Terri Herring is a mother of three who lives in Ridgeland. She is the national director for the Pro-Life America Network.
For at least 27 years, she has lobbied on behalf of pro-life issues in the Mississippi Legislature, as she stated in a http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/clinic/interviews/herring.html">2005 interview with "Frontline," a Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) series.
She's also Gov. Phil Bryant's latest pick for the Mississippi Board of Public Health, which is responsible for setting health policy in the state.
Terri Herring also identifies herself as a pro-life lobbyist on her Twitter feed (@Terri_Herring). A quick search on the secretary of state's website turned up only one lobbyist registration form, filed March 13, 2013, and no other reports. A search on previous years produced no results.
According to state law (which is printed on the form):
Miss.Code Ann.,§ 585 (1) (1972) states every lobbyist registration shall be filled with the Secretary of State within five (5) calendar days after becoming a lobbyist, becoming a lobbyist's client or beginning to lobby for a new client."
Miss.Code Ann., § 5817 (1)(b) (1972) states beginning with the tenth (10) day after which any report is due, "the Secretary of State shall assess the delinquent lobbyist and delinquent lobbyist's client a civil penalty of Fifty Dollars ($50.00) per day and part of any day until a valid report is delivered to the Secretary of State, up to a maximum of ten (10) days.
Miss.Code Ann., § 5821 (1972) provides a conviction for violation of the lobbying law, for the first offense, carries a penalty of a maximum of six (6) months in jail and a fine of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000); and for subsequent offenses a maximum of three(3) years in the penitentiary and a fine of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000).
We'll be following up. Stay turned.
Comments
NinetyWt 11 years ago
Well, I be swan.
hdmatthias 11 years ago
Is she allowed to hold public office AND be a registered lobbyist?
*Please rally all the men and women you know to oppose this atrocity of a nomination.* Call these Senators and tell them you are opposed to Terri Herring's nomination to the MS Board of Health. Confirmation Hearings -
Senator Josh Harkins 601-359-2886 [email protected] Senator Hillman Frazier 601-359-5957 [email protected] Senator Dean Kirby 601-939-5968 [email protected] Senator Hob Bryan 601-359-3237 662-256-9601 Senator David Blount 601-359-3232 [email protected] Senator Nancy Adams Collins 601-359-2395 [email protected] Senator Briggs Hopson 601-359-3237 [email protected] Senator John Horhn 601-359-3237 [email protected] Senator David Parker 601-359-2886 [email protected] Senator Melanie Sojourner 601-359-3250 [email protected] Senator Brice Wiggins 601-359-3232 [email protected]
robbier 11 years ago
Hdmatthias,
You can do it in our Federal gov't, can't see why you couldn't in the State.
I wondered how long the JFP would take to rally the troops against this.
donnaladd 11 years ago
The troops don't need as to rally them on this one, robbier. Our job is to report the facts -- and it very disturbing that Herring seemingly didn't bother to register as a lobbyist all those years. Sounds like that might cost her a chunk of change -- if state officials are willing to apply the law to her.
robbier 11 years ago
I don't disagree about her not registering, assuming she actively lobbies, which has yet to be reported on.
My point was more centered on her pro-life views.
RonniMott 11 years ago
Robbier, no has to "assume" Herring lobbies. She calls herself a lobbyist on her Twitter feed, on her blog, in interviews--kind of everywhere. It really isn't difficult to figure out. She's all up in the Legislature's business regarding pro-life bills.
RonniMott 11 years ago
Terri Herring sent the following release to the conservative Mississippi PEP blog today:
Terri Herring thanked Governor Phil Bryant today for his trust in nominating her to the Mississippi State Board of Health.
“I am honored by the confidence Governor Bryant has placed in me to serve in this very important post,” said Herring. “The past twenty six years of my life have been dedicated to health issues and health care, and I am pleased to have an opportunity to continue that as a member of the State Board of Health.”
Herring and husband Clint own TrustCare in Ridgeland, Mississippi. TrustCare is a medical provider, specializing in walk-in urgent care, and occupational medicine. The Herrings have run the Kerioth Corporation, a family-owned real estate and development company since 1984. They are also partnered with St. Dominic Hospital to promote fitness through “The Club”, with locations across metro Jackson and one in Hernando, MS.
Sister Dorothea Sondgeroth, Associate Executive Director of St. Dominic Health Services, recommended Herring and called her an “outstanding nominee”. Sondgeroth said Herring has been a key asset in promoting women’s health issues and healthy living in Mississippi.
“Terri is a devoted mother and knows the importance of women’s health and has been heavily involved in community efforts that enhance family life and women’s health,” said Sondgeroth. “I have known Terri for sixteen years and have worked with her as she championed the cause of protecting women’s and infants health and well-being.”
Herring has assisted young pregnant women across Mississippi through pregnancy resource centers to receive prenatal education, medical care, and financial assistance. She distributes $200,000 annually to resource centers across the state as founder and President of the Choose Life Advisory Committee.
Herring has been a featured speaker on women’s health issue in articles and on television across the globe. She is sought after as an advocate for women’s health, and on the subjects of fetal mortality, abstinence and reproductive education.
Maddymomma 11 years ago
I am sure I will be blasted for posting this but I am here to report the facts. Terri Herring is not a paid lobbyist which is why she is not required to register. She is what is known as a volunteer lobbyist or a representational lobbyist so she will face no fees or any other penalties for that matter.
donnaladd 11 years ago
No need to blast you, Maddymomma. But we do need to ask how you know that Ms. Herring, who proudly calls herself a "lobbyist," has never been paid to lobby.
donnaladd 11 years ago
Beyond the pay issue, though, Maddymomma, don't you think it's really disturbing to appoint someone who calls themselves a "pro-life lobbyist" (and is now registered as one as of two weeks ago) onto a state health board? Would you be cool with someone who calls themselves a "pro-choice lobbyist" being appointed to the health board? If you're cool with one, you must be cool with the other -- especially since the first one is actually lobbying in opposition to current law and the second one isn't.
RonniMott 11 years ago
Herring registered as a lobbyist on March 13, 2013, with an effective date of Jan. 1, 2013--the earliest date possible for this year as printed on the registration form.
So, is she now making money from lobbying? If not, why bother registering?