[07/09/01] Sen. Mike Chaney of Vicksburg said Saturday that the governor’s call Friday for a special session of the Mississippi Legislature without first discussing it with other state leaders was akin to “spitting in the face of the tiger.”

Chaney, a Republican, said the call by Gov. Ronnie Musgrove, a Democrat, is counterproductive.

“If he had worked more closely with legislators this session it probably wouldn’t be necessary,” Chaney said.

Musgrove announced the July 18 session Friday amid complaints from House Speaker Tim Ford, D-Baldwyn, that he had been kept out of the loop. Lt. Gov. Amy Tuck was not notified about the session either.

“If you spit in the face of a sleeping tiger, you better be prepared to kill it,” Chaney said. “I am more willing to follow the leadership of Lt. Gov. Tuck and Mr. Ford than the governor.”

A multiyear teacher pay package passed last year guarantees teachers pay raises only if the state budget grows by at least 5 percent a year. If growth is below that, like it was in the fiscal year that ended last month and is expected to be again this year, legislators must vote to grant the raises.

Musgrove’s announcement of the session came hours after Tuck reversed her yearlong position on the 5 percent provision.

Tuck had said that the provision was necessary for financial responsibility, but Friday she said she was in favor of lifting it and making the raises automatic.

The pay plan is designed to move Mississippi teachers closer to the projected Southeastern salary average of about $41,000 by the 2005-2006 school year. The average salary last school year was about $32,000 in Mississippi and $37,800 across the Southeast.

Ford and Tuck both said Friday they felt calling the session to address one issue was a waste of time and should be addressed in August, when Musgrove is expected to call a special session to deal with congressional redistricting.

Musgrove said he hasn’t decided whether to include any other issues on the agenda of either of the sessions.

Rep. George Flaggs, D-Vicksburg, said Saturday he agrees with dumping the 5 percent rule, but not the way the governor went about it.

“This is going to show teachers we are committed to their pay and their profession,” Warren County’s senior legislator said.

Chaney and Flaggs both cited the date of the session as a point of contention.

Both men plan to attend the Southern Legislative Conference annual meeting in Savannah, Ga., July 14-18. Ford is president of the organization.

Flaggs and Chaney both said they planned to ask the governor to move the date of the session, so it won’t interfere with the meeting.

“It is the governor’s prerogative to call a special session, but this is what happens when you don’t communicate with other people,” Flaggs said.

Warren County’s third legislator, Rep. Chester Masterson, a Republican, could not be reached Saturday.