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| Do as I say, not as I do, my brothers and sisters! |
Shell game or scam--you decide.
Montgomery Advertiser reporter Sebastian Kitchens revealed in a a radio interview this morning that Dr. Guy Hunt's three top people in his cabinet, Chief of Staff, former Tuscaloosa Judge Charles R. "Chuck" Malone, Legal Adviser, Tuscaloosa Atty. R. Cooper Shattuck and ALDOT Head John Cooper are all enjoying fat double salaries supplemented by Homeland Security funds.
Here's the explanation: "Well, we have to hire the best and the brightest and these folks could make a lot more in the private sector, so we have to offer them competitive salaries. They all have security clearances so this is not unusual."
It's not the first time Alabama government has pulled this trick either.
Former Alabama Governor Bob Riley was adept at gaming the system in using HS funds to enhance salaries himself. ADECA is another federal fund kitty that previous administrations have scammed to inflate certain favored ones paychecks.
Here's how the game goes--there is a salary cap on cabinet positions of $91,000.00. The administration gives these three men an additional job title in HS, so they draw two paychecks. In other words, it's a job over here, a job over there and they cobble together the job titles to create a double salary.
Chief of Staff Malone--$179,000.00
Chief Legal Adviser Shattuck--$169,000
ALDOT Cooper--$169,000
The cabinet position pays what it does, there is a cap for a reason, but Bentley has skirted around the cap, 'bentleyed' the rules and given his buddies a lot more money for a job that they knew paid $91,000 from the get go.
If you three men, and we suspect there are more benefiting from this yet to be revealed, can do so much better in the private sector well then, stay in the private sector. Because what you are doing is one of the reasons Alabama's finances are in shambles.
And didn't we hear that same excuse of the 'best and brightest deserve more money' from some of the republican senators too, as an excuse to not repeal their grabbed-in-the-night 62% increase in legislative pay raise? With a cost of living increase to boot.
While the average Alabamian struggles to provide for their families.
While the average Alabamian struggles to provide for their families.
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New day my ass. SOS.
ReplyDeleteAnd the only thing I see on this 'best and brightest'...we have the best corrupt officials or I should say some of the best in the nation. We are not the top spot in the country on corruption at the moment. Perhaps they are working on it.
We hire corrupt people so therefore we have corruption.
One of the two positions is phony. Isn't that what Rep Sue Schmitz went to prison for? HUH???
YEAH!!! EVERYBODY WAS SCREAMING DOUBLE DIPPING!!!
I always have thought what is good for the goose is good for the gander and it's about half past gander time by my watch.
Alabama: Home to the best and brightest and most well paid state criminals.
ReplyDeleteAll thieves, crooks and other assorted criminals apply at 600 Dexter Avenue, Montgomery, Alabama.
Christians are welcome to apply.
It is creepy having all these people running around telling all of us how important these people who are paid double salaries are and how mighty fortunate we little people are to have them working for the state in the Governor's office instead of in the real world.
ReplyDeleteI think the Department of Homeland Security part of this scenario is what I call a phony job.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if they report to anyone? Do they do weekly reports and sign in with a big kahuna upstairs? Do they have to be A-W-A-Y in DC on official business, leaving Dr. Hunt to fend for himself? What would happen if there was a conflict of interest? Like some fakey federal poo and the state blindly obeyed? Imagine that.
Couldn't these three people find themselves in a heap of trouble?
Where are those Boss Hogg pictures? Talk about hogs. This is downright pigish. Porkers. Fat cats. Self-indulgent pigs. Gluttonous.
Bureaucrats. They think money comes from a checkbook.
Where do I find this part in the Baptist teachings? Anybody?
ReplyDeleteGov. Robert Bentley said he is leaving it up to lawmakers about how to handle the much-publicized and much-criticized pay raise, but he does have some advice.
ReplyDelete"If they're wise, they should consider a cut like every other agency is taking a cut," the governor said.
Bentley said that lawmakers should be willing to sacrifice if they are going to ask teachers to sacrifice.
So this applies to everybody but his friends?
I say the double dip isn't the action as much as it is the DD in the governor's mansion. This guy is unbelievable in his two faced ways!
GIVE THE MONEY BACK!
Dr. Crook is in the house.
ReplyDeleteWrong on so many levels i don't know what to say.
ReplyDeleteThis is the epitome of what has killed this state; too many hogs at the trough of taxpayer money that don't deserve it.
This is double dipping no matter what they say to explain it. There is no explanation, it's political favor on the backs of Alabamians.
I'm with you Hanna, give it back!
Gee thanks Doc. I get laid of from my state job and your cronies not only get hired but paid twice!! By the way, I was supporting two small children and my elderly Mother with my job of 16 years, before you made it go away!!!!!
ReplyDeleteTHIS MAN HAS NO SHAME OR ETHICS!!!
Somebody call the Department of Homeland Security and tell them to print us up a bunch of money and send to Alabama asap in care of the teachers. Not the AEA. Not the state. None of those crooks.
ReplyDeleteIf Homeland Security has been sending out cash for dream jobs, I gotta dream! Pass over the politicians and send some of that money back to the people.
TomG.
ReplyDeleteI am sorry to hear about you losing your job with the state. I hope this will be an opportunity for you to find a job you really love and that it pays you better than the state ever would have.
Hold on. We're going after them. This is not going to fly, float or pass muster.
We are far from seeing or hearing the last of this one.
I didn't believe it (well sort of) but WSFA 12 has the story up.
ReplyDeleteHere we go again back into the brier patch of corruption tar baby's.
Bentley is such an dumb *ss. Nothing he says can justify this one.
Good evening Governor
ReplyDeleteSince you are so fond of cuts, I know three great places you can add to the list. As a matter of fact, I recommend you replace all three positions with three true public servants who will be glad to have a $91,000.00 a year job with nice perks.
Signed
The average Alabama citizen
Well said Baxter!
ReplyDeleteBentley is turning out to be a huge disappointment with each passing day.
"I love you teachers, but by God I am going to do what has to be done!"
Idiot.
Bandit Bentley and his band of brothers will steal us all blind before his reign is over.
ReplyDeleteYou cannot have it both ways Dr.
ReplyDeleteIf you are going to make everyday Alabamians feel the sting of your sword cut, your own administration should feel it just as greatly.
This is highly hypocritical, back door dealing and makes you appear to speak with a forked tongue.
Your chief of staff being a former judge should know better than this as should atty. Shattuck.
Somebody, Steve Flowers, is not only drinking the KoolAid, but overdosing on it:
ReplyDeleteGov. Robert Bentley has garnered an excellent cabinet. Much like his predecessor Bob Riley, he has chosen and coaxed into service people who are serving to better the state and not themselves.
Many, if not all, of Bentley’s appointments are financially independent, comfortably retired or career public servants uniquely and highly qualified to run the state agencies they will oversee. Bentley’s cabinet members are very similar to Riley’s cabinet. In fact, at least five of Bentley’s appointments are holdovers from Riley’s illustrious team.
"Coaxed into service to better the state not themselves..."
So taking a double salary is serving the state and not yourself? By whose definition?
"Financially independent...." How does this square with we have to pay them more because they could have made more in the private sector?
"..Riley's illustrious team..." Same question.
With a state house full of junkies:
ReplyDeleteBentley compared the state's General Fund to a person who is addicted to OxyContin and is going through a withdrawal period.
"Some times you get DTs like an alcoholic and that's what we're going through in the state of Alabama now," he said. "We going through DTs, but you know what? You've got a doctor in charge."
Open mouth insert great big ol' hoof.