Saturday, February 4, 2012

Ethics Commission orders State Rep. Kevin McGee to repay $346,554

Updated: Mississippi Democrats issue press release. Published at bottom of post.

The Mississippi Ethics Commission ruled yesterday:

"Rep. Kevin McGee was part owner and president of Service Printers which received over $428,000 worth of state printing contracts after McGee took office in January 2008.

The state constitution and state ethics laws prohibit legislators from doing business with state government. The Ethics Commission determined McGee’s company had hundreds of printing contracts with 26 different state agencies since McGee took office. The Ethics Commission determined 258 of the contracts violated the Ethics in Government Law and ordered McGee to repay $346,554.06 to the state, the total amount of those transactions, and to pay an additional fine of $50,000, based upon contracts completed after receiving formal notice of the violations..." Summary, Final order (see pages 9-10)




Mississippi Democrats issued the following press release:

Jackson, MS - On Thursday, February 2, the Mississippi Ethics Commission issued a Final Order in its investigation of Rep. Kevin McGee (R-Brandon). The Commission found that since taking office in January 2008, Rep. McGee entered into 259 illegal service contracts with the State of Mississippi. As a result, Mr. McGee’s business improperly received over $428,000 in state funds.

The state constitution and state ethics laws prohibit legislators from doing business with state government. For his many violations of the constitution and statutes, Rep. McGee has been ordered to repay $346,554.06 to the state and an additional fine of $50,000.

Rickey Cole, Executive Director of the Mississippi Democratic Party said, “In light of these revelations, the only appropriate response is for Representative McGee to resign his office immediately.” Cole added, “Mississippi deserves responsible stewards in positions of public trust, not shameless self-dealers willing to abuse the public trust for personal gain.”

Continuing, Cole noted, “Since the November elections, we’ve had a Republican state representative caught taking money from his vulnerable aunt, a Republican mayor caught using his city’s budget as his own private expense account, and now another Republican representative caught making off with more than a quarter of a million dollars in taxpayer funds.” Cole added, “It seems to me that instead of using their power to make life better for all Mississippians, Republicans have decided to abuse their power to make a fat profit for themselves
.”




30 comments:

Anonymous said...

............this was an oversight.

Anonymous said...

Since the business is a closely held family corporation, I wonder if his disassociation in August was sufficient. If his father, spouse, or children hold any stock in the company or if they are employees of the company I think he is still in violation of the law.

Anonymous said...

Who reported him?

Anonymous said...

I'm sure the Eichelhamburger at the Cottoncandyblog is excited about this development.

Anonymous said...

an oversight?

Anonymous said...

Does he speak and read english. He was given a course (by the state, free of charge) when he was FIRST elected to office about conflict of interest. Also, he was given a written packet that clearly spells out what NOT TO DO. DUH! I would be willing to bet that he knows ALL about his salary, retirement benefits and health benefits as a representative.

Kingfish said...

He was also warned by the investigator and others. Read pages 9-10. He can't claim ignorance. Common sense should've told him not to do it.

Anonymous said...

So the state sends out a bid request for printing, selects Service Printers, pays for the printing, receives the printed materials, finds out a Rep is part owner of the business and then wants all their money that they paid for the printing back? That is F'ed up! lets look at ALL the procurement that the state has done and find out where there has been any corruption and demand a full refund for services rendered.
I am sure that there has been a building built for 15-20 million that there were some shady issues. Lets get the money back and get the building for free.
Hell how about the BEEF PLANT? Where is the money for that shit pie? And who is going to pay for it? Where is the ethics commission on that one?
Give me a break. Make him pay a fine and move on. There are bigger issues at hand than this.

Anonymous said...

And to add to last comment, we, the smart folks of Midsissippi elect Cyndi Hyde Smith as Ag Comissioner and she was the head of the committee who put in the beef plant! We are stid!

Anonymous said...

8:19
Alright, Kevin, we get it.
What you did wasn't wrong, in your mind. Just because it's illegal, so freakin' what. Everybody else is doing it, right? Just leave you alone. Let you screw the system, and the public, as much as possible, and screw all you little people. What an a-hole.

Anonymous said...

8:48
I am not Kevin, but I know him. If he was told to quit doing business with the state and did not, that is on him. I have not asked him. But I am sure you have done a bunch of business with the state, but if you have not let me let you in on a little secret, he did not make a mint off of printing $345,000 of printing over 4 years for the STATE. In a bidding process with several print shops within a 15 mile radius of the capitol there is not much of a margin in work like that. It is not like he is constructing 20 miles of highway or constructing a building for MDOT. Oh but wait he does have about 40-50 employees to provide food for their families and a roof over their head. Screw them huh?
Get your ass on the ballot big boy and do something about it, ASS HOLE!!!!! You sound like a little bitch with all of your whining, "screw the little people, the system, and the public" whaaaa whaaaaa. You dribbling little Monday morning QB.

