Madison County Journal
Hyde-Smith gavels Democrat Schumer
By Taylor Rayburn
Just two weeks into her role as a United State Senator, Cindy Hyde-Smith found herself presiding over the Senate and gaveling down the Democrat minority leader during a quorum call.
"To me, I am just thinking procedure and it does not matter who it is," Hyde-Smith said. "I am just trying to run the Senate the way it is supposed to run and not make a mistake."
Hyde-Smith was appointed by Gov. Phil Bryant in April to replace retiring Sen. Thad Cochran.
She has hit the ground running in D.C., most notably working on passage of a new Farm Bill.
Joining the Senate midway through the year, Hyde-Smith said she didn't receive the orientation that first-time senators receive. She said it was her 12 years of experience in Mississippi Senate that made the transition smooth and presiding natural.
"Had that not happened, I would be mortified," Hyde-Smith said on presiding over the Senate, which she does twice a week now. "When they came and asked me to preside, I said I was pretty comfortable with this atmosphere."
Then came the moment when New York Democrat Chuck Schumer, Senate Minority Leader, during a quorum call, tried to take the floor, but Hyde-Smith jumped up to gavel him down, according to the rules of the Senate. She said all of the permanent staff kind of looked up at her and said he is not usually shut down as quickly.
A former Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce, Hyde-Smith has played a big part in the Farm Bill 2018 that the Senate passed in June. She proposed four amendments to the bill and all four of her amendments were put into the bill. The bill is a significant point of contention between the House of Representatives and the Senate and it will remain to be seen what the House adds and how they vote.
"The chairman, Pat Roberts, he has been nothing but engaging," Hyde-Smith said. "He brings me to the table. I am amazed at the input they let me have before they bring everybody else in."
Hyde-Smith spoke to the Journal Editorial Board and staff last Friday about the benefits of President Trump's tax cuts and the impact they've had not only in Mississippi but across the country.
Most recently, she witnessed history as Trump announced the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court. She said she received a special invitation to the White House and met with the president before the announcement, which she later witnessed first-hand.
"When the president had the opportunity to select someone for the supreme county, to be part of that was pretty darn phenomenal," Hyde-Smith said. "Because Judge Kavanaugh is a very conservative pick. This guy, if he is confirmed, look at the difference it will make at the direction this country will go in."
Despite presiding over the Senate and being present for the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh, her favorite moment over the past three months was on a piano bench in Cochran’s office. She sat down with the Senator, and the two played a Beethoven piece together on the piano.
Later on, she started playing "God Bless America," and Cochran sang. A moment — she said — that is truly special to her.
"I could be there 100 years and nothing will be more special than that moment," Hyde-Smith said.
Hyde-Smith is seeking election to the post in a special election on Nov. 6. Her opponents are Republican Chris McDaniel and Democrats Tobey Bartee and Mike Espy.
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