Nothing to see here, move along. Such is the response of our legislative Solons to questions about Dr. Wright and the Board of Education passing out sweetheart deals to friends of Dr. Wright.
Senate Education Chairman appeared on the Gallo Radio Show last Thursday and thought the new news was old news. The discussion about the MDE controversy begins at 5:25. Senator Tollison shucked off most of the questions about the sweetheart deals at the Mississippi Department of Education. This was old stuff, MDE provided a lengthy response (It did?), Dr. Wright is "tough", and MDE made the necessary corrections. He tried to jive his way through the rest of the subject by blaming the Attorney General lawyer assigned to represent MDE. Gutless Gray said he had total confidence in the Board and praised Chairwoman Rosemary Aultman. Listen for yourself.
Meanwhile, Tipsy Terry, oops, I meant, Senator Terry Burton said told the Clarion-Ledger last week:
But PEER member Sen. Terry Burton, R-Newton, said MDE assured the committee that it was taking action to address the issues raised.“The key point is that the person who was in charge of the procurements in question is no longer there,” Burton said. “The auditor might want to go in and take a look, but I think PEER did a pretty good job on what the issues were, and I think those issues are being addressed, and Dr. Wright and her folks have taken steps to avoid problems like this.” Article
Then there is Representative Becky Currie. The Clarion-Ledger reported in the same story:
Some PEER members said they want further scrutiny of the agency's contracts and purchases.“This does not pass the smell test,” said Rep. Becky Currie, R-Brookhaven, a PEER member. “We’ve asked many questions, and they have not been answered. This needs to be looked at thoroughly by the state auditor. Somebody needs to go in and look at this. PEER has done all we can.”
Oh really, Becky? While you are squawking about having the State Auditor "thoroughly" looking at this, perhaps you can explain this bill you tried to get passed only a few months ago:
HB #905 would have transferred the authority to audit public schools from the State Auditor to the Mississippi Department of Education. The bill stated:
TO REQUIRE THE UNIFORM ACCOUNTING SYSTEM PRESCRIBED BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FOR ALL SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO INCLUDE A METHOD TO KEEP RECORDS OF ALL LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDS; TO AMEND SECTION 37-61-29, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO TRANSFER THE AUTHORITY TO CONDUCT FINANCIAL AUDITS ON SCHOOL DISTRICTS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF AUDIT TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.....Section 2 of the bill states:
SECTION 2. Section 37-61-29, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:The bill was sponsored by Representative Beckie Currie. The bill passed out of the House Education Committee but died in the House.
37-61-29. The State Department of * * * Education shall audit and investigate the financial affairs and all transactions involving the * * * local, state and federal funds of * * * each school district in the state, including the * * *adequate education program funds and supplementary school district * * * funds * * *. Further, the department may make separate and special audits * * * of the financial affairs and transactions involving school district funds.
Our leaders.
22 comments:
The state auditor needs to show some sack and either recover that money or prove the contract. Senator Tillison is a shitty excuse for a legislator and should be ashamed of himself, and that goes for Dr. Wright as well.
Becky Currie is toast. The guilty pig squeals the loudest. Don't depend on her to hold anything or anyone accountable. Sigh. Bring on the feds so when they lie to them, they can go to jail like Martha Stewart.
I just don't get the support for Carrie Wright and MDE. We pay her like $300k a year; we exempted MDE from personnel board rules so they could give out pay raises like candy; and now we look the other way when it comes out she's giving contracts to old friends and skirting reviews by carving up deals into smaller deals. I mean . . . what? Every session there's some legislator who inquires into the corrupt African dictatorship that is MDE, but then nothing ever happens. Good grief. We talk about putting money into the classroom, but then we pay Staff Officer IIIs with nebulous responsibilities like 20k more than we pay teachers? What in the world is the real story here?
Too many people in state government are afraid to have anyone investigating state contracts with which they are involved. Too many deals are made that the makers don't want the sun to shine on. That's been true forever, but that's no reason to stop auditing state contracts. Let the sun shine in.
