Governor Phil Bryant issued the following press release:
Gov. Bryant Announces Members of Task Force to Oversee Mississippi Department of Corrections Contracts Review
JACKSON—Governor
Phil Bryant has announced the members of the task force to oversee the
Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC) contracts review. On Nov.
6, Gov. Bryant stated all contracts associated with companies listed in
the indictment of former MDOC Commissioner Christopher B. Epps would be
re-bid. Additionally, all other MDOC contracts will be reviewed to
ensure they were both legally procured and in
the best interest of the taxpayers.
On Nov. 7, Gov.
Bryant issued an executive order creating the task force to oversee the
MDOC contracts review and re-bidding process.
“The members of this
task force bring a wealth of experience and knowledge in the legal
field that will be valuable during the MDOC contracts review process,”
Gov. Bryant said. “I thank them for dedicating
their time and energy to the task force.”
The co-chairs of the
task force will be Andy Taggart, an attorney and former chief of staff
to Gov. Kirk Fordice, and Judge Robert Gibbs, an attorney and former
Circuit Judge for the Seventh Judicial District of Mississippi.
The three other task force members are:
- Mike Moore: attorney and former Mississippi Attorney General
- Constance Slaughter-Harvey: attorney, former Assistant Secretary of State, and president of the Legacy Foundation
- Bill Crawford: president of The Montgomery Institute and a former member of the Mississippi Legislature
The task force
already has begun reviewing contracts and will meet for the first time
in early December. All the meetings of the task force will be subject
to the State's Open Meetings Law.
Kingfish note: No more Task Force Smiths.
19 comments:
What a dumb-ass! A Republican Governor has appointed two Republicans and THREE DEMOCRATS - the Deputy Sheriff keeps on amazing me! Smart move Cowboy Phil!
At least 3 of the 5 did not and will not vote for Phil.
Damn guys it is mostly Democrats in MDOC so they be helping their own.
Now if that ain't review independent of the MS political scene, I don't know what is.
Heck of a job, Phil.
Maybe they will use Scruggs and a sole source consultant.
Who is watching the task force?
Because only Democratic do-gooders would serve on a task-force that takes money away from politically connected businesses.
The Republican task force will be the one to redistribute the contracts that this task force ends.
Next thing you know, Phil will be saying that KIOR was a good idea!
Oh wait - he did say that!
What Ross Perot said about GM could be said about this situation. "I come from an environment where, if you see a snake, you kill it. At GM, if you see a snake, the first thing you do is go hire a consultant on snakes. Then you get a committee on snakes, and then you discuss it for a couple of years. The most likely course of action is -- nothing. "
Does anyone draw some sort of odd parallel between the hinds county "no bill" situation and the state "no- bid" situation besides myself?
Just when you think Bryant can not be any more of an imbecile, he proves you wrong! He can't seem to concentrate on any department other than the Department of Public Safety. He won't be happy until he has a patrol car with a siren, a ticket book and can wear his cowboy boots with his uniform. What an absolute "laughing stock" for a state governor!
Do the task force member get paid or get to sit where money is big kept?
Hmmm. Gov. Bryant appoints a bipartisan committee co-chaired by two of the most scrupulous people in the state. Isn't that what good leaders are supposed to do?
Well Burke, I guess it depends on whether your eyebrows are raised by a heavily connected Rankin County Republican and a long serving Democrat being at the center of this.
If they are not, then yeah, pickin' local folks in the same lunch and cocktail circuits as those who are "investigated" is just fine.
Just report that Taggert has committed and pledged he'll do no business with MDOC for 5 years, please report this!! Henry Barbour pledged he'd do no Katrina related work after he was appointed recovery director, then of course he grew rich off of, you guessed it, Katrina contracts. I wish these guys tried a little, just a little to cover their fraud.
Way too late to prosecute, but, the biggest number of frauds were perpetrated by retiring state employees and friends of employees who ripped off billions in federal job training funds over the years. The RFP process, although required, was a joke.
Over time, literally millions poured into this state beginning in the mid sixties.
If you were in the right position and could steer one of the contracts to relatives, friends, or even yourself, you had a cash cow that lasted a decade. Epps ain't the only one driving a Mercedes, living in a $400K house.
5:23, when an RFP or Bid is prepared the selection is made at that time. Therefore all RFPs are jokes.
3:20; I realize that's a popular notion which is no doubt often true; however, it's not always been the case. Having sat in judgment over 'a few', I assure you that the process was sometimes fair, legal and unbiased.
Your first mistake Burke is concluding that Taggert is one of the "two of the most scrupulous people in the state".
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