STEVEN A. McCALEB
103 ALVERADO DRIVE
LONG BEACH, MISSISSIPPI 39560
PHONE & FAX: (228)-868-8428
E-MAIL: mccaleb4thdist@aol.com
WEB SITE: www.mississippiwebsite.com
Anderson, executive director of the Department of Finance and Administration, said in a letter to Bryant that $3.3 million had been designated for furnishings for the Woolfolk Building offices.
State agencies skeptical of call Musgrove's decision
This story is a prime example of Mississippi Government and State Agencies having double standards
One standard of "we the people" or normal people, the people which provides these Mississippi Government Representatives and State Agencies an unlimited supply of our (taxpayers) money to spend.
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Monday, April 30, 2007
JACKSON - Two state agencies are questioning the emergency declaration made by Gov. Ronnie Musgrove to speed the furnishing of his new office.
I wonder what is wrong with the furniture that is all ready in the Governor's offices.
Is the furniture which is there going to be sold, given away, or placed in storage?
"It's our position that the purchase of furniture does not constitute the definition of emergency under the statute," said Jonathan Compretta, special assistant attorney general.
I fully agree that purchasing furniture is an emergency act, but as we all know, Democrats love to spend our taxpayer dollars on themselves.
How supervisors spent $1 million in 'discretionary" funds
click here
Compretta said he wasn't sure if any action will be taken against the governor's office.
You can bet your sweet butt there will not be in action taken against the governor's office.
I have, from reading the Attorney Generals Opinion, stating that our Harrison County Supervisors did not do anything wrong.
There are no laws on the books in Mississippi, which would hold our elected officials and state agencies accountable against Fraud, Waste, & Abuse and spending our tax money.
I have never read an opinion which has no substance in it.
I had to read the opining six (6) times and then try and break it down in pieces.
I found that the legal jargon in the opinion is nothing but confusing, and that is the way our elected officials and state agencies want it to read.
If you want to copy of the Attorney Generals and State Auditors Opinion email and request a copy at:
mmoore@ago.state.ms.us
Attorney General
jesse@mail.osa.state.ms.us
State Auditor
State Auditor Phil Bryant said the matter remains under review.
Why is the matter under review, nothing will be done about the Fraud, Waste, & Abuse which has occurred.
"We are trying to be thorough in looking at it," Bryant said.
I will email the State Auditor, Phil Bryant, and request a copy of the review.
I will also place the review on a web page so everyone can read it.
David Cole, Musgrove's then chief of staff, sent a letter dated Sept. 27 to the state's top financial adviser, Gary Anderson, declaring a state of emergency "for the purpose of purchasing furniture for the Governor's Office."
Sound like corruption too me; what do you think taxpayers.
The governor's office was scheduled to move Nov. 9-13 from the Sillers Building to the Woolfolk Building, and the furniture would not have been in the office in time under the normal purchasing process.
It does not sound like the Governor or his staff care about serving the public.
That is what they were elected too do, serve the Mississippian's, they very people which provide an unlimited source of taxpayers money for them too spend.
The letter went on to state: "Governor Musgrove meets with dignitaries and business officials daily; therefore, it is imperative that the office be properly furnished as soon as possible."
So, what they are saying is, it's better to look good rather than doing the work of the people.
Again, I wonder why new furniture had to me purchased.
Meeting emergency needs
This ought to be good!
When asked Friday about the emergency declaration, Musgrove said the word emergency can mean "a wide range of needs."
The meaning of Emergency: Urgent situation, disaster, tragedy.
I do not believe the above meaning constitutes the purchasing of furniture, but your elected officials and state agencies see it differently.
The governor's office based its decision on part of the definition of emergency under state law. The law refers to any circumstance caused by natural disasters, defective construction and public health concerns, "or when the immediate restoration of a condition of usefulness of any public building, equipment, road or bridge appears advisable."
I find it odd, that our elected officials and state agencies can find the law in there favor so often.
But when finding are against our elected officials and state agencies there are no law.
All one has too to is read about the Harrison County Supervisors and how no laws exist.
Shedding light on spending
click here
Money not the problem
It sure isn't, the Mississippian's keep paying taxes, and our elected officials and state agencies keep spending our tax dollars.
But what I do not understand, there is not a law preventing our elected officials and state agencies from spending our money.
Musgrove's spokeswoman, Lisa Mader, said the request didn't involve any extra money.
So, what is Lisa Mader saying, it's OK to spend the taxpayers money on furniture for the governor, and "we the people" won't have to kick in any more taxpayers money.
That just makes me all warm and fuzzy.
The money for the furnishings had been designated before Musgrove took office. "It was just simply a timeframe issue to get into the building," Mader said.
If the taxpayers money was all ready designated, why was an emergency request made?
Anderson, executive director of the Department of Finance and Administration, said in a letter to Bryant that $3.3 million had been designated for furnishings for the Woolfolk Building offices.
$3.3 million, and Mississippi has a budget shortfall, and the governor is saying he will have to cut services.
Our school teachers will get a pay bonus instead of a five (5) year pay raises.
I could build several homes with $3.3 million and have some left over.
But what the hell, since taxpayers money is unlimited, what is $3.3 million dollars among political friends.
Exactly what is going on?
If it is known, "we the people" will never know the truth.
Bryant last month requested an explanation of the emergency declaration.
Be careful Phil Bryant, knowing you are going to run for governor, you don't want to upset the status quo.
Anderson, in a letter to Bryant dated May 30, said a lack of transition period for the new administration, an extended legislative session and two special legislative sessions delayed the purchase.
But the money was all ready designated, so the money had be approved.
Musgrove didn't take office until after Jan. 4, 2000, when the House of Representatives decided the close gubernatorial race between Musgrove and former U.S. Rep. Mike Parker.
I really can't see where "time frames" make a difference, the point is, use the furniture you have.
Save the $3.3 million of our tax money for a change.
"For those reasons, an emergency declaration was enacted to ensure that offices could be furnished at the time of the move," Anderson said in the letter.
Can you say, "FRAUD, WASTE, & ABUSE"
REMEMBER: MONEY, POWER, & PERKS + FRAUD, WASTE, & ABUSE= CORRUPTION
Pete Smith, a spokesman for the auditor's office, said Bryant had planned to sit down with Attorney General Mike Moore to discuss the governor's actions.
I would like to be a fly on the wall during there conversation.
Let me guess, the governor is within the guide lines of the law.
Have you ever read or heard this before?
"To us, that emergency letter doesn't seem consistent to what we, the state auditor's office, see as an emergency purchase," Smith said.
But you can't or won't do anything to stop the waste of the taxpayers money.
Musgrove
STEVEN A. McCALEB
COMMENTARY