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.

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.

Wrongfully Convicted

Recently several people have been released from Mississippi prisons because DNA has proven them innocent of the crimnes they were convicted of in the past.  And the state actually set about to rectify any damage that this wrongful conviction had caused.

Senate Bill 3024,

AN ACT PROVIDING FOR CLAIMS FOR WRONGFUL CONVICTION AND IMPRISONMENT; TO EXPRESS LEGISLATIVE INTENT; TO REQUIRE CLAIMANTS TO PRESENT STATEMENT OF CLAIM FOR COMPENSATION; TO ENACT STANDARDS; TO PROVIDE FOR PRESENTATION OF CLAIMS; TO ENACT STANDARDS FOR JUDGMENT AND AWARD; TO ENACT A STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS; TO PROVIDE FOR EXTENSION THEREOF; TO PROVIDE FOR THE RIGHT OF APPEAL FROM AN ADVERSE DECISION; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

People who have been proven to be wrongfully convicted will be eligible for $50,000 per year spent in jail, or up to $500,000 total.

Finally, a bit of justice for people who have been railroaded in the state….and there are many who may be able to take advantage of this new law.

Mississippi’s Highways and By-ways

There are some absolutely beautiful drives in Mississippi, very scenic and very interesting.  But do these highways and by-ways need special names?  Lots of drives in the state have been re-named this or that, “blues highway” for example.

Senate bill SB2735 renames highway 67 in Soiuth Mississippi as the “Biloxi-d’Iberville Scenic Expressway”.  The bill actually says:

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 65-41-57, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO RENAME THE “HIGHWAY 67 SCENIC BYWAY” AS THE “BILOXI-D’IBERVILLE SCENIC EXPRESSWAY”; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

How many have driven Highway 67?  Then will someone tell me what the scenic part is?  Nothing but pine trees and popcorn trees. with an occasional building of some sort, none of which would be considered an attraction.  So what did the state accomplish by re-naming this highway?

NOTHING!  This is just another waste of time by the legislature, kinda like the commending of half the state on some thing or the making of every other day as “National Whip-dicky Day”.  These jerks spend more time patting someone on the back or re-naming something than they do on the actually necessary business of the state.

So the legislature wastes money and time on superficial horsesh!t and how much will the cost be to make new improved road signs, the installation and so forth.

When the state finally get a group of representatives that actually want to work foir the better of Mississippi?  Probably never!   This type of bill makes the rep look like he is voting for substand when in reality he is just increasing his count, because about 80% of a reps vote total is on absolutely worthless, mindless crap.

Stop Wasting Precious Time!

My advice to the MS state legislature.  There are so few days left until next month and the close of the regulation session, most of the Reps are spoending the time patting someone on the back for something.  But the most ridiculous so far is HR 82:

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING JASMINE MURRAY, THE FIRST MISSISSIPPIAN TO ADVANCE TO THE TOP 13 ON “AMERICAN IDOL.”

Okay let me say from the outset that this person should be commended for the fact they she has made it to where she is and the state should be proud of her and the state should let her know of their pride in her.  But why not get a certificate of appreciation let it be signed by gov, lt. gov.  and speaker of the house and mail it to her.

Gee that is simple and avoids all the trappings of some legislature grand standing.  The person would be pleased, the state would be proud and time could be spent on really important issues, like finding ways to improve the lives of Mississippians.

A Reduction In Inventory Taxes

Mississippi lawmakers are considering cutting the inventory tax in half, but only after the economy improves.

Republican Sen. Billy Hewes of Gulfport is pushing the plan, which passed the Finance Committee on Tuesday. He says Mississippi businesses would be more competitive if they paid a lower tax on goods waiting to be sold.

Opponents worry that changing the inventory tax will put county budgets in danger because money from the tax now helps support local government.

Under Hewes’ proposal, the inventory tax would drop 10 percent a year for five years, and state government would reimburse counties for the loss of revenue.

The inventory tax would start decreasing only after the economy shows steady growth for at least three years.

As usual the only thing that any of the guys and gals in Jackson worry about is commending someone, or creating a study or lowering taxes.  The taxes thing is just ducky, but the state NEVER has enough cash to do what needs to be done…lowering taxes is not the way to accumulate a surplus.  It is however a way to pay back someone’s contributors.

Yet Another Waste Of Time

And another waste of money.  Mississippi representatives spend a good portion of their time in session thinking of stuff that makes them look good.  Seldom do they seem to care that it will go nowhere except on the their resumes.

The latest piece manure,  HB 666 which reads that a commission to study and make recommendations for the health care of Mississippians.  I will be honest…I cannot remember if this was in the works last session or not.

But how long has Mississippi been at the bottom of the ladder on health care?  You know crap like births, deaths, cost per patient, stuff like that?  But now it is a priority?  Why?  Could be a new president who has said that health care is a priority and the lazy guys and gals in Jackson want to get a piece of the pie.  If that is the case, then it could well pass this time around while dollar signs dance in the politicians heads.

HB666 which states:

AN ACT TO CREATE THE MISSISSIPPI COMMISSION ON HEALTH; TO REQUIRE THE COMMISSION TO REPORT TO THE 2010 REGULAR SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON ALL ASPECTS OF HEALTH; TO PROVIDE FOR THE MEMBERSHIP AND APPOINTMENT OF THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

I ask again, why after so many years of Mississippi being at the bottom of the health care scale is it important now?  If you have a clue….please share…all Mississippians are waiting for someone to have a clue.

To Pollute Or Not To Pollute?

That is the question.

Ask yourself these questions:  Would companies voluntarily stop polluting?  What would be the plan to get them to stop polluting?

First, companies will NOT voluntarily give up their polluting ways.  If they are gonna stop polluting it must be profitable for them.

The state is the midst of a very lean time, there is not enough money to fund needed programs.  The state is considering raising some taxes to cover the monetary shortfall.  The state has given away more money than it has collected, at least it seems so.  All in the name of good business practices.  So in the meantime, health, work, etc has suffered from a reduction in funds.

But one of my fav bills in consideration is HB349.  Which states and I quote:

AN ACT TO PROVIDE THAT CERTAIN POLLUTION CONTROL EQUIPMENT MANDATED BY FEDERAL OR STATE LAW OR REGULATION SHALL BE EXEMPT FROM AD VALOREM TAXATION, EXCEPT AD VALOREM TAXATION FOR SCHOOL DISTRICT PURPOSES, FOR A PERIOD OF TEN YEARS FROM THE DATE OF INSTALLATION OF THE EQUIPMENT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSe.

Why would the state reward a company for doing what it is ordered to do and clean up the environment from any toxic crap that it is spewing into the air or water that the residents will be using?  Will the state compensate any insurance company that must foot the bill for the illnesses the companies cause?  Will the companies compensate the people if they are not forced to?

This is all so ridiculous and just reinforces my premise that the state is business friendly and cares little for the plight of its residents.