Anonymous said...

SO, did the state order the printing after checking around with other printers, or had the state had such good service in the past it would have been a waste of time to do that? or did they just ask for a price and approve it....

and then, did the state get the proper printing job, and accept and use the printing?

had the state done this for years?

would rep McGee be considered a fool for laying his life out there to serve the people of MS by hanging out in the state capitol, when he could be making money or playing golf....

bottom line, did the state get fairly priced quality goods and services, as it had done FOR YEARS....????

so, you're telling me it would be better to shop somewhere else and not get a good deal...???

the law needs to be adjusted...

Anonymous said...

My question is this. What portion of Service Printers' business is with state agencies? Why serve in the Legislature if state agencies are a major vendor of your business? Mr. McGee can say arms-length transactions all he wants, but it is like proving that life exists in outer space. He can't win either way.

Anonymous said...

The dumb-ass knew he was not supposed to bid on state jobs. Period. I have no mercy for the scum. He should be penalized. What an idiot.

Kingfish said...

He should have known this was a problem when he ran for office. The Ethics Commission would have provided him with an opinion either before he assumed office or just after he did. They do it all the time. Then they told him during orientation what the law was. Then the order states:

"even after being PERSONALLY advised of the prohibitions in law against such conduct, initially by way of a personal interview with a Commission investigator and later by certified mail correspondence from the executive director of the Commission, Respondent retained his interests in Service Printers, Inc and continued to engage in same prohibited conduct"

Everyone get that? He was told at classes for freshman legislators. He was told by an investigator, he was told in a certified letter from Tom Hood yet he still did it anyway.

Anonymous said...

9:03 look in the mirror to see scum.

Anonymous said...

OK, will re resign? when will he resign?
Who wants to run for this house seat (formerly Governor Bryants).

KK this might be your opportunity?

Anonymous said...

Where was the outrage when Compretta was getting paid for zip?

Anonymous said...

Under Mississippi law, any purchase under $5,000 DOES NOT require a competitive bid process. Which means you can give it to whoevever you want - your neighbor, best friend, etc. How many print jobs given Service Printers were under $5,000?

Anonymous said...

1:16 pm - I do not think you understand what you are saying. Read the Ethics Law. in particular (§ 25-4-105. Contract restrictions and other prohibited conduct; penalties)

It VERY plainly states (3) No public servant shall:



(a) Be a contractor, subcontractor or vendor with the governmental entity of which he is a member, officer, employee or agent, other than in his contract of employment, or have a material financial interest in any business which is a contractor, subcontractor or vendor with the governmental entity of which he is a member, officer, employee or agent.

No public servant shall use his official position to obtain, or attempt to obtain, pecuniary benefit for himself other than that compensation provided for by law, or to obtain, or attempt to obtain, pecuniary benefit for any relative or any business with which he is associated.

Period. No exceptions for McGee.

Anonymous said...

Will he vacate the seat voluntarily?

Anonymous said...

Is there some sort of friendship code that requires one to excuse a friend's bad , even criminal behavior?

I was raised that you could love your friend despite the errors of their ways, but you didn't try to excuse those errors.

I was taught if you excuse or condone a friend's bad behavior, you are just as guilty as they are.

Indeed, aren't there some laws about aiding and abetting that suggest that ethical framework and the difference is primarily one of timing?

Anonymous said...

shameful!

Anonymous said...

Whats wrong with this is this man could do the same job at another company, and that company does business with the state, and he not be in any trouble. because it is his families business he is punished. Something wrong with that law.

Anonymous said...

But he knew what the law was before he ran for office, he indeed was remineded again on orintation.

Anonymous said...

10:56 am Read the Ethics Law. Nothing wrong with it whatsoever. YES he should be punished. If he was too stupid to listen and understand the LAW - he certainly should not be n a leadership position.

Anonymous said...

hmmmmmmm..I wonder why with all of the ethics complaints being lodged against those morons in hinds county (sups) and all conway twitty will do is yawn and look the other way?

Anonymous said...

I believe the House got Conway's attention

Anonymous said...

We hope the house got Conway's attention. About time if it happens.

Anonymous said...

Seriously? Do you people not have anything better to do than to run your non-informed mouths? What a shame, grown adults passing judgment on something and someones you all know nothing about - who made you all God that you could cast stones? If you do your research, you would see that the majority of these contracts have been in place since the 70s - when Mr. McGee was a mere child; he has never met the majority of the people in those contracts. Just because someone is an owner in a family business doesn't mean he makes every decision, every second of every day - get a clue! And yes, he did disassociate with Service Printers - how sad too. And how about the so called "whistleblower"? Check into his motives, oh wait you may not even know the story there either - keep your mouths shut until you are educated enough to give an opinion based on facts not stupidity. And no, this isn't Kevin...it's a Rankin County resident who has been pleased with the strides he has made for our county - unlike the man who serves 10 years and did nothing.



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