Wow, great journalism. No bias at all. Just the facts, right? No agenda.
Aren't these contracts were from three to four years ago? Why is this just now coming up?
Bring on the feds so when they lie to them, they can go to jail like Martha Stewart.
Always amazes me that Martha went to jail but Hillary is out walking around.....
The "agenda" - if that's what you wish to call it is this: Start speaking up Mississippi! Stop being afraid of this idiots who are supposed to be working for the people, not getting rich and purchasing their retirements on the backs of the taxpaying citizens.
Let's contact our Senators and Representatives that are in charge of the legislative committees in both the Senate and House and see what they have to say about this fiasco. The Chairman and Vice Chairman in both the Senate and the House are as follows:
Senate Education Committee
Senator Gray Tollison - Chairman
Senator Chris Caughman - Vice Chairman
House Education Committee
Representative John L. Moore - Chairman
Representative Rob Roberson - Vice Chairman
Ask them what they propose to do about this situation and remember they work for you!
The contracts were structured to avoid having to be reported. If I deposit 9,000 five times to avoid the 10K reporting requirements that is structuring and it is a felony. These are crooks like any other.
@ 11:47
For good and bad, Becky is a far from an apologist as you can be. She sees collusion and conspiracy pretty much everywhere.
At 3:25: this is coming up now because the MDE is threatening takeover and the modus operandi is too dig up dirt on your opponent to control their actions. So the people who do t want a JPs takeover have people searching for any evidence they can use to make MDE back off. It is a sad state of affairs, but that is modern day politics....
Same legislators who looked the other way while the Barbours and their lackeys "stimulated" Democrats to vote for Senator Geritol.
This is the same legislature that is ready to riot because the MHA didn't get their way in the managed care RFP done by Medicaid. Just follow the money, watch the campaign contribution filings. Its all about the money and helping cronies.
6:30, I don’t think Pickering gives a rats behind about the JPS takeover. Are you saying $600,000 of contracts going to BFFs should just be ignored?
Meanwhile: Please take note that the Liberal, Lying Ledger, two days in a row now (Sunday and Monday) has run front page stories about the difficulties encountered in teaching Civil Rights History in public schools.
Could this be part of (or all of) the problem? Focusing on teaching young blacks to hate and teaching them whatever version of civil rights history liberals want them to steam and fume about for the next sixty years?
At one time, I'm told, Education used to be about readin', 'ritin' and 'rithmetic. Now it's nothing but 'rites. So we raise another hundred million black kids to disrespect authority while hatin' on whitey and they can't read or construct sentences but they damned sure can riot over 'rites'.
@10:12 well said...probably a MDE employee. JPS and their supporters having that type of reach is laughable. @3:25 is trying to moving the conversation away from the money....interesting.
Teaching them to hate? Or are you just embarrassed about what they may learn about how your grandfather treated their grandfather?
History doesn't teach hate. Get a clue.
I really wish y'all would emerge from your environs and meet some folks outside of your demographic. The beliefs you hold about an entire group of people are horrid.
The chaos at MDE is the main reason I'm skeptical about them taking control of JPS. Out of the pan, into the fire.
This could be looked on as a learning experience and a chance to get rid of a few dishonest people.
We have two groups fighting it out. JPS and MDE. Both full of crooks, swindlers, and con artists. Now they both see another way to line their pockets. It is too good of an opportunity for thugs to pass up. Both know the other is crooked and are willing to let people know about it in the chance they will win the jack pot.
People take this chance to learn what has been happening in both groups. Here is a chance to get rid of a few crooks and save the people of Mississippi a lot of money.
You ask who the Legislators represent ????
THEY REPRESENT THEMSELVES AND ALWAYS HAVE !!!!
I call for term limits.
All these Guvment regulated entities are preposterous, but we the citizenry do nothing. The guvment folks at least take action - to steal.
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