Jackson Jambalaya

Pay up or shut down. You can’t force us to work for a below living wage any longer.
I dare Mississippi to deny citizens their Federal benefits.

Gimme my money the battle cry of the ENTITLED. And dummies like me continue to go to work every day instead of sitting around waiting on my check. Damn get off your asses and get to work

Every where you go help wanted signs are posted. The McAlisters near me only had 2 employees working as the others didn't show up for work they said.
Now that Summer is here the young people should really fill this void and we need to not pay people not to work.

Then get an actual skill.

It is about time. Biden's incentives for people to remain unemployed have been killing small businesses. The tired argument of "well, businesses should pay higher wages" simply does not fly. There has not been a worse administration for small business in America than the current one.

It would be nice to see them get clever and end run I65 and 77 by quickly legalizing adult-use, recreational cannabis with a 35% tax on all products. I think we forget that the institution had the guts to pass casinos when it was unthinkable. Why not this?

“Pay up or shut down. You can’t force us to work for a below living wage any longer.
May 10, 2021 at 3:05 PM”


Try learning a trade and stop demanding people support your lack of a desire to work and learn.

Gunn needs to call a special session to get some sort of medical marijuana bill passed in case proposition 65 gets killed in the court. Mr Gunn and his cohorts are gonna get clobbered come the next election because of their failure to even try to fix the initiative process.

So we call a special session to copy what other republican lead states are doing. Very creative. It would be cheaper to get rid of governor and legislature and just let republication national committee run the state.

I agree with Gunn on this topic.

The old Mississippi Employment Security Commission did the best they could to "cut-off" lazy folks.

After Haley Barbour convinced the legislature to abolish the MESC and recreate that agency as the MDES, it was never the same.

But I can relate to the employees'logic.

(Why work ? when I can make more watching Netflix, eating pork rinds and drinking beer all day)

Hey 3:05 - you only get that federal unemployment if you can't work. Sounds like you choose not to work because you are unhappy with the pay. Well you should have stayed awake during high school math while I was sitting on the front row. I was a geek for 4 years of high school yet I don't complaint about my job.

3:05 pm, I guess you maybe should have double dog dared Mississippi. It's like "they" saw you type that.

AOC says just take whatever you need.

Good for him. Every restaurant and store I have visited in the last week is begging for employees. And I agree with the comment on getting a medical marijuana bill passed as a back up.

Sadly, what this really says is that states' unemployment offices can't really tell who is legitimately looking for work and who is playing the system, so let's cut off the incentive to play the system for those who have the ability to get back to work.

We are throwing away millions and millions on non-citizens daily crossing our border who should not be in our country. Why are we even worried about $300 a week? Gee. Not everyone wants to work at a fast food place, and who could blame them.

I agree with you @3:23. But I’m not sure the Legislature can bring up another issue when they are called in. Someone may know more about this. Where’s the spell check Nazi he would know?

I keep hearing all the talk about a living wage, and increasing minimum wage, yada yada yada. Has anyone put a dollar figure on this liviable wage? I once worked minimum wage until I found a way and worked my way out of it. Minimum wage jobs aren't a career. Too many people think that. When I worked a minimum wage job, I had a minimum wage fun, and a minimum wage lifestyle. Too many people think they should be able to live(comfortably) off of minimum wage. That's not the reason they are there. To those screaming "livable wage" get off your ass and expect better for yourself. Sure, it might take some hard work and perseverance, but I promise, you'll be better for it. This new generation is just lazy, and I am far younger than a "boomer" as the beta kids like to say.

Hey @4:01. I worked a lot of jobs when i was in college, that maybe i didnt WANT to do. Burying telephone cable, loading trucks, unloading train cars and driving the trucks. But we did what we had to do to take care of ourselves. Its called being a responsible adult. Maybe some of these "I wants" should give that a try

Where in this letter does the Speaker ask the Governor to call a special session?

Or, is that just your reading something that doesn't exist in this letter, KF?

Actually, this is a move by the Speaker to try to take credit for something that was already in the works - a declaration this week by the Governor to cancel the federal benefits part of unemployment.

