The Mississippi Budget

The state legislature ended the regular session in early April, they came back in early May, recessed and now are back to see just how the Fed Stim cash will help the budget.

Forbes magazine is reporting:

Mississippi lawmakers said they did the opposite of what they intended Thursday as House and Senate negotiators moved farther apart, rather than closer together, in their budget talks.

Republican Gov. Haley Barbour has urged legislators to be cautious because the recession has caused a decline in state tax collections.  (Yes it has and thanx to Barbour’s BS of giving away everything to corporations.  If you want someone to thank then send Barbour a note.)

The session is now scheduled to end next Wednesday. If the budget is still not done by then, it would take a two-thirds vote of the House and Senate to extend the session to allow more time for talks.

You would think that people that are suppose to be our leaders would show some cajones and tell the residents the truth…..that is that they will most likely have to pay higher taxes if they want state programs to continue.

That is a pipedream on my part…they guys and gals that I speak of are cowards and will do nothing that can be used against them in their re-election bid.  The state’s poor will suffer…the state’s workers will suffer…….and still nothing will get accomplished….AS USUAL!

Your Car Tags

Something had to be done or the price of Mississippi car tags was going to go up……enter a trick play…..tie the unsuccessful cig tax to the car tag bill……genius…it worked….cigs have gone up.

If we look back 10 years ago and the tobacco lawsuit that was won by the state….think about it……that windfall was to be used to fund an ailing MedicAid program…did not work out that way…did it?  Or that the tax revenue from the new casinos would be used to fund education…..another lie……never do new taxes go to the promised programs or if it does it is some minor that it does not help in the less.

The big argument for a new cig tax was that it only effected a small portion of the population…using that logic….maybe the car tags could be funded by a whopping tax on luxury SUVs…after all that effects only a small portion of the population…..thast will not happen…why…rich people rule!

One of the biggest selling points was that Mississippi collected one of the lowest cig taxes in the country……they wanted it to be more in line with the rest of the country……cool……using that logic….why not bring teachers pay more in line or unemployment benefits or ….well you get my drift.  That selling point was as lame as the population argument.

The true is that it , the tax, will effect the working class more than any other and Mississippi is notorious for crap on its workers.

There Is Always Bad News For Revenue

It constantly amazes me that the state and local administrations continue to have a difficult time finding the money to fund the needed programs.  Yet there is a way and a way that could lead to a self-sufficient community, but stupidity comes into the equation.

Year after year after year, funds are not available and year after year the legislature tries to find ways to come up with the cash.  Most times it involves the bulk of the responsibility falls on the shoulders of the working class in Mississippi.

It is time for the state and local entities to find a better way to raise funds that are needed.  As the economy keeps getting worse, funds become smaller and smaller, the people of the state become less and less safe and secure.

The only way to keep the much needed cash rolling into the coffers is by finally accepting the need for Land Value Taxation.  (read page on LVT)  Why?  Easy answer…it fits all the requirements of a perfect tax.  These are:  1–the distribution of the burden would be equitable, 2–tax should minimize the effect on economic activity, 3–the structure should facilitate stabilization and economic growth, 4–should be simple and easily understood by the taxpayer.

If you want the governmental services for your community then a new system of taxation must be found.  It can be done and the people can make it happen.  But as long as they depend on the stale thinking of the past then their community will suffer and possibly wither and die.

It is your choice.

Mississippi Moronocracy–The UGLY

This is part 3 and the finally part to my annual posts of Mississippi Moronocracy.  These are bills offered up in the 2009 legislature, some were passed while others died a death.  All in all these are just flippin’ ugly.

HB 349–exempt ad valorem tax on pollution control equipment.

HB 374–casteration for convict sex offenders–this is silly–what happens if the person is found not guilty after the preceedure–how do you repay that guy?

HB 540–phase out corporate income tax–anything for the corporations, but the people suffer.

HB 631–tax deduction for private school–helps only the wealthy.

HB 790–mandatory drug tests for students grade 6-12.

HB 800–good health video for recipients of assistence.SB 2378–state to compensate landowners for certain loss of value.

SB 2390–provide protection of doctors from lawsuits brought by Medicaid patients.

These were absolutely the ugliest of bills that could have been offered….no where was any of it good fopr the people of Mississippi.

I will be watching and reading and if the legislature returns for an emergency session I will write and bitch.  Until next session…peace out.

Bend Over The State Is Here To Help

Oh goody!  We can be sure now that the State’s Medicaid program will be slovent for the first time in many years.  How can this be?  The infusion of new capital to be paid by smokers.

Mississippi’s Legislature has approved the first cigarette tax hike in two decades, voting to raise the tax by 50 cents a pack in a bid to reap millions of dollars in new budget revenues amid the nation’s economic slump.

The Senate voted 40-4 and the House 102-18 to approve the bill to boost the state’s excise tax from 18 cents to 68 cents per pack. The tax has remained unchanged since 1985 and is the third lowest in the country.

Lawmakers said revenue from the tax would replenish a fund that helps lower the cost of car tags and help pay for other state services. Barbour hasn’t said when he would sign the bill.  Oh damn!  Sorry it is not Medicaid that will benefit but all Mississippians with lower car tags.  Another joke waiting for a punchline.

The argument for the tax was that it only effected a small percentage of citizens…so that makes it alright?  How about a larger tax on luxury SUVs?   That would only effect a small poercentage also.

