Hall: Costly lessons on HB 1523, budget
The 2017 budget is an unnecessary mess designed by the Republican leadership in the Legislature. Both Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves and House Speaker Philip Gunn continue to stand by their decision to cut taxes at a time when tax revenues continue to lag way behind projections and to sweep special-fund budgets that are wreaking all sorts of havoc in agencies across the state.
Republican statewide officials like Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann and Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney have repeatedly criticized lawmakers for their decisions. So, too, have numerous state agency heads, most — if not all — of whom are Republican appointees.
To any right-minded political observer, this looks like an issue being served to Democrats on a silver platter. All they had to do was go to the Capitol, hold a news conference beating up on Reeves and Gunn, vote on the emergency rainy-day fund legislation and go home. Hard to screw that up, right?
Not so much. Democrats decided a little more grandstanding was in order, knowing full well nothing would change on Wednesday. When it was over, the only takeaway was that Democrats cost taxpayers $30,000 for a pointless second day.
Sam Hall
Clarion Ledger
7/5/16
Magnolia Tribune