Word has been around the Capitol since late last week that Tater was going to do this - so the Speaker, as he tries to ramp up what he imagines as a run for Governor in 2023, to try to outflank Tater. Something that he has tried to do at every turn since the beginning of 2020.

Many of you who repeat the w knee jerk “get a skill” talking point seem to forget that the people who own these shitty pizza and ice cream bistros all drive german SUVs and live in $500k to $1 million dollar homes. So don’t act like the labor is “worthless” because clearly they are earning plenty off of our “worthless labor” so I will repeat....

PAY UP OR SHUT DOWN!

Hey, Mr. Speekah!

The MS Employment Security Agency can only do what the laws that you and your cohorts in the Legislature pass.

Yes, they are supposed to deny unemployment benefits to those that are not actively looking for work. BUT, the laws that you give them to work with to determine if someone is 'actively seeking' are inadequate.

Just like any other agency, particuarly here in our legislatively dominated state, they can only act within the authorities you give them. If someone 'says' that they applied at xyz number of employeers, that's all the poor folks out there on 220 can deal with. Unless,of course, an employer turns someone in for failing to show up after being offered a job.

Yes - employees everywhere are hurting for people to work - thanks in part to the ridiculous actions by the folks in DC (Congress, Trump last year, Congress and Biden doubling down even with no reason this year) to make not working more profitable than actually showing up at a job.

So - should the Governor call a special session, it should be to get you and your sheepies to pass a stronger law about who is actually eligible. The Governor can get rid of the extra federal dollars - but what needs to be done is to stop the folks from listing the names of three or four companies on their postcard and saying that they applied and were not offered a job.

You need to fix it Speekah, rather than running around claiming that your swaps are a cut. Quit campaigning for a while and actually do something productive for these employers.

These restaurant owners have always taken plenty of cash for themselves. They earn it all off the labor of others who are paid leas than minimum wage. Now they are finding the true value of the labor because they are taking a hit in their personal earnings. They will pay. They will still take plenty for themselves but it will just be a little less than they took before.

Seeing that Gunn has completely thrown his hat in with the anti-Republican libertarians, wouldn’t surprise me that as soon as a special session is called he switched to tacking on a bill that would release all prisoners from jail in the name of conservatism to save the tax payers money, legalizing prostitution in the name of free markets. Just a thought.

There are plenty of fully staffed restaurants in the metro that are booming and they are fully staffed because they are paying well. It is very simple.

Don't worry folks, the illegal aliens will soon be here to fill those open jobs.

3:05::: no one will force you to work. If you want to be a bottom feeding, scum sucking, ne’er do well for the rest of your life .... have you some. Nobody OWES YOU ANYTHING ... even your momma.

Business owners who pay below a living wage, expect the government to subsidize their employees’ food, housing, and healthcare. That is all fine with the business owners because they keep more of the profits for themselves. They do not like the idea of having to pay more out of their enormous profits so that their employees can afford basic housing, food, and healthcare.

Problem is, if they don’t pay up then they can’t find the labor they need to keep their businesses open. Without that labor, they start to lose income. So now they are lobbying the Speaker to make sure that they don’t have to pay a living wage and they can continue to force the taxpayer to subsidize the inadequate compensation they offer.

The Speaker admits that he is beholden to the greedy fatcats? Sounds like yet another good reason to leave Mississippi!

5:04, most small businesses don't make "enormous profits," they make enough to support the owners and pay fair wages to their employees. Those who want to make a "living wage" need to work hard enough to move out of the low-paying job into one that pays enough to live on.

@5:18 PM
Well the business owner may not pay, but you do. You pay for Snap/EBT, HUD Section 8, and Medicare.
You are subsidizing that business owner’s Audi and McMansion.
Perfect GOP logic.

So why do y'all want to put Mr. Monroe out of business?

Come on, Tater... kill this anti-work incentive. Don't simply convert the program into a bonus to folks who take a job and keep it for 8 weeks... we'll be right back in this mess by August after they all quit, get their bonus and then file EEOC complaints against their employer to keep the gravy flowing. Damn scammers know how to play the system... don't be fooled! I'm so damned sick of freeloading scum!

when your job don’t pay enough to buy food, eat the rich!

