Is Charlie Ross Corrupt?

Jackson radio host Paul Gallo seemed to indicate that he believed Charlie Ross to be corrupt when the two met on air on May 18th.

A Madison County Journal article includes these choice bits from the meeting:

Ross on May 18 was questioned extensively on the Paul Gallo Show about his vote on an amendment to Senate Bill 2424 in 2001 that automatically awarded the hospital association the responsibility of distributing federal Medicaid payments to state hospitals.The amendment changed the language from "may" to "shall contract with the Mississippi Hospital Association to provide administrative support for the operation of the disproportionate share hospital program and the Medicare Upper Payment Limits Program."

This is interesting because this appears that it is possible guaranteed income to the hospital association. This becomes an issue because he works for Wise Carter, the law firm that represents The Mississippi Hospital Association.

"Profiting has always been illegal, if you are profiting from your elective office," Gallo told Ross on the popular conservative morning talk show.

I actually think it is unlikely that this is proof of corruption as can be seen in the other facts presented in the article this is drawn from. I think instead Gallo was fed a particularly interesting tidbit by some of Phil Bryant's people or supporters and jumped for the bait.

Update (6:52): Here is a link to YouTube video of the interview: Gallo/Ross Ethics