[Islander7]

Invoices Hughes submitted to MDOT, which released them to the Sun Herald, often don’t give specific details about the nature of work he did to earn the $100 an hour, but rather simply how many hours he worked, plus how much his expenses were.

[Islander7]

Magnolia State Ping!

[Islander7]

Magnolia State Ping!

[dixiechick2000]

We are dealing with kind of the same thing with ODOT, and the Columbia River Crossing, which is the government fancy word for a bridge.

During the study period, it’s cost the state over 110 million dollars...and still counting.

WHY?

Because they are corrupt, and they find that the tax payers’s dollars are the easiest to get.

[Greysard]

A $100/hr is not unreasonable for a contractor who doesn't get any benefits from the company, but pays income taxes from this income. With regard to expenses, if they sent him somewhere then I don't expect him to pay his own money for the hotel and the rental car and the airfare.

Hall said he hasn’t been able to find much proof of actual work being done over the three-year period Hughes was paid for.

Proof of work is also not something that companies require; but perhaps the government should have at least some paperwork about it. The official who hired this contractor should have all the answers to that.

The 3-year period tells us more. Normally he would work 40 hr/week, and with 52 weeks per year he'd earn $208,000 per year (before taxes.) So over three years he would earn $624K for his time, and the rest should be expenses. After taxes and medical insurance he would be left with about $140-150K per year, which is a good compensation for a competent engineer. Some earn more.

If you ask me, that's exactly what employees cost to businesses. Maybe the government expects consultants to work for $25K/yr? A specialist, perhaps a licensed engineer, knows his price.

[liberty or death]

I knew a single consultant who made 200,000 per 6 months to evaluate safety on oil tankers in Alaska. He did it for 20 years and he was only one consultant. Consulting is one of the createst scams of the modern era of safety and eco BS.
He as well as many have Law degrees.

[smokingfrog]

Choo choo consulting doesn’t come cheap, doncha know!

[dixiechick2000]

BTW, do we know the political parties of those involved?

I’d like to know why MDOT wouldn’t explain the kind of work he was doing for the state. Submitting an expense report just isn’t acceptable without details.

[HiTech RedNeck]

Obviously it’s a stealth Mississippi train project.

[MDspinboyredux]

Federal Stimulus Money?

[LibLieSlayer]

Hang anyone that steals from the people... public hanging until dead.

LLS

[Jack Hydrazine]

“an expense that has “astounded” one top state transportation official.”

Is “astounded” the new media word to replace “unexpected”? That’s just plain inconceivable!!!!

[ken5050]

First attempt to slime/diminish Haley?

[wardaddy]

man I remember when highway commissioners always had the best earthwork and longest driveways

and county supervisors had the best hunting spots in the county

coincidence?

..the good old days

[Professional Engineer]

For private consulting I start at well over $100/hour. Dealing with gubmint, I’d better triple it, or I will lose my shirt.