Friday, November 21, 2014

Governor announces MDOC task force

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:

Anonymous said...

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!

Anonymous said...

At least 3 of the 5 did not and will not vote for Phil.

Anonymous said...



Damn guys it is mostly Democrats in MDOC so they be helping their own.

Anonymous said...

Now if that ain't review independent of the MS political scene, I don't know what is.

Heck of a job, Phil.

Anonymous said...

Maybe they will use Scruggs and a sole source consultant.

Anonymous said...










Who is watching the task force?










Anonymous said...

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.

Anonymous said...

Next thing you know, Phil will be saying that KIOR was a good idea!
Oh wait - he did say that!

Anonymous said...

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. "

Anonymous said...

Does anyone draw some sort of odd parallel between the hinds county "no bill" situation and the state "no- bid" situation besides myself?

Anonymous said...

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!

Anonymous said...

Do the task force member get paid or get to sit where money is big kept?

Burke said...

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?

Anonymous said...

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.

Anonymous said...

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.

Surplus Property said...

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.

Anonymous said...

5:23, when an RFP or Bid is prepared the selection is made at that time. Therefore all RFPs are jokes.

Surplus Property said...

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.

Anonymous said...

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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