There is reality and then there is reality as reported by the media. Believe it or not, sometimes the two realities are not the same. Exhibit A: Mississippi Today's coverage of the food fight between State Auditor Shad White and State Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman John Polk last week during a budget hearing.
The hearing opened with Mr. Polk taking strong exception to Mr. White's civil prosecution of Brett Favre. The two public officials sparred for several minutes over the State Auditor's demand upon Brett Favre to repay interest for a grant involved in the DHS scandal. However, the real fireworks erupted when Mr. Polk questioned Mr. White's $2 million study of government waste in Mississippi government.
The good State Senator said Mr. White did not issue a request for proposals (RFP) for the $2 million study, implying the State Auditor had issued a no-bid contract. "You say you have the authority without issuing a request for proposals. You alone chose the firm," charged Mr. Polk.
The State Auditor vehemently disagreed with his inquisitor, "We had an RFP process." "No you did not," replied Mr. Polk. Fed-up, Shad White blasted the State Senator: "You are a liar, you are making this up. We had an RFP process. You're not going to sit here and lie about the state agency."
Mr. Polk said the Department of Finance & Administration told him there was no RFP for the study. The State Auditor said his office received five bids for the study as he directed a staffer to send the scoring sheets to Mr. Polk. Mr. White confirmed the firm chosen was Boston Consulting Group. He concluded by accusing the State Auditor of using "subterfuge" to conduct the study.
The State Senator apparently was engaging in a bit of subterfuge himself as Mr. White's office issued an RFP in 2023 despite Mr. Polk's false accusations. Earlier post with copy of RFP and video.
Mississippi Today's Taylor Vance dutifully covered the story. However, there is one little tidbit of information missing from his article. .
Missing was any word of the State Auditor issuing the RFP. The State Auditor's office sent Mr. Vance a copy of the RFP yet it was not included nor mentioned in the story. The failure to report the existence of the RFP completely changes the tenor of the story as it paints a picture of the State Auditor calling the State Senator names when he was told he did not issue an RFP (Notice Mr. Polk never asked Mr. White if he issued an RFP but told him he did not do so.).
The question that should be asked is why didn't Mr. Vance report Shad White issued an RFP?
47 comments:
The Barksdalers are in the tank for Hosemann. Why? Because they think he can be rolled on any number of issues near and dear to their liberal hearts. They are also sure he is a Democrat cross-dressing in Republican clothing.
That's a good question, KF.
Here's another one: Has Polk provided exclusive access to Vance and/or Mississippi Today for other news stories, in exchange for reporting/promoting Polk's version of events?
I'm afraid Anna Wolfe's reporting on Lumumba's indictment has opened Mississippi Today to just such suspicions. It's a slippery slope, once one begins to barter with their integrity.
The people behind the curtain at MT know why it wasn't mentioned.
The real issue is that Bad Shad acted like a petulant child when questioned and started insulting the good Senator. Shad does not have the maturity level needed to hold state office nor to represent our fine state. He will assuredly face more intense questioning going forward and just does not have the temperament needed. Maybe he can now write another book though....
Who made you and your little pissant gossip blog the arbiter of truth? NOBODY!
I think this Vance guy needs a good audit. The more Shad makes these questionable people uncomfortable, the more I like him. He is a breath of fresh air in a state that needs a breath of fresh air!
This is getting ridiculous. How much ad $ does white pay to get you to carry his water daily. Open your eyes, nobody like the little twerp. And now low T clay Edwards is doing it too. Now we get another post of Shad anonymously posting comments constantly about himself.
What interest does Senator Polk have in Brett Favre? Brett has a Lawyer for this!
I would like to see our elected officials working together for the betterment of Mississippi and not trying to kiss Brett’s or any high profile individuals ring!
MT is not a news site. It's just a multi-millionaire's amateurish political blog. And not a very good one.
I am placing my bet on the state auditor.
Polk needs to be questioned under oath about his knowledge regarding the TANF spend constructing the volleyball facility at his alma mater USM.
For the win!
Shouldn't Polk be registered as a lobbyist on behalf of Brett Favre?
I welcome anyone that makes useless politicians worry.
Keep it up Shad. You have my vote, and its way past time to retire Hosemann.
I wouldn't give a nickel for either one of them. Shad shows the maturity of a teenage girl who just got her tickets to the Swifty concert and Polk looks like Elmer Fudd chasing the rascally RFP wabbit. The state may need a breath of fresh air but I smell a fart!
3:33p.m. FOOLISH bet Shad is not ready for prime time. His unwillingness to go after the big fish and immature personality has derailed his political aspirations . The general public is tired of his political grandstanding.
Mississippi Today is just a slightly more polished Jackson Free Press.
"Who made you and your little pissant gossip blog the arbiter of truth? NOBODY!"
Arbiter of truth? No. Reporter of facts? Yes. Forum for discussion by interested readers? Yes. Pissants? Well, we can't all win a Pulitzer.
KF wrote: "The State Auditor's office sent Mr. Vance a copy of the RFP yet it was not included nor mentioned in the story.
We know the failure to mention the RPF is a fact. If Vance did not, in fact, have a copy of the RFP at the time of writing the story, then KF reported an erroneous fact, and should be corrected.
If Vance did have the RFP at the time of writing the article, and intentionally failed to mention it, that is a lie by omission because he created a false impression.
If Vance was sent the RFP and he failed to realize he had it at the time of writing the story, that is incompetence.
But the question remains: Why did Vance and/or the editorial staff not fact-check Polk's assertion that no RFP had been issued, especially when that fact was contested in such spectacular fashion?
2:08, Perhaps you should take notes from KF instead of getting defensive.
I'm definitely not voting for Hosemann.