Employment Security is under Tate's direct control.
No special legislative session required at all .

But I am very happy with his order to MDES a few hours ago:

" I have informed the Department of Employment Security to direct the Biden Administration that Mississippi will be opting out of the additional federal unemployment benefits as early as federal law allows – June 12, 2021. It has become clear to me that we cannot have a full economic recovery until we get the thousands of available jobs in our state filled. I have also directed MDES to prioritize pre-pandemic enforcement of all eligibility requirements for any individual to receive unemployment benefits under state law. Mississippi is open for business!"


Thanks Kingfish for the update.

(Great call Gov. Reeves !!! )

4:14 hit it on the nail. This letter, "emailed to COS Brad White" (not to the Governor, I noticed) was nothing but Gunn trying to act like he was the cause, when in fact all he wanted to do was try to be on record before the official action came out from the Governor.

Poor attempt Philip. Hell, if I knew the Governor was going to issue this order this afternoon (heard it Friday afternoon) you certainly knew of it. Or should have unless you were out doing the biding of your AFP / Empowerment backers trying to stump for your tax cut for the rich.

Anyway, glad that Tater took this action. And glad to hear that this is finally something he did that our Republican Speaker will support.

@4:17, I assume you’re talking about Dan Blumenthal. He’s the only guy who drives fancy sports cars and owns a pizza/ice cream place. He had fancy cars before he started in the food business. His dad was a very successful doctor and had plenty of money. I also assume you’re a disgruntled employee/former employee. Am I getting close? Also, Ferrari is an Italian sports car and a 911 isn’t an SUV.

Most of these living wage people screaming are in the food service industry. Where else can you not have to pass a drug test and start work mid morning or later? You want more money, wake up earlier and put in a full days work.

Can anyone tell me what dollar amount a living wage is? What are you all demanding to be paid for the job you do? Will you do manual labor for more money?

" Actually, this is a move by the Speaker to try to take credit for something that was already in the works "

" Word has been around the Capitol since late last week that Tater was going to do this"

"so the Speaker, as he tries to ramp up what he imagines as a run for Governor in 2023, to try to outflank Tater. Something that he has tried to do at every turn since the beginning of 2020."

Yeah, that's common knowledge.

Gunn is still pissed because Tate made him leave his sandbox and stand in the corner for 40 minutes back in 2019.

I think the young ones would call the sane scenario "Time Out".

Tater give back that PPP loan your family business received! Why you didn’t deny that!

It’s about time!

I’m one of the “freeloading scum” many posters keep referring to. I’m in my 60s. Not old enough for full social security. I’ve worked since I was a teenager. Worked most of last year during the pandemic before my employer shut down as a direct result of Covid. Never drawn unemployment in my life until last year. I made much more working. I’ve searched and searched to no avail. My age is against me. Yes many are gaming the system. But damn don’t lump me in with them. I see people here jumping for joy. Be thankful you are not in my shoes.

You just love this news don’t you KF, you racist asshat. People are still suffering especially people of color and you and your republican kkk buddies are celebrating. This blog is crap and you are sorry excuse for human you racist piece of sh*t

7:00 equals weak ass Gov’s next campaign puppet manager. At least Phil had balls. Misguided, but balls.

Restaurants are paying $2.13 per hour (tipped wages) and can't find workers.

King, are these restaurants running ads on this or other sites?

My son is graduating from Madison Central and can't find one of the good restaurant jobs in Madison or Ridgeland.

@ 5:08 - Then what the hell are you waiting on, Pitt Panther?

Just a thought, but if there are "help wanted" signs all over, why is unemployment even necessary for anyone not physically incapable of doing whatever jobs are being offered? I can go along with assistance for those "underemployed" but UNemployed when there is employment available? Nope.

9:54 -

7:00 HERE.

You missed the entire target, not just the bullseye, but the entire backboard.

I'm far from being Tater's campaign manager next time around. Wasn't even close to involved in 2019. But I do pay attention to what's going on, watching the various players as they jockey for positions they want to hold but can't reach - all along High Street.

But, thanks for the promotion. I'll see if I can add it to my non-existent resume.

