Jackson Free Press

An investigation in today's Sun Herald reveals a years-long trend of Mississippi Department of Transportation officials using taxpayer money for trips of dubious value. Over four years, Michael Newsom reports, MDOT officials have spent $207,000 on travel, with two officials,, Executive Director Butch Brown and Southern District Commissioner Wayne Brown (no relation), responsible for the bulk of those expenses.

The two charged the state $7,000 for a trip to Brussels, Budapest and Vienna to study the use of ports and rivers. Butch Brown also charged the state for a $1,089 round-trip flight from Jackson to Atlanta. Brown says he did not fly first class.

Previous Commentsshow

oh, well since he didn't fly first class, I don't see the problem. We should thank him for suffering coah on behalf of our great state.

dd39203

Jan 15 2009

Like heck he didn't. Butch isn't a fellow to suffer by spending time with the peons. First Class, I imagine.

Ironghost

Jan 16 2009

I guess there just aren't any major ports in the US for them to study. The question that begs to be asked is who the heck approved such outrageous expenditures in the first place? I mean, what agency or person receives the travel reimbursement request and says yes, cut a check for that? Can somebody tell me where the oversight is (was)?

chaffeur

Jan 16 2009