The Clarion-Ledger Editorial, 4/23/8
A relatively routine bill to reauthorize the Mississippi Department of Employment Security died during the 2008 legislative session amid a dispute over all state agencies’ advertising practices.
Some lawmakers – particularly House Democrats loyal to Speaker Billy McCoy – are upset that the state spends thousands of dollars to run ads on conservative talk radio stations.
A 2006 survey by the Joint Legislative Budget Office showed that state agencies spent $14.3 million on various advertising expenses in Fiscal Year 2006. Of that total, $910,054 was spent buying advertising from TeleSouth Communications, the parent company that operates the “Supertalk” talk radio network in the state.
Some programming – both the commentary of hosts and the responses of callers from the public – contained withering criticisms of McCoy and those loyal to him. Their anger over voting for state dollars to partially fund such programming is at least understandable.
But what’s that got to do with Employment Security?
Magnolia Tribune