10:46 - obviously you haven't checked the market. Many restaurants are offering $15/hour, plus benefits, plus tips. Guess your son is feeding you the same line that many of the 'unemployed' are trying to feed MDES.

Having worked there in the past, my radar assures me this agency is staffed 85% by democrats. Not only do they vote democrat, but, they influence the actions of claimants and 'job seekers' (note quotation marks) by telling them clearly how to continue drawing a claim for benefits.

"All you gotta do is say you looked here and there and had one interview. We don't ask no questions and we don't do no follow up. We too busy to do follow up or respond to employers who turn folks in."

And the woman employed as Executive Director has one goal: Being able to respond to questions posed when she's a guest on talk radio. A 35 year employee who has never held a private sector job. Oh...But she can do right well at quoting 'the manual'.

Until the legislature puts teeth in the UI Law and demands that the law be vigorously enforced by the agency funded to do that, guess what? Nothing will happen, that's what.

Those customers lounging below decks and fishing off the stern of this 'agency ship' are actually in control of the wheel-house.

Does the majority of Mississippi voters consider unskilled workers to be trashy, lazy and irresponsible?

I recall a few years ago when a woman was scheduled to work a Saturday at a local burger joint when she had no one to watch her 10 year old son. She took him to work and let him play in the vacant lot next to her job. The boy caused a concrete block to fall on his head resulting in his death. If she had refused to take the shift she faced being fired.

Now comes the usual comments; where was the father? why didn't 'mamma' get an education? etc. ad nauseum........... therefore the child was expendable as is 'mamma'??????

1-only the bad jobs are having trouble finding help. good restaurant/retail are full staffed.

2-yes, the extra unemployment needs to end all over the nation.

3-the wealth gap will just create more votes for democrats who are screaming for free money. if republicans want to get the young people, they have to support businesses paying more money. (aka-less for owners and stockholders) demographics aren't in favor for conservatives nationwide. do you really want president AOC? its' going to happen unless those at the top take less (see point #1)..

The service industry (specifically waiting tables and bartending)is like running your own business. Yes, the employer pays you $2.13 an hour. However, the tips you make to make a living are a direct result of where you work and what you put into it. I have bar been a bartender for years. I average $200 per 5 hour shift. That is $40 bucks an hour. Pretty sweet if you ask me. These kids just want a hand out.

“Pay up or shut down. You can’t force us to work for a below living wage any longer.
May 10, 2021 at 3:05 PM”

You make me sick. This sense of entitlement is exactly what's wrong. Earn a living. Don't expect handouts from the government.

A lot of honest hard working people will be hurt because the governor thinks some people are playing the system. It’s a shame they couldn’t just cut off the people gaming his system with competent enforcement. I wonder if the feds are going to require the state to repay all the unemployment since Tater admits they are all scammers? Add it to our running tab.

To all of you complaining, move to a state that will pay you for your idleness. Mississippi does not need or want you, obviously.

No one has answered the question, "how much is a living wage"? They can't because they don't know. They just know the narrative's talking point. May I ask another questions? How much are business owners allowed to make or what is the vehicle ownership limit they can have? You have no business telling anyone what they can or cant do or what they can make. That's partially why you are in the position you are in. You'd rather bitch and moan than take action and better yourself. If someone pays you less than you think you deserve, get off your ass and go find someone who will. There isn't a law that states minimum wage is all you can pay someone. Make an employer afraid to lose you and pay you more to stay. It doesn't happen overnight and damn sure doesn't happen posting on facebook like I saw one food service employee doing. Hell, go find another job. They are out there, trust me.

Early on as a young adult I pushed carts at Sam’s Club on County Line Road after I my enlistment was up. I’ve worked in security and call centers, because I knew there were two jobs I would never consider:
A career in the food service industry and a cash register attendant of any kind. I also had the mindset that these were not permanent jobs. I went to school, and it didn’t work out due to life happening.
I now have a six figure job, and my sentiments have changed. I don’t blame anyone for that has enough common sense to avoid a bad fit, however that comes with consequences. Most of these commenters do not speak from a place of sincerity. Not one has said that they flipped burgers, and rest assure there is a demographic that will.
Hinds is offering free classes this summer, so if one of said demographic chooses to attend then good. Aren’t they doing exactly what everyone is b*tching about and bettering themselves? Could it be that there are greener pastures either way with or without federal benefits?

