One sure indicator of an election year is to look at the bills that are being considered during the legislative session.
Halfway through the 2015 session, many of the bills still under consideration are geared toward building a political base in advance of the elections this fall — bills directed toward lightning rod issues such as education funding and Common Core, new regulations on state contracts as response to the Department of Corrections scandal and a bill that would eliminate state inspection stickers.
More legislation geared toward appeasing the voters back home are still on the horizon. The deadline for bills that require funding, appropriation bills, is Feb. 25. Between now and then, we will see a proposal to cut taxes; Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves has already outlined a plan for one he hopes will appeal to voters this fall.
What is also evident in this year’s session is the influence of Chris McDaniel and his Tea Party base, which fell tantalizing short of success in McDaniel’s efforts to unseat six-time incumbent U.S. Senator Thad Cochran last fall.
Reeves’ tax-break plan seems to be, at least in part, an overt effort to reaffirm his conservative credentials among those with Tea Party leanings.
This year’s session certainly reflects the influence of the Tea Party in other areas, especially on the issues of Common Core and education funding.
Common Core, developed by educators at the national level and adopted in most states, provides a measuring stick to evaluate the educational process. It does not dictate what is taught; that responsibility continues to rest with local education officials.
Even so, there are few things that have become more needlessly politicized than Common Core, which has become a particular target for the Tea Party. In this session, there are no fewer that three bills that would alter the guidelines.
As for education funding, legislators are trying to find the middle ground between a grassroots uprising to force the state to fully fund its MAEP plan — a ballot initiative and a lawsuit seek that outcome — and a efforts to increase funding at a much smaller rate than the MAEP formula requires.
That debate should begin this week.
Other bills that seem certain to pass would eliminate inspection stickers and reduce the cost of concealed-carry gun permits.
If the current session is an indicator — and it almost certainly is — look for these same themes during the campaign season this fall. We’ll hear a lot about tax cuts, education funding, the evils of Common Core, “cleaning up” government agencies and protecting Second Amendment rights.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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