Dedeaux Chooses Mickey Over Medicaid

After Paul Gallo raised the issue yesterday, House Speaker Billy McCoy stripped Medicaid Chairman Dirk Dedeaux of his conferee position. Not that it was a big deal, Dedeaux wasn't getting much done on solving our state's Medicaid crisis as he is on vacation at Disney World.

[Marshall Ramsey we ain't]

McCoy was not happy. He has been out there blaming the Senate and accusing them of not being available to negotiate. Now one of his top lieutenants is outed at being on vacation. He expressed his frustration at Gallo.

House Speaker Billy McCoy, D-Rienzi, sounded angry about the radio report. Questioned about it, he said, "I don't give a damn what Paul Gallo says about anything. Zero."

MRP Chairman Brad White called on Dedeaux to resign his chairmanship of the Medicaid Committee.

“I’ve always believed many of Mississippi’s House Democrats were on Space Mountain in a metaphorical sense but it turns out the State House’s Medicaid Chairman could be there in reality. Dirk Dedeaux has neglected his responsibilities as House Medicaid Chairman at a critical time. If these allegations are true, not only should Dedeaux refuse to accept those taxpayer dollars since he failed to show up to work, he should also resign his chairmanship for neglecting his responsibilities. This is inexcusable behavior by the Medicaid committee chairman. I don’t begrudge a man for a family vacation. But public service is a sacrifice and if it is one Dedeaux is unwilling to make, he should consider another line of work. When the voters hear that Mickey Mouse is more important to Dedeaux than Medicaid, they may make that choice for him.”

Dedeaux replied:

"For me to abandon my pregnant wife and two small children in Florida, that's not a good thing to do when there are perfectly capable people of handling the conference in my stead."

The horror of abandoning someone at a world class resort. But I think Dedeaux missed the point. He is a public servant and that is a sacrifice for himself and his family. Elected officials know this. He chose to run for office and chose that responsibility. His statement shows that he is not willing to make the sacrifice. No big deal. Someone else will do the job. We thank him for his service. I hope he decides not to run again.

Dedeaux's constituents can make up their mind. This morning's Sun Herald brought them the news, "Disney trip puts Dedeaux in hot seat."