JACKSON, Miss. —
Mississippi lawmakers get hopping mad when Washington tries to tell the state what it can or can’t do. But, they’ve been plenty willing this session to make the state government exert similar control over local government.
The House passed a bill that says cities and counties can’t ban junk food or limit the size of soft drinks. If the bill becomes law, it would mean, for example, that the tiny Delta town of Alligator couldn’t put a local regulation on the sale of Kool-Aid pickles in convenience stores or impose the same kind of no-big-sodas rule that Mayor Michael Bloomberg set in New York City.
The House and Senate each passed its own bill to pre-empt cities and counties from setting a local minimum wage, though there’s been little effort to do so. Some lawmakers say local governments should be able to make these decisions if they want, but supporters of the ban — who are more vocal — say local rules would impose unfair burdens on businesses and create a confusing patchwork for developers trying to lure industries to the state.
Lawmakers maintain tight control over local option sales taxes, rejecting for the umpteenth year a proposal to let cities set a 1 percent sales tax. This year’s plan would’ve required a local election, with at least 60 percent of voters approving the tax before it could be imposed. It also said that the tax would be time-limited and for specific projects: Once a park is built or a water system is repaired, the tax would disappear.
Because legislators said “no,” cities still need to come to the Capitol, individually, and ask in their nicest voices if they can — pretty please with sugar on top — set some sort of local tax. This usually takes the form of a tourism tax, an extra penny per dollar for hotel nights or restaurant meals. Lawmakers have shown a willingness to allow tourism taxes on a case-by-case basis, but usually with the proviso that the tax expires after a certain number of years.
Two House bills that died would’ve made Mississippi thumb its nose at the federal government. One would’ve created a state commission to try to nullify some federal laws. Another would’ve prohibited the state from enforcing any federal limits on guns. Rep. Ed Blackmon, D-Canton, said federal law takes precedent over conflicting state laws.
“From a constitutional standpoint, that’s been resolved a long time ago,” Blackmon said.
During debate on food labeling, Rep. Gregory Holloway said local governments shouldn’t be allowed to randomly regulate things like the size of soft drinks.
“If you want to go eat 20 Big Macs, you can eat 20 Big Macs,” said Holloway, D-Hazlehurst.
Democratic Rep. Omeria Scott, who’s running for mayor in her hometown of Laurel, opposed the bill. “Given that Mississippi is the fattest and most unhealthy state in the USA, I don’t think we should take a tool away from them if they should choose to use it,” she said.
Holloway told The Associated Press this past week that he believes businesses could’ve been harmed if local governments were allowed to set food regulations. No toy in a kids’ fast-food meal in, say, Jackson? Customers would drive to Ridgeland to get the food and toy, and the Jackson business would lose money.
“I do think the Legislature should reserve or retain some authority or decisions over political subdivisions,” Holloway said.
“Political subdivisions,” in legislative speak, means cities or counties.
“We don’t want political subdivisions doing different things,” Holloway said. It’s a sentiment he shares with many, if not most, of his Capitol colleagues.
Editorials
Good for goose, but not for gander
AP Analysis
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Analysis: Miss. supes discussing county budgets
Mississippi supervisors gather on the Gulf Coast this week to talk about roads and bridges, economic development, water resources and other issues.
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DOJ’s seizure of phone records is appalling
By The Vicksburg Post:
In today’s Department of Justice, the ends seem to justify the means.
And it is sickening. -
Bryant tantrum on education major standards was misguided
By the (McComb) Enterprise-Journal:
That was quite a tantrum Gov. Phil Bryant pitched at the College Board recently, criticizing its members for voicing concerns about his effort to increase standards for education majors. -
Legislature to City Hall not sure move
Five Mississippi House members are running for mayor this year, and while name recognition might provide some advantage, lawmakers have had a mixed record in trying to go from the Capitol to City Hall.
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Nation’s economy improving, but state’s still lagging
By The (Jackson) Clarion-Ledger
It’s been a long time coming, but finally there are bright economic signs nationally that seem here to stay a while. -
Armed teachers dangerous idea for school safety
By (Columbus) The Commercial Dispatch:
The Mississippi House of Representatives sent back to the Senate a bill that would arm teachers.
Before sending it over, the House, by a 70-46 vote, amended the Senate’s bill in two major ways. Actually, the House did more than amend it. They neutered it. -
Not every bill grabs headlines
The first two bills that Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant signed during the 2013 legislative session dealt with money.
House Bill 19 gave more cash to the agency that coordinates a program to put all emergency offices under the same digital communications system. House Bill 20 moved money from the car tag reduction fund to the Budget Contingency Fund. Lawmakers use the contingency fund to cobble together cash for the overall state budget. -
Transparency key to ‘best watchdogs’ oversight
By The (Tupelo) Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal:
Rep. Jerry Turner’s effort to require open meetings of water associations and notice of meetings in which members of boards of directors will be elected remains alive in the Legislature. It should be enacted in the interests of transparency in the running of the nonprofit associations providing water for a significant percentage of Mississippi’s population. -
Miss. makes news, good news, this time
By The (Columbus) Commercial Dispatch:
Generally, when Mississippi makes national news — especially of late — it is not the sort of notoriety we welcome. ...
So March 3, when Mississippi again made national news, we braced ourselves for the embarrassment that was sure to follow.
Only this time, it wasn’t anything to be embarrassed about.
Imagine that. -
Ag’s legal expenses top $2.4M for year
An ongoing lawsuit challenging Mississippi’s foster care system has cost the state at least $4.4 million in legal expenses and fees since 2008.
Expenses continue to rise as the plaintiffs and the state work toward a telephone status conference scheduled for April 25 with U.S. District Judge Tom S. Lee. The price tag this year is $1.35 million. - More Editorials Headlines
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