they have said about Thad Cochran. He has earned something in D.C. that is, quite frankly, rare. It is called respect. He has earned that by listening more than talking, recognizing the needs of others, being reasonable, being honest, being fair, making his points clearly and relating them to others. He is genuine, passionate about who he represents and cares more about what is right than what is popular. He is a brilliant individual who has done a great job surrounding himself with a staff consisting of the same. From his Chief of Staff (a PhD economist whose father worked for the Soil Conservation Service) to his Scheduler to his many Legislative Assistants, they have Mississippi and this great Nation in every thought.

This man once said of his late Administrative assistant, Wiley Carter, "...he reminded all of us by his example that one of our highest priorities was to help solve the problems of the people of our State and to treat everyone who called on us with respect and courtesy." Wiley was a great man. But I think Wiley also learned a lot from his boss too.

Senator Cochran has tough decisions to make and I think I speak for all Mississippians when I say we are proud of Thad Cochran - OUR Senator.

James L. Cummins is Executive Director of the Mississippi Fish and Wildlife Foundation in Stoneville, Mississippi. Known as "Wildlife Mississippi," the Foundation is a non-profit, conservation organization founded to conserve, restore and enhance fish, wildlife and plant resources throughout Mississippi. Their web site is www.wildlifemiss.org.