Jackson Free Press

JACKSON — If the Ole Miss-Mississippi State rivalry extends to Capitol expenses, the University of Mississippi is winning in the department of free tickets for state lawmakers.

The University of Mississippi spent $39,588 in sporting-event tickets and meal expenses for lawmakers and public officials in 2015. Mississippi State spent $14,405 on football and basketball tickets for state lawmakers in 2015.

Some alumni and lawmakers who represent the universities' districts seem to get the best treatment from their respective universities. Rep. Jeff Smith, R-Columbus, seems to have gotten the best from both of the rival universities in 2015, scoring season football tickets from the University of Mississippi (where he went to law school) as well as more than $900 worth of tickets from Mississippi State University (where he got his bachelor's degree).

University of Mississippi Lobby Expenses 2015

Season Football Tickets

Senators Sen. Terry Burton, R-Newton

Sen. Bill Stone, D-Holly Springs

Sen. Rita Parks, R-Corinth

Representatives

Rep. Tommy Reynolds, D-Charleston

Rep. Brad Mayo, R-Oxford*

Rep. Chris Brown, R-Aberdeen

Rep. Bobby Moak, D-Boque Chitto*

Rep. Nick Bain, D-Corinth

Rep. Jeff Smith, R-Columbus

Rep. Randall Patterson, R-Biloxi

Rep. Nolan Mettetal, R-Sardis

Other

Stacey Pickering, State Auditor Oxford

Mayor Pat Patterson

Total Cost: $10,010 ($770 per person)

Highest Paid Lawmakers by University of Mississippi Lobbyists

Rep. Kevin Horan, D-Grenada: $2,370

Rep. Bobby Moak, D-Boque Chitto*: $1,027.88

Rep. Brad Mayo, R-Oxford*: $883.22

Total Cost 2015 Lobbyist Expenditures by University of Mississippi: $39,588.04 (meals, football, basketball and baseball tickets)

*No longer in the House

Mississippi State Lobby Expenses 2015

Highest Paid Lawmakers

(football tickets)

Representatives

Rep. Jeff Smith, R-Columbus: $975

Rep. Tyrone Ellis, D-Starkville: $960

Rep. Herb Frierson, R-Poplarville: $840

Rep. Randall Patterson, R-Biloxi: $840

Rep. Steve Holland, D-Plantersville: $790

Rep. Randy Boyd, R-Mantachie: $670

Rep. Mac Huddleston, R-Pontotoc: $660

Rep. William Tracy Arnold, R-Booneville: $600

Rep. Preston Sullivan, D-Okolona: $550

Senators

Sen. Haskins Montgomery, D-Bay Springs*: $610

Sen. Nickey Browning, R-Pontotoc: $580

Sen. Russell Jolly, D-Houston: $500

Sen. Joey Fillingane, R-Sumrall: $450

Total Cost 2015 Lobbyist Expenditures by Mississippi State University: $14,405 (only football listed on report)

*no longer in Senate

Jackson State University Lobby Expenses 2015

No itemized expenditures listed on 2015 Lobbyist's Client Report specifically list sporting events.

Total Cost 2015 Lobbyist Expenditures by Jackson State University: $5,491.91 (food, beverage, travel, lodging or other expenses)

Read more Mississippi lobbyist sunshine reports at jfp.ms/lobbyists. State reporter Arielle Dreher is steadily adding more reports in upcoming weeks. Email her at [email protected]. See more reporting about public access to government data and meetings at jfp.ms/sunshine.