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Utility Watchdog Employees Furloughed


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Commissioner Brandon Presley of the Public Service Commission says most PSC employees were sent home.

July 3, 2009

Among the budget bills that failed to get to the governor's desk earlier this week were appropriations to fund the Public Service Commission and the Public Utilities agency. Without funding, the two state organizations are sending most of their employees home. The PSC is keeping on a skeleton crew of about 12 people, while Public Utilities shut its doors.

"We're now down to protecting rate payers with spit balls," PSC commissioner Brandon Presley told the Associated Press.

The PSC is tasked with regulating utilities—electricity, natural gas, water and sewer services—and telecommunications, requested additional staff for 2010. Mississippi House members approved the request; Senators did not.

The attorney general's office released an opinion yesterday saying the agency could not operate without a budget beyond its core functions. But Gov. Haley Barbour has indicated that he will call another special session once negotiators agree on a compromise, the story states.

"Having a special session is going to cost almost as much as we were asking for," Presley told the Clarion-Ledger.

Costs for a second special legislative session could be $60,000 or more, added to the $141,000 spent on the first special session that began last Sunday and ended Tuesday, hours before the 2010 fiscal year began.

 
posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/03/09 at 08:32 AM. [printer version]    Share |

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Feb 10, 2012 | 02:12 PM
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DonnaLadd: Thanks, Maddow, for the credit and the link love for this post: on.msnbc.com/yflZ4j
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thabian: Loved this column not only for the very important subject matter, but because it contained a truly entertaining voice. I wanted to read more!!!!
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DonnaLadd: Let's not forget when Rep. Holland tried to ban abortion back in 2006. Many of us weren't laughing about that stunt. Here's a 2010 report on him and a ...
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Holland's Gulf of America Bill Sweeping the Nation
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DonnaLadd: Oh, and I love it when Mississippi punks the nation.
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DonnaLadd: I'm surprised anyone took it seriously. We heard about it earlier the week, and it seemed obvious before it was Holland. But we all deal with him. I'll ...
Feb 09, 2012 | 03:40 PM
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