Tuesday, March 10, 2015

The House comes through.

The House voted today to restore language removing the exemptions from open meetings and public records laws that public hospitals currently enjoy.  SB #2407 passed the Senate on a unanimous vote but was severely watered down in the House Public Health and Human Services Committee last week under heavy pressure from the Mississippi Hospital Association.  The committee inserted language that would limit the bill's application to only Jackson County.  The bill now returns to the Senate. 


Representative Charles Busby (R-Paradise) saved the day and offered up an amendment that removed the Jackson County limitation   . The amendment passed on a unanimous vote. SB #2407 passed the chamber  on a vote of 109-8.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

I would like to think that your focus on this developing travesty had something to do with their doing the right thing. I believe it did.

Anonymous said...

Kingfish- I would love to see a post for our Deputy US Mashal Josie Wells who gave his life today in the line of duty.

Anonymous said...

This is great news. The Biloxi paper did some good work on this. Their Sunday story on MHA PAC contributions was awesome stuff.

Anonymous said...

Of course, this begs the question, what the flock are public hospitals, who are in BAD financial shape, doing hiring lobbyists to help lobby elected officials to shield them from public scrutiny? IOW, why is the taxpayers' money being used to pay the MHA to help convince legislators to prevent the taxpayers from learning how their tax money is being wast..., er spent?

Anonymous said...

12;07, by far - probably over 75% of the Hospital Assn's money comes from the big five 'private' hospitals (Baptist, St. D, etc.) - not the public ones, so therefore the lobbying dollars aren't coming from the taxpayers. That doesn't excuse them for their atrocious positions they have taken over the years, including this attempt to hide what is the public's business from the public.

And while the MHA did contribute some of their largess on a few Republican members of the legislature, most of their dollars went to Dem candidates running against Repubs, in an attempt to keep the Repubs from taking over the House. Don't know how the media missed this little detail.

Anonymous said...

OK, at 3:29, let's use your number. That means that 25% or so IS coming from the taxpayers, whose own money is being used by the hospital management to lobby against the taxpayer's interests. The taxpayers' money should not be used to hire lobbyists to lobby their own representatives.

Anonymous said...

6:55. Taxpayer's money should not be used to hire lobbyists to lobby their own representatives. Obviously you don't hang around the state capitol much during the silly season. Most every state agency has one or more 'lobbyist' hanging around, particularly during budget times. Granted, some of these are staff rather than independent contractors, and there is a need for their input to the relevant committees for technical support sometimes for pending legislation.

But also, you will find many lobbyists (not just association groups like MHA, but individually contracted individuals) for, among other things:
1- cities and counties
2 - quasi government operations (MS Home Corp, Prison Industries, levee boards, etc.)
3 - colleges and universities, and
4 - the fourth rail of state government, the community colleges.

If you have a problem with associations spending money lobbying, you will have to start buying antiacid by the barrel if you check out all the others getting paid with 'taxpayer dollars'.


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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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