Sunday, July 10, 2022

Bill Crawford: Multiple Reasons to Call Special Session

 Remember back in July 2019 when Gov. Tate Reeves campaigned against increasing Mississippi gas taxes by 10 to 12 cents per gallon? 

“The reason I am opposed to raising the gas tax is because I believe it would hurt working Mississippi families more so than anybody else in the state,” he told a Clarion-Ledger editorial board. “It ain’t easy for those working families.”

Back then the average price per gallon for regular unleaded in Mississippi was $2.40. This summer, the price has doubled. Over this past weekend it was down a little at $4.30 according to AAA. 

Clearly, this $2 per gallon increase not only “ain’t easy” but is devastating for those working families Gov. Reeves talked about.

Meanwhile, state tax collections are soaring, projected as of June 30 to come in $500 million more than the Legislature anticipated.

Last March Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann suggested a six-month gas tax holiday to help offset increased prices at the pump. Such a holiday would reduce prices by 18.4 cents per gallon. That’s far less than the devastating $2 increase, but if 10 to 12 cents was significant, then 18.4 cents is more significant.

Gov. Reeves has the power and state coffers the extra money to give working families a break on gas taxes. A governor truly concerned about them would call a special session of the Legislature to get this done…even if it was Hosemann’s idea.

The Governor could also deal with another important issue in a special session – the obstinate fight between the University of Mississippi Medical Center and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mississippi over reimbursements. Caught in the crossfire between these two goliaths are patients who can only obtain needed care from UMMC which has the state’s only organ transplant center, Level I trauma center, Level IV neonatal intensive care unit, and more.

Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney has tried to resolve the dispute but has no legal authority to step in and force a resolution. Gov. Reeves and the Legislature could and should provide the Commissioner such authority for use in extraordinary cases. While the Governor has been at odds with UMMC, suffering families should be his priority.

Gov. Reeves could also act on his commitment to give citizens back their right to hold ballot initiatives by putting that in his special session call. “I do think the citizens should have access to the ballot,” he said in January. This is a major freedom issue for Mississippians that has been denied over a legal technicality.

Finally, another special session issue could be the City of Jackson’s seemingly never-ending water crisis. State officials have shown concern about public safety in the Capitol City, particularly crime. Access to clean water is also a vital public safety matter. The state Safe Water Drinking Act should be amended to give the State Board of Health power to resolve this mess. Just as the state has the power to temporarily take over dysfunctional school districts to get them functioning properly, it should have similar power over dysfunctional water plants. 

 “If you falter in a time of trouble, how small is your strength” – Proverbs 24:10.

Crawford is a syndicated columnist from Jackson

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Is Billy suggesting state taxpayers bail out Jackson's incompetence and corruption? Ha!

Anonymous said...

Jackson should fix its own water woes- just like all other cities in MS do.

Anonymous said...

As a UMMC patient, and who had great coverage from BCBS/Ala until BCBS/MS took over their management here and coverage didn't just sink to bizarrely low levels but dictated I go to "docs in boxes" to be referred to specialists I need. These "doc boxes" either refer to friends or the hospital they like best...not necessarily the one best for me.
And, can you imagine the "wait" to be a new patient for a highly regarded specialist?

I almost hope BCBS has to pay emergency room costs for me and welcome would welcome a likely crisis if certain I'd survive it!

MS BCBS is the worst insurer there is. They will do anything not to pay or cover and I've battled them more than once, knowing I'd win, but hating that I had to spend my time doing it!

Anonymous said...

The small fish (us) always fry first.

Anonymous said...

Anyone who thinks a gas tax exemption will make an impact on a tax payer's budget is crazy.
Engineers have been begging for politicians to raise the gas tax, but to no avail. The tax holiday would put an average of $16 in a household budget every month. Even Obama called it a gimmick.
Keep ignoring the engineers while your roads go to crap.
Eventually, gas taxes will be raised. Pay now or pay later.
Let me know how flush you feel with that extra $16 every month.
Try not to spend it all in one place.

Anonymous said...

@2:16pm - That’s a case of Natty Lite son!

Anonymous said...

2:16 is right. Waiving the gas tax won’t make a big difference to the consumer but will to those tasked with maintaining our roads and bridges. Think the roads are rough now? Eliminate the gas tax, even temporarily.

What we need from our government is the basics. Functioning roads and water, and safe streets. Use the extra revenue for that.

Not the MS Hospital Assn said...

Come on Crawford. Do a little research first before you spill your dribble.

1) The DOH does have the authority, as does DEQ, to 'resolve' the Jackson water/sewer debacle - the question is, how best to do it. Certainly not by giving anything to Jackson, they would just squander it - but taking over the system can be done without your concept of spending dollars and time on a special session.

2) AND, Chaney already has the authority and ability to address the BCBS squabble, at least as to dealing with Blue Cross. There is a heavy hammer in his tool box if he had the desire and willingness to take it out and use on the licensed insurance company for not having a satisfactory network of providers in its group for the percentage of coverage they provide.

3) Your fellow democrats in Congress have already derided your president's thoughts about a gas tax holiday; just because your one favored elected official Hosemann suggested this as an idea does not make it sensible. The average 'working person' as you so nicely refer to those that you think this would be beneficial to uses how much gasoline a week? Maybe 20 gallons? Your 'giveaway' would provide them with less than fifteen dollars a month. Six month holiday - a total of ninety dollars. Yes, that sounds like 'real money' but less than four dollars a week as a benefit doesn't do much compared to the thousands of free dollars they have been given over the past couple of years - and the disruption to the state transportation system and the overall budgeting would make this trifling more of a headache than a benefit.

4) The 'right' to an Initiative and Referendum is not pressing enough to justify a special session. How many Referendums have been on the ballot for the voters to express themselves over the past century? Here, let me help you - four. Was I&R enough of a right that you bothered to fight for it during your term in the legislature, Bill? Here, let me help you again - no. While passing a workable I&R might be desired by some, maybe even a majority of Mississippians - what's the need to rush and get it in September rather than six months later?

Or, is it just that you needed to find something to write about for this week's column, and you couldn't think of anything else you could beat on the Governor about?

Krusatyr said...


Gas tax and sales tax force all users of state services to pay something. Toll roads work well in Texas where the system reads one's car tag and sends a fair and reasonable bill once a month or once per quarter: no stopping to put money in a toll booth.

Anonymous said...

My understanding is MDOT receives its funding solely from a tax paid on gasoline. Road conditions are bad enough without cutting into the funds to improve them.

As to Jackson and its water woes, Jackson don't give a shit about me, and I don't give a shit about Jackson. That proud population demographic can fix its own problems.

Anonymous said...

4:09 PM Toll roads should be considered. There are thousands of cars and trucks who use the roads every day and never pay a penny.

Unknown said...

Perhaps the state government should pay property taxes. The majority of property in downtown is now owned by the state. I am no fan of Jackson but not fair to see your largest property tax and office rental pay no tax. Q
)

Anonymous said...

The majority of property in downtown has always been owned by the state. The majority of property in most state capitols are owned by the state. Why is this all of a sudden a problem? Maybe because they've managed to run off all the taxpaying property owners.


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