GOP Chairman Calls for Medicaid Chairman’s Resignation

GOP Chairman Calls for Medicaid Chairman’s Resignation

GOP CHAIRMAN CALLS FOR MEDICAID CHAIRMAN’S RESIGNATION
SAYS DEMOCRATS SHOULD MOVE PAST “MICKEY MOUSE POLITICS”

Jackson, Miss – Democratic leaders in the Mississippi House of Representatives continued to play Mickey Mouse politics with the state’s 2010 budget Wednesday, even as one of their lead negotiators vacationed at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida.

House Medicaid committee chairman Dirk Dedeaux (D-Perkinston) was on vacation at Disney World when another Democratic legislator voted him present in the House chamber Tuesday. Due to the importance of the committee he chairs, Dedeaux was initially a conferee in the budget negotiations despite statements by House Speaker Billy McCoy (D-Rienzi) that it was inappropriate for conferees to be unavailable at any time during the negotiation process.

“I’ve always believed many of Mississippi’s House Democrats were on Space Mountain in a metaphorical sense,” said Mississippi Republican Party Chairman Brad White, “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.”

Even though he was on vacation and apparently out-of-state, by registering as present, Dedeaux could receive compensation for work he failed to do at the Mississippi Capitol Wednesday. “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,” White continued.

White concluded, “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.”

As of Wednesday afternoon, a deal had yet to be reached on the budget.

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Release
5/27/9