JACKSON – “Shame on You” turned to a “Thank You” Thursday asstate lawmakers repealed a retirement perk that would have entitledthem to double the benefits of teachers and state employees.

The “Shame on You,” on a sign in a yard near the Capitol, was inresponse to lawmakers’ approval of the controversial perk that wasincluded in a conference report in the closing days of the 2000session.

The “Thank You” was uttered quietly from the Senate gallery byMarc Allen, of Pearl, after senators voted 48-0 to repeal the perkfollowing an earlier 102-15 House vote. Allen mustered the words ofappreciation even though he said lawmakers did a disservice in theway the perk was handled.

“They hacked me off so much I took a day off of work to comehere today,” Allen said.

Allen recalled session talk of no money this year for teacher orstate employee raises or other projects. However, he said lawmakerswere able to approve the estimated $600,000 perk.

“They ought to get the same retirement just like any other stateemployee …,” Allen said. “I think that’s only fair.”

As evidenced by Thursday’s vote, a number of state lawmakersheard the message and the call for repeal.

Among them was Dist. 97 Rep. Clem Nettles, who had earlierindicated he would support keeping the retirement perk. Nettles,though, said he had received a lot of calls from constituentsurging him to reconsider.

“You’ve got to kind of listen to the people who elected you,”said Nettles, whose district includes half of Lincoln County’s Ruthprecinct.

Dist. 91. Rep. Joey Hudson, D-Monticello, said he believedThursday’s outcome was “pretty evident.” He said constituents hadcalled and wanted lawmakers to reverse their earlier action.

“We try to do the best we can and what we feel like they want usto do,” Hudson said, while expressing appreciation to leadershipfor not trying to block action Thursday.

With Nettles’ vote, all of Lincoln County’s lawmakers voted torepeal the retirement perk.

Before retreating on the retirement issue, some lawmakers firedsome shots at the media over what they contended were “inaccuraciesand outright falsehoods” in coverage of the issue.

Sen. Billy Hewes, of Harrison County, said the press was “asleepat the wheel” when the issue was brought up in the Senate. Denyingthat anything was done “in secret,” Sen. Bob Dearing, of Natchez,questioned why there was no discussion or interest when lawmakersapproved $3 billion in 118 appropriations at one time.

“Where were the reporters on that? Where was talk radio onthat?” Dearing asked.

Other lawmakers maintained they did not know the perk wasincluded in the report they approved. Sen. Travis Little saidlawmakers could talk about who knew what and when, but that was notthe issue.

“The issue is, is this the right thing to do?,” Little said.

Little said the price tag of the retirement perk was notmentioned when the report was voted on.

“Had that been brought out on the floor, it would have changedthe whole complexion of the issue,” Little said.

Meeting with reporters after the session, Lt. Gov. Amy Tuckapplauded lawmakers for their action. She said Gov. Ronnie Musgrovegave them an opportunity to right a wrong and lawmakers stepped upto the plate and did so.

“We took a positive action to correct this wrong,” Tucksaid.