On July 23, Charles Richardson wrote on behalf of the Macon Telegraph editorial board regarding the State’s finances, “It is fairly clear what the Georgia Legislature deems important, and it has nothing to do with the welfare of the state’s citizens and even less to do with the state’s children.”

For almost a year, concerned citizens have been trying to roust slumbering Georgians from their dreams to face the nightmare occurring with our state’s finances – especially as it pertains to the Board of Regents. And, although we are sounding the alarm, citizens, legislatures, media and even Gov. Perdue are failing to stir from their somnolence to see the massive cover-ups occurring in Higher Education. These cover-ups, once exposed and challenged, are costing tax-payers millions of dollars and they are costing our children the education they deserve.

One of the many cover-ups we seek to expose is the issue of hundreds of thousands of dollars in “Golden Parachutes,” which are paid to University System of Georgia presidents as “deferred presidential compensations” in addition to approximately $7,341,481 in gross yearly salaries. While citizens can consult a website to see the compensation paid to each University president, these presidential compensations are nowhere to be found.

Case in point, in 2007, Macon State College President David Bell received $203,920.98 and travel reimbursement of $4,058.22. In 2008, Bell received a salary of $212,409.48 and travel reimbursement of $3721.42, according to the website http://www.open.georgia.gov/sta/search.aud. Additionally, in a letter to Chancellor Erroll Davis, Bell thanked him for the “generous” increase he will receive for the fiscal year 2009 (the exact figures are not yet posted on the website).

In addition to his “generous” salary, Dr. Bell is also slated to receive a “Golden Parachute” in January 2010 in the amount of $600,000 and has an undisclosed annual amount of “supplements” for “miscellaneous, housing, etc.”

The State of Georgia will provide $200,000 of the compensation while the MSC Foundation will provide $400,000. Lest anyone think I am singling out Dr. Bell, please understand that MANY Georgia presidents receive additional salary that is not disclosed to taxpayers.

When I questioned Gov. Perdue about these compensations, he failed to respond to me directly. Instead he had Rob Watts, USG Chief Operating Officer, respond to me. He stated “The pay plan to which you refer is a deferred compensation program . . .” Watts explained that “Deferred compensation is simply employment pay that is deferred until some later time, generally after the fulfillment of some multi-year obligation or the attainment of retirement.”

The reply from Watts raised new questions:

1. Why isn’t the deferred compensation reflected on the government website that discloses pay for University presidents? The website grossly understates the actual compensation for University System of Georgia presidents.

2. If this exorbitant compensation is truly employment pay, why aren’t all of the funds taken from the State of Georgia budget instead of from Foundations whose primary purpose is to raise funds for scholarships and direct betterment of the students?

It has been nine days and I have yet to receive a response from either Rob Watts or Gov. Perdue. Perhaps they are having trouble putting the appropriate spin on their answers.

This is only one nightmare that Georgians are sleeping through. More serious issues will be covered in the Fulton County Superior Court in September 2010. The defendants in a Georgia Whistleblower Protection Act case are: The Board of Regents; Chancellor Erroll Davis; Rob Watts, USG Chief Operating Officer; Burnes Newsome, VC Legal Affairs; David Bell, President Macon State College, Levy Youmans, VP for Fiscal Affairs (MSC) and John Cole, new VP at MSC.

And it’s not just the government who is playing the game of cover-up. In an effort to bring attention to this matter and get citizens to stand against corruption in the University System, emails have been sent to media outlets across the state. However, none of the media has seen fit to answer the emails or print an investigative article addressing issues of “golden parachutes,” questions of who is really running MSC in light of Bell’s failing health, and punitive action taken against anyone who questions the status quo.

Could it be that the University System of Georgia and its institutions of higher education are too valuable to the media as advertisers? Has money become more important than integrity? The code of ethics of Journalism states, “The duty of the journalist is to [enlighten the public] by seeking truth and providing a fair and comprehensive account of events and issues.” By not covering this story, media outlets are ruining their credibility as a member of the fourth estate, watchdogs for the masses.

Since Gov. Perdue seems intent on letting the University System of Georgia govern itself, and since the media appears not to want to bite the hand that feeds them, it’s up to the citizens of Georgia to take a stand.

“WAKE UP GEORGIA!” Those government monsters doling out presidential bonuses guised as salary and the media goblins unwilling to reveal questionable practices of the University System of Georgia are real and they are harming our children.

While education funds are cut, college students are asked to pay higher activity fees for fewer services, and public teachers are mandated furloughs, how can our legislators and governors justify bonus parachutes equaling approximately 10 years salary of middle-class Georgia taxpayers?

Put an end to the nightmares TODAY! Contact Gov. Perdue and let him know that we won’t put up with cover-ups and bonuses that rival the national AIG mess. Voice your comments and concerns at
http://gov.georgia.gov/00/gov/contact_us/0,2657,78006749_94820188,00.html
or simply go to the “Georgia Governor” website and click at the left hand side at the bottom on “Talk to the Governor.”

ROB WATTS RESPONSE:

On Wed, Jul 15, 2009 at 11:07 AM, Robert E. Watts wrote:

July 15, 2009

Dear Ms. Murr:

Your letter regarding President David Bell’s compensation has been referred to me.

The pay plan to which you refer is a deferred compensation program, as provided under Policy 802.12 of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia and in accordance with the Internal Revenue Code. “Deferred compensation” is simply employment pay that is deferred until some later time, generally after the fulfillment of some multi-year obligation or the attainment of retirement.

This program is a contractual incentive for continued service; it is not a bonus. The Board of Regents has authorized institutions of the University System and their affiliated foundations to enter into such programs to serve the public interest in attracting and retaining effective personnel.

Thank you for your interest in Macon State College, which is one of the outstanding institutions in the University System of Georgia.

Sincerely,
Robert Watts
Chief Operating Officer
Board of Regents

C: Ms. Angie Allison, Office of the Governor
Mr. Tom Daniel, USG

Max Cleland bucked “the program” by quitting the 9/11 Commission after it became apparent it was a cover-up.

The People must rule under Annuit Coeptis in Truth and Justice: Bush and Cheney committed 9/11. What has Poythress had to say on the subject?

Before you try to talk real tough about those who didn’t serve, try to convince yourselves that you had a legitimate exemption. Saxby says he had a bum knee. Cheney said he was too busy getting his education at the University of Wisconsin and had more important things to do than put himself in harm’s way. That’s for suckers, right Cheney? Right Saxby? So, those of you who haven’t served don’t have a legitimate basis for criticizing Roy Barnes for not serving.

I have a suggestion to all you card carrying Republicans who are quick to call others cowards. Why not contact the offices of all your favorite elected and appointed officials and ask them, or their staff to provide you with specific information indicating how long the officials served in the armed forces, which branch they served in, and what years they served? And if they didn’t serve, ask for the reason serve. I thinkl you’re going to find that there seems to be an epidemic of bad knees and educational deferments.

This vid makes a funny point about Roy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3MZ5_Y-krY

Too bad Boss Hogg/Sonny-Bubba has seen fit to absolutely gut it to the point where it is nothing more than non-implemented policy.

I’ll gladly take Roy back after 7+ years of nothing but infighting and 10 lane bass ramps in Bonaire.