Jackson Jambalaya

Can you imagine the uproar it would be to have a House White Caucus? So how can there be a black caucus???

Everyone in the State of MIssissippi watch and learn. This is what Democrats will do with taxpayer money when they can unilaterally get away with it. Waste it, defy their own rules, and all the rules of decency and common sense. Everyone knows Mississippi can't afford nonsense like this.
Donna Ladd, how are you going to spin this one?

There is a white caucus. It's called the Republican Party.

Can it be said that Billy McCoy was Mississippi's first black House Speaker?

McCoy flips the taxpayers and voters of Mississippi the bird on the way out the door.

The only thing Billy McCoy as Speaker brought to Mississippi was eight years of obstructionism.

There are some bitter people in that room, and it's a good thing that some of them won't be returning. Hopefully Speaker-designee Gunn will be able to work across the aisle to bring some level of consensus to a historically disagreeable group.

If I was a staffer looking to keep my job, I might turn down that trip even if authorized.

If the rule lets a lame-duck Speaker spend money at his own discretion, I have a hard time saying he did something wrong.

The rule needs to be changed - let's see if the GOP will do it once *they* control the House.

The fact that too many think one has to break a "rule" in order to be viewed as doing something wrong is a sad fact of our modern existence.

By definition, modern day morals have been eroded by this fact. When we don't hold someone accountable from a morality standpoint because we use the excuse of not having a "rule", then there's no reason for individuals in society to exhibit the sort of moral courage so many complain we do not have.

I'm sure the rule Anderson does not mention nor define the position of "lame-duck Speaker".

For someone who always works to be precise your avoidance in this case has been duly noted.

So Anderson, it doesn't bother you at all for the taxpayers to pick up the tab for 20 people to go to Chicago and have fun up there? How much will this cost?

Let me see, 20 plane tickets, 20 hotel rooms for several days apiece, 20 registration fees, and so on.

Meanwhile teachers and cops are laid off and downs syndrome kids are kicked off the Medicaid rolls. I had to listen to Billy McCoy talk about how frugal they have been then he approves this crap out of sight. Yeah.

Thank you for another evidence-based
story Kingfish with source documentation
and a video record of the meeting.
Outgoing Speaker McCoy hiding in the
corner of the room is priceless!

JP chairs the committee. McCoy usually sits in that seat as there are no empty seats at the table.

Looks to me KF from your YouTube clip that there are 3 empty seats at the table. From the expressions on faces your camera changed the whole dynamic in the room.

McCoy couldn't think of a single Republican to appoint to the House Management Committee?

Payback is gonna be hell.

Was going by memory. I'm wrong. Have seen it full before.

Ridiculus. All the news is about cuts in state spending and King Billy doles out the cash for a boondoggle, glad he is finally out of here.

Rita Martinson, the lady who questioned the staff expense, is a Republican from Madison. Other Republican members are Richard Bennett, Margaret Rogers and Ray Rogers. Eight Democrats, four Republicans.

I think the lady in the teal jacket is Margaret Rogers. Don't see Richard Bennett on the tape but if KF says he was there then he was there.

So Anderson, it doesn't bother you at all for the taxpayers to pick up the tab for 20 people to go to Chicago and have fun up there?

KF, if it didn't bother me, I wouldn't say the rule needs to be changed.

I have no idea why the Speaker should have unilateral authority to spend state money.

But, according to you, he does.

Will the GOP change that when they take control, or will the rule suddenly not seem so bad when Rep. Gunn is the one spending the money? I hope it's the former.

I wish me and the internet would've been around for Buddy Newman. That would've been fun.

Yes. Yes, it would.

The fee for the conference is $475 per head. Total = $9,500 ($475 * 20)

If they stay at the conference hotel the rooms are $169 per night. Total = $13,520 ($169*4)*20)

Hotels in downtown Chicago apply a hotel tax of 15.4%. Total = $2082.08 ($13520*.154)

If they book their flights on Southwest right now and choose the least-cost option (never a sure thing with Donkeycrats) the RT is $240.40 per person. Total = $4,808 ($240.40*20)

I don't know what the legislative per diem is for food but let's assume it is $50 per person per day and in downtown Chicago it would be a stretch to stay within that budget. Total = $5,000 ($50*5)*20)

I hope they aren't foolish enough to rent cars because then you'd have to add the rental, parking and fuel. If they don't there will be cab or shuttle fares. Some of the legislators will likely incur parking fees at the Jackson Medgar Wiley Evers Kenneth Stokes Chokwe Lumumba International Airport. Plus there are surely other taxes (sales, etc) that I've left out.

Considering only the conservative estimates above the cost for this junket is, at the minimum, $34,910.

Which would probably be enough to fund one starting school teacher (fully loaded) in Mississippi for one school year.

What the Hell ?

I found a link to this story in a comment on a C-L story. First time they have printed a useful fact in a long time (well, a commenter posted it, not their 'reporter').

House Management Committee:
J. P. Compretta, Chairman, (sitting in the middle of head table)
Members: Starting at left side of table - Thomas U. Reynolds, D, Water Valley; Margaret Rogers, R, New Albany; Omeria Scott, D, Laurel; Linda F. Coleman, D, Mound Bayou; Willie J. Perkins, Sr., D, Greenwood; Richard Bennett, R, Long Beach; Ray Rogers, R, Pearl; Credell Calhoun, D, Jackson; Rita Martinson, R, Madison; Percy W. Watson, D, Hattiesburg. Speaker William J. McCoy, D, Rienzi, sitting behind head table.
The other 2 people sitting at head table are Don Richardson, Clerk, and Teresa Tiller, Director of House Legislative Services.

and by the way, if some Republicans or conservative legislators want to go have fun at CPAC, an NRA convention, the Red State gathering, or a meeting of the Republican legislators or whatever they call it, the state should not pay for it either.

