By Bill Crawford

Tax cuts remain the top topic of our triumvirate of power.

Gov. Tate Reeves: “Getting rid of our state income tax, in my opinion, is the next step in continuing to unleash our full economic potential.”

Speaker of the House Jason White: “We’re looking to do two main things: eliminate the personal income tax in as few years as possible and cut the grocery tax, hopefully in half.”

Lt. Governor Delbert Hosemann: “I think it’s time to look at the grocery tax.”

What makes tax cuts their top priority? Well, they are popular.

At his recent summit on taxes, Speaker White cited a poll showing 64% of Mississippians favor eliminating the income tax over a five-year period. That same poll showed 84% favor eliminating the state sales tax on groceries.

Ergo, let’s cut some taxes.

Is that how government is supposed to work? Our founding fathers didn’t think so. In rejecting direct democracy in favor of a democratic republic, they sought to establish a government that could resist popular wants if those wants were deemed imprudent or untimely. Elected representatives were to apply their own wisdom and judgement to make decisions not simply respond to popular sentiment.

At Speaker White’s tax summit several senators exhibited such resistance.

As reported in Mississippi Today, Senate Finance Committee chair Josh Harkins “cautioned that time might be needed to see the results of previous massive tax cuts passed in 2022 and in 2016 that are still being phased in.” Harkins has also pointed out that full elimination of the income tax would reduce state revenues by $2.2 billion.

And, Sen. Jeremy England said while he supported tax cuts “‘baby steps’ might be needed to ensure funds are available to pay for state services.” He also pointed to the debacle in Kansas when popular tax cuts had to be rescinded when revenues dropped too far.

Gov. Tate Reeves called such cautions myths. “Legislators should ignore ‘myths’ from opponents who want to block efforts by him and some other Republicans to phase out the state’s income tax,” he said as reported by the Associated Press.

Calling concerns myths hardly seems responsible.

Not mentioned by Reeves or included in any polls is the ever-growing, now $25 billion funding gap at PERS. State Treasurer David McRae has suggested that surplus state funds should go to reduce that gap. Responsible leaders would address the PERS gap before yielding to popular desires for immediate tax cuts.

PS – White’s poll also showed support for public safety and healthcare access for the state’s working population.

Crawford is the author of “A Republican’s Lament: Mississippi Needs Good Government Conservatives.”