If the money is beneath them then so be it.

If you want more pay, then get your ass an education and a skill. Then you control your own destiny. Why in the hell is it so hard for these knuckle draggers to figure this out. The market will pay you what you are worth.

Other factor is BE COACHABLE! it is not just good enough to be smart, you have to be coachable and a team player in life to be successful unless you have unlocked the secrets to having a one man business operation, no offense to the Cis gendered or binary gobbledygook pronoun using feminist idiots on here, that does not need employees and you can become wildly successful. Congrats.

Simple solution, create value in yourself- intelligence or hard work ethic- both have value.

@1:02 AM

Can you name the restaurants that are paying that much please?

I can't wait until the summer, when all these open jobs in Jackson will be filled by white kids from Madison and Brandon. Because surely they will put down the PS5 and the internet porn, and leave their basement and go get a summer job, right?

I won't hold my breath. Hypocrites.

And 12:07am, when I write a post I always use my nickname, coward. I never hide behind anonymous. You'll always know it's me.

Two family members were on pandemic unemployment benefits last year as a result of COVID-19 shutdowns. If they needed to contact MDES with a question, good luck getting anyone on the phone and when they finally did, they often received conflicting information. A consistent reply was "just keep filing the weekly certifications."

One of the family members (early 60s, not quite retirement age) accepted a job late summer but was physically unable to do some of the work tasks expected. His physician submitted a doctor statement to MDES and he was told to continue filing the weekly certifications. He worked less than two days and the company reported him to MDES as having left the job (understandable but he was told by MDES to continue filing).

Eventually MDES ruled him ineligible to receive UI benefits as of the date he accepted employment, but the process to render that decision took several weeks. As a result he was overpaid UI benefits and the MDES demand was repayment at a rate of $150 every 30 days, plus accrued interest. His state tax refund was also redirected by DOR to MDES to be applied toward the UI overpayment. DOR confirmed the refund had been sent to MDES but it wasn't applied in a timely manner, which meant MDES applied additional interest. He hopes he never has to deal with MDES again.

He now has a job with benefits. The pay is less than what he earned before but he is in his 60s and cannot prove age discrimination (or gender or race discrimination for that matter) but the kicker was him receiving a rejection letter from a company that stated he "didn't have the experience needed" for the job. He actually did that exact job for 15 years at the same company in the 1980s and 1990s and eventually drew pension funds from it.

The other family member followed the MDES directions for work searches to the letter each week once that requirement was reinstated. No issues at all until an employer with whom she never made contact or applied for employment reported her as turning down a job. When she called MDES all they could tell her was the name of the employer and that she should submit an appeal. She sent an email but has yet to hear anything and this dates back to last fall. As she was planning to start up her own business, she didn't continue dealing with MDES and just let it drop.

I am sure there are others who have MDES stories, too.

"It’s a shame they couldn’t just cut off the people gaming his system with competent enforcement."

What the hell is 'his system'?

Pitty Pander...if one who posts anonymously is a 'coward', then that includes YOU. You use a stupid moniker yourself. It has no meaning and identifies nobody.

I'm waiting for you to announce that you are returning to Pittsburgh, by the way. Celebration will be in order.

9:52 - The appeals process was open to your relative if her claim was terminated as you indicate. If she let that opportunity pass, that's on her, not the system.

Regarding your other family member: A claimant who quits a job stating a medical inability to work is ruled 'medically disqualified', especially after having submitted a doctor's letter to that effect. During a process or redetermination, claimants are encouraged to continue filing rather than stop filing. When overpayments result, the claimant is either required to pay that amount back to the system or go through legal procedures. Also, future claims filings are affected if money was not paid back. That's the way the system works. I suppose you think the over-payment should have been ignored. Then you'd be bitching about a waste of money from the Trust Fund.

Since you seem to have time on your hands, YOU could always have represented the claimant in an appeal hearing.

