Butch Brown Court Date - September 13

The Beau Rivage dropped the "disorderly conduct" charge against MDOT Executive Director Butch Brown, but he still faces the public intoxication charge and his court date was set for September 13, according to WAPT.

Biloxi police said Mississippi Department of Transportation Director Larry “Butch” Brown is expected in court Sept. 13 in connection with a misdemeanor public intoxication charge he faces as a result of his arrest Friday morning at the Beau Rivage Casino.

Police described Brown as belligerent and combative. He was arrested and charged with public intoxication and disorderly conduct, police said. Brown was released on $480 bond, police said.

Biloxi police said the misdemeanor public intoxication charge still stands.

Even Brown admits to the Associated Press he was drinking that night

"I was playing, of all things, a penny slot machine," Brown said with a chuckle during a telephone interview...Brown, 67, said he'd had wine with dinner and "a couple of whatever they serve" as drinks in the casino. He said the incident was "embarrassing."

Obama Administration - Same As It Ever Was

Busting Ass, Butch Brown Style

“We still have to wade through the murky bullshit of the Biloxi Sun Herald doing articles just like this, while we’re out there busting our ass to make something good happen for you." - MDOT Executive Director Butch Brown (Biloxi Sun Herald, June 5, 2010)

That's right, man. Butch Brown is a hard working civil servant. Get off his ass. He is out there, bustin' it hard, just trying to make sure Mississippi has paved roads. You know? He gets no respect, no respect for his hard work. People always criticizing him. Come on. He is just a blue collar guy.

And sometimes he needs a littl R&R.



From the AP:

Authorities say Butch Brown, executive director of the Mississippi Department of Transportation, was arrested at a Biloxi casino early today and charged with disorderly conduct and public intoxication.

Both are misdemeanors.

Harrison County Sheriff Melvin Brisolara says Brown was released from jail on $480 bond.

According to the Clarion Ledger, the "charges have been dropped". According to the Natchez Democrat, "The Biloxi Police Department says the case is 'pending action of the Biloxi Municipal Court.'" According to the Mississippi Business Journal (which called on Butch Brown to resign), Butch Brown "didn’t just publicly embarrass himself and disgrace the state of Mississippi. He followed his misdemeanor with lying to an MBJ reporter, denying that the incident occurred."

More on this to come, we're sure.

Obama Breaks Promise with Tanning Tax

"I can make a firm pledge. Under my plan, no family making less than $250,000 a year will see any form of tax increase. Not your income tax, not your payroll tax, not your capital gains taxes, not any of your taxes." - Barack Obama, September 12, 2008, Dover, New Hampshire.

Another broken tax promise from Barack Obama:

Those wishing to cloak themselves in tanning-bed bronze are paying more for the service these days, thanks to a new federal tax that proprietors began collecting this month.

Money collected from the tax goes to help fund the nation's new healthcare program, an effort to provide health insurance for all.

About 18,000 mom-and-pop businesses across the country will have to collect the tax.

"This tax is a on group of people who are not big wage earners," said Overstreet "This is a recession. People are already hurting and cutting back on things like that."

In addition to having to charge their customers the tax or pay it themselves, those small businesses will have the burden of preparing the paperwork and will already have taken on the additional expense of updating their accounting process.

According to ITA, the Internal Revenue Service will collect $2.7 billion over the next 10 years with this tax.

Oh, but this is for healthcare. Still a broken promise:

His detailed campaign plan stated that his proposed improvement in health insurance and health technology "is more than covered" by raising taxes on the wealthy alone.

Bioflop generates 60 months prison for Tacker; McRae & Diaz to appeal

Tommy Tacker was sentenced today for his role in the bioflop and has hired former Mississippi Supreme Court Justices Chuck McRae and Oliver Diaz to handle his appeal, Patsy Brumfield reports.

Biodiesel entrepreneur William T. “Tommy” Tacker II of Okolona today was sentenced to 60 months in prison after his conviction to a federal fraud case.

In February, a jury found him guilty on 10 counts in a $2.88 million scheme to defraud a biofuels subsidy program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Co-defendent, disbarred Tennessee attorney Max Speight, 67, pleaded guilty to one count shortly before they were to go on trial. The prosecution’s key witness at Tacker’s trial, he hasn’t been sentenced.

...he has hired new attorneys for his appeal, former Mississippi Supreme Court justices Oliver Diaz and Chuck McRae.

Tacker built a plant to produce biodiesel from soybean oil in Nettleton in 2006.

Mitchell praises reporting on Jackson council, MDOT

Charlie Mitchell of the Vicksburg Post rightfully praises reporting by Michael Newsom of the Sun Herald and Chris Joyner of the Clarion Ledger. Newsom has reported on the lavish trips taken by Department of Transportation officials while Joyner has questioned the value of taxpayer paid trip by Jackson City Councilman Kenneth Stokes. Both deserve praise for their investigative journalism.

Jussely advocates internet for Canton sunshine

Edd Jussely has the perfect solution for Canton's sunshine troubles in a letter to the Clarion Ledger.

The solution is simple.

The Open Records Act was enacted before something called the Internet came to be. Canton should put all its records on the Internet and there would be no cost for copies or labor. All levels of Mississippi government should put their records on the Internet. And, yes, that includes salaries of public employees, FuelMan records, travel expenses, hotel expenses, etc.

The Legislature should repeal the clause that allows government entities to charge for information and require all public documents to be available on the Internet.

Bravo!