This is also an attempt to get the people to stop smoking….let us say that succeed……where will the theives in Jackson get their blood money once they have killed the tobacco indusrty?  Alcoholics will be safe for the state monopoly on booze will never be touched.  So who will be the next victim of the intrusion into people’s lives?

Mississippi Moronocracy–The Bad

These bills that were introduced in the 09 kegislative session that were just bad for Mississippi.  These are the BAD bills of Mississippi’s Moronocracy.

HB342–Repeal 3% tax on gaming winnings.

HB411–Smoking in non smoking area is a misdeamenor.

HB594–Revise where money from tobacco settlement will go.

HB670–home schooled children to use public extra-cirricula activities.

HB682–employers can give minimum notice of lay-offs.

HB695–state lottery to fund education (this was what casino gaming was gonna pay for)

HB721–exempt gold from sales tax.

HB791–give school children a body mass index test.

SB2633–ban all smoking in public

These are the bad bills thast were introduced in the ‘09 Miss. legislature.

Put All Eggs In One Basket

Recently I read an editorial in a local newspaper about the amazing people of the Coast and their recovery from Katrina.  I agree with them somewhat, but they seem to give the Gaming Industry all the kudos as the savior of the Coast.

But permit us to again recognize three institutional aspects of the recovery process:

First and foremost has be the generosity of the American people, as expressed through the appropriations of the United States Congress.

Then there is Gov. Haley Barbour’s Commission on Recovery, Rebuilding and Renewal, which provided the means for South Mississippians to develop visionary plans and devise practical solutions.

Last but not least is the Mississippi Legislature, which passed two indispensable pieces of legislation:

The onshore casino bill ensured the survival of the casino industry in South Mississippi.

The extension of the tourism tax incentive bill to include casino companies will help ensure the expansion of the casino industry into non-gaming activities.

On this foundation we can build any future we choose.

So according to this writer, the Legislature has done the best thing for the Coast…..well don’t think so!  They did the best thing for the coffers of the State…..liquor sales pay many of the bills in Mississippi and Casinos are the major consumer of the state monopoly.

Would almost bet, that the people that voted for the favorable gaming industry stuff will be well compensated for their support.

Mississippi Moronocracy–The Good

The yearly exercise in futility is nearly over, the legislative session, and time to rate it.  For those of us who actually watch this saga unfold day after day, it can either make you angry or so confused that you go out and talk to fire plugs.

This was the title of an opinion piece I wrote for a now defunct newspaper, the Gulfport Star-Journal, and I thought that it was worth a resurrection.  These are bills that the state legislature considered in the most recent session.  The bills that I considered the GOOD, the BAD and the UGLY.  Some made through the process, others did not.  Some were a complete waste of time, some had promise.   This will be a three part post.

THE GOOD:

HB 120– Create a Civil Rights Museum

HB345–Compensation for wrongful incarceration

HB351–Create Civil Rights Division within the AG’s office

HC 5–study of the state tax system–this never goes anywhere.

SB2309–compulsory school attendence–something desperately needed

SB2321–Prohibit texting and cel use while driving–another much needed law

SB2346–prohibit predatory mortgage practices

These were not all the measures taken up by the state legislature, but these were the ones that had a lot of promise to help the state move into the 21st century.  Sadly, many did not make it….and the state stays at the bottom of the pile.

Cig Tax UpDate

Mr Specter was facing a tough challenge from conservative Pat Toomey, in a primary election to decide who would run as the Republican candidate for Mr Specter’s Pennsylvania senate seat in 2010.

Polls suggested that Mr Specter’s decision to vote for the president’s economic stimulus package earlier this year had been unpopular with Republican activists in the state.

If this is successful then I want to see what they will go after next…you can bet that it will not effect the wealthy.

Here We Go Again

The proponents of a cig tax increase are hitting the trail making their case for the tax increase.  They are showing up on most news or talk shows.  Of course, their argument is that they care about the children….which is BS pure and simple!

These cowards are looking to tax less than 25% of the population so they do not have to do it to the state’s best friend, big business.

Their lame arggument when hit with if everyone stops smoking your tax money will dry up and their reply is predictable, it will be offset by the health savings from Medicare.  That is lame at best, but then when you are dealing with a public that does not care about too much, that tactic will WORK.

When asked if the cost of cigs is too high, what would keep the people from going to another state to buy their smokes?  They say that it would be too expensive for the people to do so.  But of course the microsephalics have overlooked the internet.  As usual the “good old boys” have shown that they are oblivious to the fact that the worldwide web exist.

Sorry dipsticks….but smokers will get their smokes.

And the savings in medicare is a joke also…..the state is aging and with age comes catastrophic dieases and injuries and scuh…the savings will not be there.  The majority of the state is poor and with poverty comes bad health habits and medicare will be used….NO savings there.

The attaching of the smokes bill to the car tag bill was a ingenious move by the cowards trying to find a way to MAKE Mississippians accept the cig tax increase.

Bet the supporters of this political game would yell a different yell if the boats were taxed, after all it would only effect a small percentage of the population.  Or maybe tax people with Hummers or Escalades or other high end cars.

The argument that it will only effect a small percentage of the people is just political trickery.  It is lame…it is moronic and it will most likely be effective.

Will Mississippians be fooled yet again….most likely so!