Dominos Pizza is paying $500 sign-on bonuses in this area and $1000 in Louisiana. https://www.indeed.com/q-Dominos-Pizza-Sign-On-Bonus-jobs.html

What world do you live in if you think there aren't good paying jobs out there?

You will continue to have a labor shortage, Employers are finally paying enough that more people don’t have to 2 and 3 jobs to make ends meet. The only answer is to welcome more people to the American Dream.

You can find a living wage calculator at MIT's website with a simple google search. It shows Miss. minimum wage of $7.25, a poverty wage of $6.13, and a "living wage" of $14.43, for the lowest level, a single adult with no children. Below it shows local cost of living figures.

And, yes, for a married couple with just one kid, it shows 27 dollars or so. It reflects a lower middle class income, at most. The "American Dream" maybe not.

But, before you spew drivel about "adults," recall that teenagers, who you want in school, can't fill all the shifts. Before you spew about "it ain't mah job to raise yore kids," we're talking about tax paying future members of society. You know, to cover that carried interest tax break for the "wealth managers" here.

So, yeah, we're sick and tired of hearing bullcrap from rich kids like Bill Gates (dad lawyer, granddad banker), Dan Blumenthal (son of a doctor), Donald Trump, son of rich developer, George Soros, son of wealthy Europeans, Jim Barksdale (inherited wealth, and lucked out in Big Tech), Haley Barbour (son of a lawyer), etc etc.

All those "self made" men who AREN'T. Both parties seethe with them and they serve THEMSELVES and their ilk, not the country. Private planes, private schools, private profit, and public expense.

They don't pay their share of taxes, just like Jeff Bezos, corporate liberal, or the Koch Brothers, LiberaLtarian tax dodgers. But good God, they'll spew for days about "overpaid" teachers or that they are "Taxed ENOUGH Already." LMAO, No, Hell no, do the math.

Spare us your whines, Fauntleroy Big Bux, IV.

This is 9:52, replying to 10:21:

"The appeals process was open to your relative if her claim was terminated as you indicate. If she let that opportunity pass, that's on her, not the system."

I agree with you that it was on her to follow up.

If she had an opportunity to submit an appeal to a benefits decision I am sure she would, considering she didn't apply with the employer who reported her as turning down employment.

She wondered if it could have been a data entry mistake somewhere in the process.

It is my understanding she has yet to receive a decision by MDES to appeal. She sent an email to MDES appeals, as the MDES phone representative advised, once she had what MDES refers to as an issue on file.

If months have passed and there is still a claimant with an issue on file, then I do see that on the "system." However, in fairness to MDES they could not have been prepared to manage unprecedented pandemic unemployment without some issues with process.

"Regarding your other family member: A claimant who quits a job stating a medical inability to work is ruled 'medically disqualified', especially after having submitted a doctor's letter to that effect. During a process or redetermination, claimants are encouraged to continue filing rather than stop filing. When overpayments result, the claimant is either required to pay that amount back to the system or go through legal procedures. Also, future claims filings are affected if money was not paid back. That's the way the system works. I suppose you think the over-payment should have been ignored. Then you'd be bitching about a waste of money from the Trust Fund."

Thank you for explaining medical disqualifications. No, I do not think the overpayment should have been ignored. He has managed to pay it all back. If anything, it would have helped my relative if he could have requested a lesser minimum payment instead of MDES mandating a certain amount.

"Since you seem to have time on your hands, YOU could always have represented the claimant in an appeal hearing."

Actually I am retired so I do have time on my hands.

"MIT website...it shows 27 dollars or so..." for a family with 1 child.

Hang on. $27.58 an hour times 2080 (from the website) or 2000 (40 hours a week for 50 weeks with 2 off) is at least $55,160 a year gross (with no overtime, etc.) and about $50,000 after taxes ($25K standard deduction MFJ, 12% on $30K, state tax). Granted, $4,000-plus or so a month is not champagne wishes and caviar dreams territory, but to suggest that $45-50K a year takehome is the minimum amount for "living" above poverty in the Jackson area is silly enough to make it non sequitur nonsense.

Smart move.