Polk should stay in Magee and run his grandaddy's business like a good little boy with a silver spoon in his mouth.
>Open your eyes, nobody like the little twerp.
Correction nobody in the Mississippi political establishment likes Shad White, but that's probably because he'd uncover whatever grift they're running. It'd be great if he'd bust a Senator or House Rep for something like the 20 year grift that was repaving Highway 49 in Richland and Florence for damn near 30 years.
@1:38, same reason they went deep for Waller.
@4:16, you took a poll?
@4:21, but the JFP/MFP is not as corruptible. Just ask Antard.
I always appreciate it when rich heirs make even more money and then decide to tell us all what to say.
Is it true Delbert Hosemann, while Secretary of State, was responsible for increasing the Madison County 16th section lease rates on home’s built in the City of Madison by 300 to 400%?
You mean he charged fair market value instead of dirt cheap?
Fair market value according to whom?
Senator Polk why don’t you pay the money Brett allegedly owes. Seems like you all up in Brett’s business!
Now this is coming from a couple of ole boys sitting around the fire eating Conecuh Sausage and drinking ole Smokey Moonshine.
Now I love Brett, but who he owes ain’t our business!
P.S and we could give a rats ass about a RFP it’s a joke anyway!!!
My suggestion to Senator Polk, let’s claw back the money from the persons that approved and gave Brett the monies! But naw you want to muck with Shad! Pick on somebody your own size Sen Polk , like the former gov. I know y’all thought we forgot!!! Crickets!!!
School Districts assign lease rates, not the Secretary of States office. But I would applaud whoever did get fair market value for 16th section lands which were set aside to fund schools .
Boom! Well said.
11:09 PM, “fair market value” of what? The land? The developed lot? Everything including the home?
And “if” Delbert Hosemann was the cause of increasing the lease rates 300 to 400%, who dropped the ball on the front end by not charging “fair market value?” Did anyone lose their job for such a colossal error?
Asking for a friend as I have never had any involvement in Madison County 16th section leasehold property. Just trying to find out if Delbert “changed the deal,” like a Democrat.
So did Shad submit his RFP to the procurement office at DFA for prior authorization? That may be the real missing link in this discussion.
DFA told me no. That is probably where the disconnect is. However, Polk screwed himself. Instead of asking Shad if he had issued an RFP, he told him he did not issue one, in other words, he stated it as fact . If he had asked, then they could have probably had a less confrontational discussion. Now should the RFP been submitted to DFA is a legitimate question for discussion.
MT lugenpresse up to its usual tricks again.
If the amount is over 75k, doesn't it have to go before the DFA PPRB?
...who dropped the ball on the front end by not charging “fair market value?” Did anyone lose their job for such a colossal error?
People you seek for dismissal are deceased. Hosemann did the right thing in theory but in practice cast too wide of a net and hurt small people with his one-size-fits-all tough luck approach to the problem. Plus his arrogance and need to endlessly self-promote on the Gallo show got in the way, again.
7:39 am "fair market value" is what the market is paying for the properties in that location.
For the Delbert Hoseman bashers: Those who have known him forever, know he has always been a conservative both financially and politically. He's been a Republican longer than the former Democrats with convenient ethics. And, he has always been respected by the respectable members of the community ( republicans, democrats, and libertarians and independents) as he is unfailingly honest , hard working and dependable. He has also been a good father and husband and a man of faith. So, bashing him makes you look ignorant and or mean spirited or jealous. Which is it?
9:13 AM, after speaking to an MAI appraiser familiar with this matter, it appears Hosemann’s 300 to 400% 16th section lease increase was AFTER THE HOMES WERE BUILT, and based on the value of the developed lots, not the raw land that Madison County Schools is leasing. The school didn’t put up any of the money to develop the lots, or take any of the risk.
If true, the end user home buyers (sorry, home lessee’s) paid for all improvements including construction of the home and the cost to develop the lots. Then Hosemann argues they should pay lease rates based on the lot value…AFTER THE HOMES WERE BUILT AND THE CITIZENS NOW HAVE NO CHOICE.
Hosemann appears to be a typical wolf in sheep’s clothing Democrat, pretending to be a Republican. Unless there’s more to this story or it is incorrect, I will contributing to, and campaigning for, whoever runs against Hosemann.
Shad came off like a hot headed teenager. He could have handled that with candor and proved his point being subtle. A simple, "I hate that you were mislead, but our office issued RFPs and I'll have those sent to you this afternoon. You have my number, call me next time, instead of DFA. I have nothing to hide." He's not ready for the biggest stage.
Threatening to sue over a comment by a Legislative member in the exercise of their duties is assinine. They have absolute immunity, most people learn this in high school.
Just who are "the respectable members of the community" and who designated them so? "Unfailingly honest"? How would you know?
Outside the box here: Let's just defund USM to recoup some money and make all of our lives better!
Mississippi Today isn't "media." It is the public relations and advocacy arm of the Mississippi Democratic Party. It's goal is to support leftist causes in our state. So, yes, intentional. Most things are intentional with them if it involves leftist advocacy.
Actually, his name recognition has grown significantly in the last year. His favorables are virtually equivalent to his name ID, and his unfavorables are almost zero. Get your head out from under that Capitol dome. He might be making politicians mad. But, his strategy is working with voters.
It seems that Shad is too smart to “make mistakes”. He did not want to be questioned. Did he announce his intention to spend $2 million? I believe he announced his report would be coming out shortly and teased the public. By then the money had been spent. Easier to ask forgiveness than permission as the ole saying goes. Or in his case…attack anyone who questions. It’s time we started asking more questions from Shad. Most politicians are a slimy bunch, not all. But Shad’s strong defensive posture should be sounding the alarm. Let’s find out.
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