The sad part is that they're talking about how austere they are, how they need to fill crucial staff positions, etc., and then spending $30,000 on a boondoggle. Truly the Democrats' way...

Just two notes: When McCoy appointed the committee, it was 9-3. Margaret Rogers switched parties this year.

And while the 'rule' may allow the Speaker to spend the money unilaterally, the House banned ALL out of state travel in May 2010. So there is a rule being broken here.

Just wondering "kingfish"...did the Senate Management Committee vote to allow its caucus members to go to such meeting? If so, did you cover that meeting or report about it.

Daaamn! So someone going on the junket is a bit pissy about the reporting of their use of tax dollars to fund a boondoggle?

2:33, no the Senate is not sending members to the 'meeting'.

And while the "speaka'" is talking about how frugal the House has been, and the Clerk is lamenting the inability to fill vacant positions, they fail to mention that 7 1/2 years ago they raised the Speaker Pro Tem salary 900% to $95,000. Reason was, McCoy was sick. Once McCoy got better, they left the pay in place. Wonder how many 'mail deliverers' that extra bit of expense could cover.

And of course, now the Speaka' is unilaterally spending another $25k. (BTW, the House rules DO NOT allow for the Speaker to make such an expenditure, despite what is being claimed.)

Gallo is reporting that per Rita Martinson McCoy approved travel and hotel expenses for 20 attendees up to $1200 per attendee.

@10:56. Good research and great post. Seems your contribution was overlooked.

BTW, who the hell trusts Rita Martinson or her assessment? How soon we forget she was one of the ring leaders ten-twelve years ago when the legislature attempted to double their own retirement. Of course she claimed she had not read the bill.

I love the second letter, and the improper use of do vs. due!

When making a travel request to be paid for with government funds, each person should state what results they will provide upon return. Simply stating that it is vital these people attend, doesn't give me a clue of what I am paying for.

MS will be the host for this event next year is not enough justification for that many people to attend. And, they will likely contract out the hosting of this event to a Jackson minority business that doesn't even know how to use power point.

I find it very suspicious that black people in Mississippi government seem to always have a dying need to attend conventions in Chicago. Is there a secret that we white folks don't know about?

I've said this before... I'm not a racist unless "dumbass" is considered a race. Then, I guess I am.

In view of Republicans' track record they are just as likely to waste state money on junkets to out of state conventions as Democrats. It's time to get rid of BOTH parties and start over.

In view of Republicans' track record they are just as likely to waste state money on junkets to out of state conventions as Democrats.

As far as Mississippi goes your comment is not evidence-based.

I was democrat until I moved to the Deep South several years ago. Comparing republican and democrats on a national political level is COMPLETELY different from comparing the parties against one another in the Deep South.

I'm sure the Mossy Oak guys are now developing a new
" Billy McCoy sit'n in the corner w/dying houseplant "
pattern of camo.

What a load of crap. Was that Omeria Scott, D, Laurel who got up toward the end of the video (~14:30) and lectured Don Richardson, "Lets don't spend anymore money Don; Lets don't spend anything on anything and I'm going to be watching to make sure we don’t spend any money on anything, anything."

Oh, I definitely expect some push back from Democrats who just want to take their toys and go home, but there won't be enough of them to have any impact. Between future party switchers - and there will be more - and Speaker-elect Gunn's courting of the Legislative Black Caucus - Flaggs is already on board with lots to follow - the Democrats who would obstruct just for the fun of it will be able to go to lunch in a Suburban, especially after some of the old guys resign because they can't get anyone to buy their dinner. Bill Billingsley

The House management Committee is elected by Congressional District, not appointed. The House has traditionally paid for selected (by the Speaker) members to attend the National Conference of State Legislators (NCSL) national and regional meetings, plus they have paid for some members of the House Black Caucus to attend the convention of the meeting of the national assn of black legislators, or whatever it is called. This has gone on for decades, right or wrong. The House does not pay for attendance to political conventions or gatherings. Most of the conservative members of the Legislature are members of ALEC, which is the national organization of conservative legislators. However, the House won't pay for the trips to that (not that they should).

Hillarious at 10:14 Mossy Oak pattern comment. If they can incorporate home-grown worms into that camo pattern, they gots 'em a big seller!

The House has traditionally paid ...

Your sentence should read:

The House controlled by a Democratic Majority with a Democratic Speaker has traditionally paid ...

Thanks for being there, KF. Hope you and your camera will continue to watch over things like this.

"the Jackson Medgar Wiley Evers Kenneth Stokes Chokwe Lumumba International Airport" HAHAHAHAHAHA

For the record, no rule will make a crooked man act straight.

Make no mistake about it: The only thing that can make a powerful lawmaker act right is fear of the voters throwing him out.... and sometimes that isn't even enough.

Thanks KF for objecting to ALL boondoggle trips. The conference/professional association trips which are no more than paid vacations run deep and can be found inside each bureaucracy as well.
The meetings/conventions that CAN offer important educational information and exchange of ideas don't matter if those going are on a tourist bus rather than at the meeting.
There are many ways to keep attendance that would be easy to require and many ways to formalize who gets to go each year. That is done in some States where such conferences/meetings are a part of the budget process and X number of slots are approved before anyone is chosen.

yada yada 8:24. Pie in the sky suggestion. What we have here is a 'we fed up, we still in charge and we goin' attitude. I forget what Bloody Marys cost on the Amtrak, but a future sleuth inquiry will let us know after the fact.

Haven't seen any mention of this anywhere else except Gallo. Not even in The Buzz this morning. Only Y'all mentioned it. MIM and Magnolia ignored it.

Isn't the guy @ MIM on vacation? Did you truly expect anything out of the C-L?