Jackson Jambalaya

This flies in the face of the whole "smaller" government more "efficient" government mantra of the republican talking heads. 110K so the speaker can have a yes man to take his clothes to the cleaners. And the justification is "because the lt gov already has a lackey". Shameful waste of taxpayer monies.

The key is what were they paying the "consultant". The little secret of state government is to get hired as a consultant. That is where the money is racked up. If the house was already paying for this and this just makes it more formal and sets the pay, then that is one thing.

So lets summarize the changes yesterday.

Reduction of clerk pay: -$30,000
Increase policy director: $110,000
Reduction of ProTem: $75,000.
Addition of extra clerk for up to 8 weeks: $20,000. COULD BE LESS IF HE WORKS LESS THAN 20 weeks.

So the reduction in clerk pay and pro tem pay is close to that of the new Policy Director.

Now if you take out the consultant pay, and yes, I'm about to file a FOIA for that, then you have savings.
Increase in

The Eichelmouth is all-in for the endangered white yellerdogs.

Its not even good spin. Ladd actually does a better job.

Why don't the consultants run for office?

This is a good move that will make the House more efficient and the clerk's office less political.

Why not cut the costs that have been mentioned and then simply NOT hire the lackey for the speaker? Now that would actually be a move to cut costs and make government more efficient. Isn't that what these guys have been promising? Isn't that what they are demanding of other state agencies?

I try to read Cottonmouth, but he is just as bad if not worse than the JFP.

I wish I knew more about the details of how the Speaker's office really works and how the House operates. Until I understand the nuts and bolts behind these moves it will be hard for me to either criticize them or endorse them. Apparently some of the posters above know all about it. Why not share with the rest of us so we'll understand as well? Bill Billingsley

Kingfish, I think Cottonmouth assumed that anyone with a 4th grade education would know that the Management Committee was bipartisan. Maybe he gives us too much credit.

Headline said Gunn hires..

Gunn didn't hire anyone. The R's and D's did.

I'm sure everybody here already knows how ignorant I am. To add to that, I have no friggin' idea what or who Cottonmouth is, but, then again I haven't been reading the archives here. What is it and where is he?

On another front, I've hired hundreds of people and am at a loss to understand why (if a clerk or assistant is needed) they simply cannot fund a position at the level of paralegal. People are running all over town with those credentials. They also know how to make coffee, order flowers and pick up laundry.

Next we will hear that Tater has a plane with extra wide seats.

You're kidding yourself and misleading your readers if you don't acknowledge that this hire was under the direction of the new Speaker. Yes, the committee voted for it, and I believe did so irresponsibly, but this was most definitely under Gunn's marching orders.

Oh really? You mean every one of those Democrats are Republican robots? Democrats like Cottonmouth can't have it both ways, blast the Republicans for hiring the guy while they voted for it too.

Ed Perry is a retired representative from the Oxford area. A democrat. Good guy and he was good at what he does. Was the clerk for several years after retiring from the House of Reps.

This is outrageous taxpayers footing the bill for some $110K yes man, go-fer to tell Gunn whatever he wants to hear, which is what this so called 30 yr old kid assistant is going to do. It seems like the Republican's spending is just as out of control as the Democrats in MS. Had this been a young black male it would have been a march on the capital for example that staffer of Roger Wicker and he was only getting paid 50K and taxpayers were demanding he gets fired well we are demanding this kid Nathan Wells salary be reduced to something reasonable that fits the nature of the position (assistant).

I can tell ^ ^ ^ who motor mouth is, but, who is cottonmouth?

I'm with Bill.

I'd like a bit more explanation as to the duties and qualifications that justify $110000.

Thanks for reporting this fairly - and for backing it up. I think that most of you should maybe spend a day seeing what this "yes man" does before you assume it's simply dry cleaning and coffee - and check Mr. Wells' credentials before you jump to any conclusions.

You also must keep in mind that the House, as a whole, elected Rep. Gunn as Speaker, proving that they put their support behind him. Even if the hire was spearheaded by Gunn, it was voted on (unanimously I might add) by the committee.