Sunday, November 26, 2023

Bill Crawford: Fiscal Management Gets Federal & State Attention

 A favorite political topic was in the news at both the federal and state levels last week – fiscal management.

Actually, fiscal mismanagement was the topic at the federal level.

Mounting deficits have led some lawmakers to call for a BRAC-like commission to do the heavy lifting of designing a realistic approach to address ballooning debt. “A fiscal commission is direly needed," said Republican Senator Mike Braun of Indiana, a member of the Senate Budget Committee, reported Reuters.

Hmmm. Remember the 2010 Simpson-Bowles Commission? The bipartisan group worked hard and came up with reasonable recommendations to balance revenues and spending. Then, several Republican commissioners who helped draft the plan scuttled its final adoption. Still, that plan along with the comprehensive Back in the Black plan developed by the late Sen. Tom Coburn, a conservative Republican from Oklahoma, laid out steps still relevant today.

So much for talk. The bitter polarization now infecting Congress makes the notion of much needed bipartisan agreement on taxes and spending an absurdity.

For those who like details, read the 60 page Simpson-Bowles summary plan here: https://www.ssa.gov/history/reports/ObamaFiscal/TheMomentofTruth12_1_2010.pdf  Read Coburn’s masterful 624 page plan here: http://www.coburn.senate.gov/public//index.cfm?a=Files.Serve&File_id=bc1e2d45-ff24-4ff3-8a11-64e3dfbe94e1)

At the state level, Gov. Tate Reeves and key legislators could not agree on an official revenue estimate for fiscal year 2025. Such estimates are needed to guide the Legislature’s annual budget process and set a revenue threshold below which mid-year cuts must occur.

“Reeves balked at adopting a $7.5 billion revenue projection that was $117 million less than the most recent projection from a group of state financial experts,” reported Mississippi Public Broadcasting. “For those of us who, for instance, are very interested in cutting taxes in this legislative session, arbitrarily lowering the number, for no apparent reason, hurts our ability to justify those tax cuts,” Reeves said.

Expected new House Speaker Jason White said he did not think the less than two percent reduction would have any impact on cutting taxes. Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann said the group preferred using the same revenue estimate used this year “because revenue for the past two months has been lower than the official estimate approved for the current budget year.” The impact of year one of the massive income tax cut passed in 2022 was the reason cited for the revenue slowdown.

Legislative leaders are right to be cautious. There are three more years of income tax cuts to phase in, PERS costs keep escalating, inflation remains stubbornly high, and state economist Corey Miller projects that the state economy is likely to slow down. 

“A wise man saves for the future” - Proverbs 21:20.

Crawford is a syndicated columnist from Jackson.


14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Fiscal Management Jackistan version: Grease those palms.

Anonymous said...

If we stopped paying to house and feed the non-productive breeders, and if we stopped subsidizing other nation’s militaries, and if we stopped fomenting foreign proxy wars to justify the military industrial complex budget, then this nation could right this sinking ship. But we won’t.

Perhaps when the economic ship has sunk and our economy is weaker than Australia or Russia, we might turn things around. I doubt it though. Americans are like zombies. If they aren’t watching TV, they are driving their cars between the work, home, shopping, and eating. Total NPCs just copying trends fed to them on social media.

They don’t really care how much the government borrows because they are all in more debt than they will ever pay back.

Anonymous said...

Well who knew, you cut taxes, you cut programs and services unless it’s in my house.

Anonymous said...

Not that hard to reduce our budget deficits. A little bit of sacrifice and belt tightening on the part of all Americans can get the problem under control. Anyone can go to this website and come up with proposals to reduce the deficit and get the deficit under control - https://www.crfb.org/debtfixer.

Anonymous said...

How about we tax the rich, I mean actually collecting the 12%, I end up paying every year.

Anonymous said...

Nothing will change until there is a conversation about the 78% of the annual budget that is mandatory spending, apart from Congress’s annual appropriations bills.

Ghost of Lyndon said...

"If we stopped paying to house and feed the non-productive breeders..."

Assume we do. Then what?

Anonymous said...

Rand Paul proposes a bill to balance the budget and pay off the national debt during every new session.

Anonymous said...

This is a strange article from a source that wants to expand the state budget by expanding Medicaid. Let us also not forget his continued campaign to have the state fund poorly managed hospitals in rural communities, but he feigns concern about the state budget. Does Crawford's hypocrisy have any bounds?

Anonymous said...



I just received my property tax bill for my Jackson home.

OUCH!!

Where does all that $ go?

Anonymous said...

You will never pay off the debt as long as every dollar printed is a loan from the large banks that own the Federal Reserve.

Anonymous said...

I will never understand why KF allows antisemitic comments like @9:38 AM
The Federal Reserve bank isn’t “owned” it serves the at the will of the US Government.

Anonymous said...

November 27, 2023 at 9:38 AM, you are correct, sir/ma'am. Very few people understand the scam perpetrated by Wilson, and his rich banker friends. From that treasonous act, the American people have been placed in bondage. For if the money is controlled, the people are not free.

Anonymous said...

November 27, 2023 at 11:59 AM, you poor thing, bless your heart, and Santa will be along later next month with your presents.


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Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


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Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

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