"Who will pay $250K to eat with Tate Reeves at inauguration dinner?" read the headline in the Clarion-Ledger.
The incoming governor's inaugural committee is seeking "platinum sponsors" willing to ante up to have dinner with Reeves plus VIP access to all inauguration events. The article says that the identities of these donors and others paying for inauguration events will remain secret. The money will actually be paid to a new 501(c)(4) non-profit corporation called For All Mississippi for which Mississippi, unlike states with transparency laws, provides no limits or disclosure requirements.
Hmmm.
The appropriate question would seem to be not who, but why would anyone or any organization pay $250,000 to eat with any Mississippi governor?
Reeves in the past has been accused of being a pay-to-play politician. More specifically, his opponent in the general election, Attorney General Jim Hood, claimed, "Tate Reeves passed appropriation bills as lieutenant governor that effectively carved out millions of dollars in no-bid contracts for specific companies and organizations. All together, these wasteful earmarks total $48.14 million between 2013 and 2019. Reeves helped force these bills through the Legislature to benefit his corporate campaign contributors."
Seems like a $250,000 dinner would be the ultimate pay-to-play opportunity, especially if the donors can remain anonymous.
You see, governors can have great influence on how millions, even billions of public dollars are spent.
For example, the legislature set up in 2018 the Gulf Coast Restoration Fund to allocate $1.6 billion in future BP settlement funds for projects in Gulf Coast counties. These funds will be controlled by the Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) with advice from a seven member advisory board. MDA, of course, is controlled by the governor so he will have a lot of sway over which projects get funded. Developers of said projects will want a friendly ear in the governor's mansion.
There's also this. According the Mississippi Today, Reeves recently "warned" legislators not to consider any expansion of Medicaid. This comes as word spreads that a majority may be coalescing in the legislature behind a plan like Vice President Pence implemented in Indiana to add Medicaid coverage for the working poor. It would also help save rural hospitals. Two Republican candidates who challenged Reeves, state Rep. Robert Foster and former Mississippi Supreme Court Chief Justice Bill Waller, promoted such a plan proposed by the Mississippi Hospital Association. Allegedly, Reeves already thwarted a similar plan as Lt. Governor.
The Division of Medicaid, like MDA, is controlled by the governor. Contracts to "manage" Medicaid provided care in Mississippi generate huge profits. Centene Corporation, the owner of one the three out-of-state companies providing such care, Magnolia Health, has already been a major campaign contributor to Reeves. The three current providers are not likely to want a Mississippi hospital owned competitor to get into this market. They, too, will want a friendly ear in the governor's mansion.
Still and all, no one and no organization may choose to dine with the new governor. But, there will be plenty of other ways to gain that friendly ear, including a $25,000 breakfast and photo opportunity.
Yes, money talks in Mississippi politics.
"From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded" – Luke 12:48.
Crawford is a syndicated columnist from Meridian.
Sunday, December 15, 2019
Bill Crawford: Money Talks in Mississippi Politics
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20 comments:
Prediction-Reeves vetoes and the subsequent overrides will set a U.S. record.
Crawford is FOR disclosure - Unless that disclosure includes Bill Crawford.
His byline reads “Crawford is a syndicated columnist from Meridian.”
It should read “Crawford is a member of a Hospital board in Meridian. Crawford is also
bought and paid for by the Mississippi Hospital Association.”
Mississippi has the best politicians that money can buy, bar none.
We need a “like” button
That is a very large sum in Mississippi! Someone should be at the door taking photos and identifying attendees.
Once upon a time, we didn't have to pay to hear any politician , they sought out voters, churches didn't start permanent businesses and preachers didn't have planes, limos or their own estates to rival the wealthiest.
This is kind of thing what happens historically when there are monarchs, dictators and the days you had to pay financial penance to save your soul.
Our democratic republic is becoming unstable...oh the economy will be stable, but economies have been stable under monarchs, dictators, and religious states throughout history. The success of a democratic republic depends on a stable and expanding middle class and merit as the best predictor of success.
But, y'all keep on until the hordes are at the gates or there's a civil war which will benefit only the war merchants and the power that ultimately wins.
Tate needs Trump, Tate has nothing to offer Trump that Trump doesn't already have.
Since any legitimate business or corporation knows that and already knows are will find out that in MS, the Lt. Governor has more power, only criminal enterprises or foreign agents or some idiot offspring who inherited wealth would pay that sum. The latter will be in shirt sleeves eventually.
$250,000 for dinner and $25,000 for breakfast! What a slimy start to this administration.
The people of Mississippi got the Governor they voted for. Just like Jackson has the Mayor that they voted for.
No where in this jackwagon's article is there proof that it costs $250,000. No where. Click bait.
I would like to see some examples of the legislation that gave no bid contracts to certain businesses. Not doubting it, I just want to know who and how much.
2:03 Well said!
**crickets**
"Tate Reeves passed appropriation bills as lieutenant governor that effectively carved out millions of dollars in no-bid contracts for specific companies and organizations."
Oh yeah, the very same system Chris Epps abused with the Department of Corrections and is currently serving jail time for.
Where's the lie?
There's 16 years of evidence proving Tate Reeves is not worth a damn, but Mississippians gave him a promotion anyway.
For those that don't "believe" the inaugural dinner, breakfast ticket prices just use Google like everyone else! Plenty of damn stories on the bullsh*t!
Brings to mind Transportation Commissioner Elect Willie Simmons who is holding fund raisers now. Who the hell passes the offering plate AFTER he has been elected, and why? At this point those would not be tax-deductible campaign donations and would also be reportable income.
"That is a very large sum in Mississippi!"
It is a very large sum outside of Mississippi, too. I would offer that just as important as the actual availability of such an, er, "opportunity" (to pay the $250,000 for dinner, etc.) is the optics of making such a thing available. The fact that a Governor-elect would feel it is acceptable to offer it is deeply troubling. Even if "For All Mississippi" has absolutely and objectively altruistic goals for whatever money it takes in, there is simply no way to refocus the optics to look like anything other than technically-legal bribery. Related, I cannot imagine why anyone would accept such an invitation, again, if for no other reason than optics. I don't know the menu for the inauguration dinner, but they could serve tuna and chitlin' casserole smothered in Limburger cheese with a side of cabbage steamed with lukefish and it would smell better.
Admittedly I can offer no particular reason for the following but I have a gut feeling that this will some how some way come back to haunt one or more of the people involved on Reeves' end, i.e., Reeves, his "team," or anyone connected with "For All Mississippi" and/or on the (potential) invitee end, i.e., anyone who accepted, was invited but declined, or even appears on a list of potential invitees, and regardless of whether it was as an individual or on behalf of an entity or organization.
2:03; you fail to acknowledge that Jackson not only got the mayor they voted for but got one who will continue the destruction of the city. That isn't the case with the governor. You may not like him, but he won't destroy the state like your boy in Jackson has and will.
After his negative campaign, this is no surprise. Time will prove that Reeves is just an empty suit who helps his friends who help him.
Two words of advice to Tate: "Edwin Edwards".
Ole Miss professor proposes expulsion, criminal penalties for students reported for ‘bias’
No columns from Crawford on the chaos in Donkeyland.
4:44 pm Please wake up! You don't have to have a " no bid" contract to award the contract to your bidder of choice.
You just have to write the requests for bids (RFP...requests for proposals) in such a way that only one contractor will or can qualify or make sure that bids considered " too low" can be thrown out.
If some of the RFPs were so blatantly stupid in their drafting and there weren't honest contractors willing to challenge them, it'd be worse than it is.
Is there a US state where money does not talk in politics?
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