Sunday, April 7, 2024

Bill Crawford: Will Signature Achievements Occur During Legislative Session?

Will there be signature achievements by the 2024 Legislature or just signature flops?

After Gov. Tate Reeves campaigned on complete elimination of the state income tax, the issue was expected to dominate the 2024 session. It hasn’t. Two bills introduced by Ways and Means Committee Chair Trey Lamar died in committee. Perhaps that is because state revenue collections year-over-year for nine months have been flat as the phase-in of the 2022 cuts take effect. Of course, no issue is truly dead until legislators go home. Whether a surprise achievement or likely flop, the result will be significant.

Meanwhile, the signature flops are accumulating.

A new ballot initiative and referendum process was to be another hot item. Both houses worked up proposals. Sen. David Parker, chair of the Senate Accountability, Efficiency, Transparency committee, allowed the final bill to die. It passed but got held on a motion to reconsider which Parker failed to call up before the deadline.

Despite legislative leaders and State Treasurer David McRae calling for serious action on PERS financing, Sen. Chris Johnson, chair of the Senate Government Structure Committee, killed the lone PERS bill in his committee. It sought to revamp the PERS board and to stall an increase in employer contributions.

State Auditor Shad White called for university diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs to be defunded. Bills introduced by Rep. Becky Currie and Sen. Angela Hill failed to get out of committees.

Bills to allow in-person early voting, close most of the State Penitentiary at Parchman, allow wine shipments direct to homes, examine the efficiency of state universities, and restore voting rights to persons convicted of non-violent felonies died too.

A few bills remain in the running for signature achievements.

The House passed a new INSPIRE funding formula for K-12 schools. The Senate passed a revamped version of the Mississippi Adequate Education Program (MAEP) formula. If the two sides can come together, the result would readily qualify as a signature achievement.

The House and Senate have passed notably different bills to expand Medicaid. Again, if the two sides can come together, the result would qualify as a signature achievement.

If both of those should flop, the top achievement may come from one of these: two bills designed to keep children safe online; a bill to greatly expand tax credits for individual contributions to private schools operating as charitable organizations; or a bill to allow mobile sports betting.

Want to bet on what the top achievement will be?

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds” – James 1:2.

Crawford is a syndicated columnist from Jackson.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

One conservatives opinion:

If Delbert and “his Senators” will just go home, it will be a Signature Achievement.

Anonymous said...

How many licks does it take to get to the middle of a tootsie roll pop?

Anonymous said...

Why do some people think it is important that a legislature pass “signature” legislation every session? Isn’t it enough that it just tend to runnubg government? The legislature can find itself causing more harm than good if some of its members are mostly interested in making headlines

Saltwaterpappy said...

Rush Limbaugh use to say that he loved "gridlock" in Washington. His point was that the political elites would have more difficulty in passing laws that would reduce liberties, while at the same time increasing spending.

Anonymous said...

The hidden agenda for allowing "non-violent" felons to vote is pandering for democratic votes.

Anonymous said...

@10:37am THAT's how politicians became "full-time" employed as corrupt leeches on the people. They have to "pass legislation" to appear to be "doing something" and "serving the people" when in fact there are far too many laws on the books as there should be. In fact that should spend an entire session repealing most of the BS laws that have been passed.

They used to be gentleman farmers that only convened for a temporary period of time, then went home to their real jobs.

Anonymous said...

No mention of:

A) The bill that would designate blue as the state color. This is a desperate need.

B) Shanks' bill to outlaw trucks being jacked up in the front. Niknar folks will remember this at the polls.

C) The bill that would require D.O.T. to maintain roadside rest-stops and visitor centers on interstates. We can't be keeping up with Tennessee, Arkansas, Alabama and Loozanner.

D) That onerous bill that would require a 30-minute notice be given to chicken-plant workers prior to any federal or state raid on the facility.

E) A private bill sponsored by the Ag Secretary to prohibit elected officials and their staff from parking campers overnight on any state property.

It's rumored that the Governor will call a special session that will incorporate B) and E)

Anonymous said...

Ol Donnie

Anonymous said...

Any thought on "online sports gambling" be approved?

Anonymous said...

11:04
It’s still alive . I sure hope so

Anonymous said...

Are committee assignments handed out based on whether or how many trivial bills you sponsored came out of committee in the prior session?

Anonymous said...

Don't forget the Christian-Loving bill to outlaw the Devil! The Devil can't see over the nose of his truck, but he be comin' after you!

Anonymous said...

Remember if you can vote, you can serve on a criminal jury! A new meaning to "being judged by your peers" The DAs will love that!


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Trollfest '09

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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