CL - Pickering recoups more than $3.6M in last 2 years

When State Auditor Stacey Pickering took office in January 2008, there were 184 open cases. Since then, the agency has opened 189 more.

Apparently there is a lot of corruption in public office, said Tougaloo College political science professor Steve Rozman.

During these tough economic times, people may be more prone to misuse taxpayer money, Rozman said. Once they do it once or twice, it may become addictive, he said, and if the oversight isn't there, they will be tempted to continue.

Pickering's office has increased collections from people misusing public dollars, recouping more than $3.6 million in the last two years for an average of $1.8 million annually.

Clarion-Ledger
3/15/10