http://kingfish1935.blogspot.com/2010/12/brown-and-brister-trade-licks-at.html
The hearing opened with some fireworks as Representative Cecil Brown and actuary Mike Brister repeatedly clashed and pulled no punches when speaking to each other. Mr. Stringer opened the hearing and immediately gave the microphone to Mr. Brown. The Jackson Democrat said “alot of kids have benefited from these plans” and made it clear throughout the hearing he supported MPACT. Mr. Brown pointed out Tennessee shut down its plan this year and Alabama was forced to suspend new enrollments for one year as well. The old warhorse showed up ready to do battle with Mr. Brister as he immediately told Mr. Brister he did not appreciate his “incompetent quote” in the newspaper.
Mr. Brister told the Clarion-Ledger last week “I have never seen something handled so incompetently,” Brister said. “I’ve been an actuary for 30 years, and I’ve never encountered someone so incompetent that they couldn’t schedule a business meeting and they had to resort to subpoenas to do it.”
Mr. Brown repeatedly attacked Mr. Brister for his public comments and then addressed State Treasurer Tate Reeves: “I don’t care about your politics. I care about this plan. I take great offense to that quote about being a spender” (Mr. Reeves told the CL “I’m just a little more cautious spending other people’s money than Johnny Stringer or Cecil Brown.”).
Jackson Jambalaya
12/15/10
Magnolia Tribune
