[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 177 (Friday, November 18, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2100-E2101]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 MISSISSIPPI AND VIRGINIA MAKE HISTORY

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                            HON. JOE WILSON

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, November 18, 2011

  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, history was made last week 
in off-year elections with Republicans gaining a majority in the 
Mississippi House for the first time in years and Republicans gaining a 
majority in the Virginia Senate, along with the State House and the 
Governorship for the first time in 130 years.
  With these gains, Republicans are now state legislative majorities in 
both houses in all states from Texas to Florida to Virginia and all 
states in between except narrowly in Arkansas.
  I am grateful my home state of South Carolina is symbolic of change. 
Fifty years ago this

[[Page E2101]]

August, Charlie Boineau of Richland was elected the first Republican 
legislator of the Twentieth Century and the next year, State Rep. Floyd 
Spence was the first party switch ever leading in 1994 to David Wilkins 
elected the first Republican Speaker in the South. In 2010 all nine 
Republican statewide candidates were elected with the Governor being 
the first female in 341 years and only the second Indian American in 
national history. Seven out of eight federal officials are now 
Republicans.
  Encouraging the extraordinary change are transplants from the 
Northeast and Midwest who have relocated for a milder climate and lower 
taxes.
  In conclusion, God Bless our Troops and we will never forget 
September 11th in the Global War on Terrorism.

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