C-L reports that Kevin McGee cut a deal to avoid further prosecution

The Clarion-Ledger has a story up saying that the Ethics Commission has cut a deal with former Representative Kevin McGee (R - Brandon) in which he will pay a $10,000 fine and leave the Legislature in exchange for the Commission not pursuing the case against him any further.  That's a heck of a deal, considering that he was ordered by the Commission to repay $346,000 earlier this year.

McGee, one of Speaker Philip Gunn's chief lieutenants in the Legislature, was active on Twitter this afternoon in response to the news.  At one point, McGee tweeted "To my new follower who wants to laugh at my misery you won't find any misery here! Plus my replacement will be just like me! Good luck."

Well, since McGee just made off with well over $300,000 in taxpayer funds in exchange for a $10,000 fine and giving up his seat in the Legislature, misery is about the last thing I'd expect McGee to be feeling.  And let's hope that McGee's replacement isn't just like him.  I don't know that our budget can handle another Rankin County representative gone wild.

***BREAKING*** - Ethics Commission going after Republican Rep. Kevin McGee (R-Brandon)

I can now confirm that the Mississippi Ethics Commission has investigated Republican Rep. Kevin McGee (R-Brandon) for potential violations of state ethics laws. Clay Chandler over at the Mississippi Business Journal broke the story just now, although the link to the full story isn't working properly at the moment for some reason.

At issue are reportedly 351 contracts Rep. McGee had with the State for printing work. McGee is President of Service Printers, Inc. Rep. McGee is reportedly represented by two Republican House Speaker hopefuls, Rep. Mark Baker (R-Brandon) and Rep. Jeff Smith (R-Columbus).

There had been a hearing set for tomorrow morning at 10 a.m., but that hearing has been postponed.

MSGOP releases proposed redistricting plans for both chambers (finally)

So the MSGOP released a plan yesterday when they attached it to their response to the Order setting the May 10th hearing.  That's roughly 60 days after plans were first released, and somewhere around 120 days after census data was released.  So, yeah, that's timely.

MSGOP House Plan Map

MSGOP House Plan Components Report

MSGOP Senate Plan Map

MSGOP Senate Plan Components Report

The MSGOP is pushing these map as preferable because it has only 1% population deviation.  The problem is, these maps are a drastic departure from current lines, and will cause widespread voter confusion.  Furthermore, there has been no public input in the formulation of these maps, nor has there been legislative consideration.

There are a couple of pairings of House incumbents that stand out quickly in the MSGOP plan:

• Bobby Moak (D-Bogue Chitto) and Becky Currie (R-Brookhaven)
• Mark Baker (R-Brandon) and Kevin McGee (R-Brandon)
• Tommy Reynolds (D-Charleston) and Bobby Howell (R-Kilmichael)

Moak vs. Currie? That's the GOP trying to take out a Democratic front runner in the Speaker's race should Speaker McCoy not run again.

Baker vs. McGee?  This is a very interesting pairing, as the MSGOP is pitting two incumbent Republicans against one another.  There are two possible reasons for this.  First, Baker has been more willing to work towards a redistricting compromise than some Republicans may like, and this is could be payback.  Second, the MSGOP belongs to Haley Barbour, a member of the old line Delta Republican faction (Clarke Reed's line).  Across the divide from that faction is Billy Powell's Rankin County power base.  Throwing Rankin County Republicans to the wolves wouldn't be of great discomfort to Barbour's Republicans, who tend to be less stridently socially conservative than Rankin County Republicans.

Reynolds vs. Howell? This is clearly a shot at Rep. Tommy Reynolds, who chaired the redistricting process in the House.

More as I find 'em...

P.S. - John Diez (or Diaz, as it's spelled both ways in the MSGOP Response to the Order Setting Hearing), was hired by the MSGOP some time ago.  He's a consultant with Magellan Strategies BR, Inc., and he's the guy who drew these lines.