Jackson Free Press

The Mississippi Legislature is back in Jackson this morning for another special session, this time to decide the fate of the state's utility watchdog agencies. Lawmakers were unable to get a budget bill to fund the Public Service Commission and the Public Utilities Staff on the governor's desk during the regular session or during the first special session called after the regular session ended.

At issue is additional staff for the PSC, which Lynn Posey, the agency's chairman, says would cost the state less than $250,000. According to WXVT, the PSC is requesting employees with legal and accounting expertise to assist evaluation of utility financial records.

House Democrats support the additional staff, however Senate Republicans and the governor's office oppose it, saying the staff would duplicate the role of the PUS. Commissioners on the PSC have accused the PUS of rubber-stamping utility reports without sufficient inquiries or oversight.

A special session adds at least $13,000 a day to the regular session cost, bringing the per-day total to $32,000. Each Legislator will receive a $75 per day special-session pay in addition to their regular pay of $109 a day, plus travel expenses.