Monday, September 16, 2013

Dear Legislature: Put the budget requests online.

The Legislature holds annual budget hearing this week. In other words, every state agency appears before a legislative committee and presents a dog and pony show begging for more money. Each agency presents in writing a legislative budget request. These requests contain a great deal of information. They provide specific information on where money was spent last year as well as where it will be spent this year and next year. See the Medicaid budget request posted below. These requests provide much more information than the audits. A very valuable tool for voters who want to stay informed and hold their government accountable. Schedule of hearings.

However, there is just one little problem if you want to actually read one of these requests or get a copy of one. You have to go downtown to the legislative budget office to read it or make a copy as the state does not make these available online. This copy alone cost $75. The Legislature i.e. the Speakah and the Leftenant Governor should order the LBO to posts all requests online so the voters can see where their government is spending money. Don't get too comfortable over at Cottonchicken as its not like the Moakies and Brownies made this information available online when they ran the House. Our leaders like to brag about transparency? Here is a good place to start. Its not a partisan issue. Its just simply good government. Period. Anyone think the Conservative Coalition or Democratic Trust will make this an issue?


10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Are you going again this year - wonder if the committee will ask Fitch some more tough questions?

Anonymous said...

If you paid for the Medicaid budget document below, you were fleeced! That one was submitted in 2011, and was the budget request for the current (2013) fiscal year.

Anonymous said...

IF there were bright fiscal conservatives in our legislature instead od demogogues,the first thing they would be doing is demanding zero based budgeting.

And, they'd bother to know what that is.

Every year agencies go on a spending spree at the end of their fiscal year to spend all their budget so they can justify asking for more for "new" positions and programs.
A real fiscal conservative understands it's not how much you spend but spending efficiently and effectively and not wasting money.
Most of our legislators don't even understand what they are looking at when they look at a budget.
Nor do they even know that money gets shifted around between agencies.

To understand, legislators would have to learn how to do their jobs( actually know how government works) rather than glad hand and pontificate.

The voters are angry about government spending but have little notion of how things got so bad and how bureaucracies grow like topsy. So voters just ask to cut taxes and spending .

As a result, it's like cutting home spending by cutting your clothing allowance and your child's medicine needs the same percentage.



Anonymous said...

Oniine?

Anonymous said...

It is embarrassing, with our so called new day in the legislature with Gunn and Reeves leading, that our legislature can't but agency budgets on its web site. Frankly, this is ten years overdue.

Anonymous said...

We on the Coast want the Ms.Legislature to tell the DMR "HELL NO" to their request for more money to waste on contracts with friends like Frontier Gulf Coast thru Horne. They have yet to show the public any work product that this group produced under this agreement. Most down here think it was a payback to the owners of GCF for helping the current director get the appointment by Gov.Bryant. Also the DMR and the Ms.Auditor both signed off on an agreement to let previous Director Bill Walker and others walk away from a repayment demand of over $1,000,000. for misuse of taxpayer's money. Why Pickering would do this is just bizarre. He will chase down somebody like former municipal court clerk Jessica Bates from Utica for $1,552.99 but allows this group to get out of the balance of the $1,074,519.97 demand without paying any money out of pocket. Do your job Mr.Auditor and get this money back for the DMR so the taxpayers do not have to come up with more to be wasted on this friends and family program that has been going on at this agency for some time.

Anonymous said...

Well DPS will ask for more mainly for the trooper school. The last school was a windfall for them. They purchased 100 cars and equipment for the new troopers but only had 40 to 50 to graduate. Will do exactly the same this time around because its a way to increase the budget but hide it in trooper school.

Anonymous said...

Maybe the budget committee will hold the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation to the fire, considering $30,000+ was just spent sending 17 executive members and staff members to a conference in New York.

I thought the money this agency received was to help the people of Mississippi, not to pay for employee's to "vacation" and call it work.

This agency spent over a million dollars in 2012 on "travel" expenses and seem to be following the same path in 2013.

The director of this agency, Butch McMillian and deputy director, Shelia Browning should be relieved of their positions immediately.

This agency is and has been known for abuse of funds for several years and our legislator's have been aware of this.

The people of Mississippi deserve better. Mississippians need to demand a change, starting at the top.

Shame on you Mr. McMillian and Ms. Browning. You are both an embarrassment to this state.

Anonymous said...

Amen! The MDRS is at the top of corrupt agencies in Mississippi. Shame on you all. Maybe when the "executives" are at all the "necessary" conferences and conventions, they might want to work instead of getting drunk, laughing at the people who depend on these funds and make fools of their spouses late at night.
That's where our tax money goes.
The budget committee should allow money for condoms too.

Anonymous said...

Thank you!!! At least somebody tells it like it is. Screw MDRS. Until they clean house, it's going to be more of the same.

McMillian and Browning are the biggest liars and abusers of their positions.

What favors are they doing for our disaster of a legislator to keep thier "executive" positions.


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Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


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Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

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