Guv’s Budget Cuts: House v. Senate

It didn’t take too long for the sharp contrasts between the state House and Senate to play out in the 2010 legislative session. Earlier today, the Senate Appropriations Committee gave Haley Barbour the flexibility he asked for to make additional cuts as tax revenues dwindle.

The bill would give the governor the ability to cut at agency up to ten percent until June 30, 2011- which would be the last day of the fiscal year. State Sen. Alan Nunnelee (R-Tupelo), who heads the committee, expects the bill to be brought up by week’s end. It is still early but it looks like the Senate will continue to support much of Barbour’s initiatives.

Things haven’t got quite as smoothly in the House as we have detailed. The Democrats offered bill with a little less flexibility then he desired which led House Appropriations Committee Chairman Johnny Stringer (D-Montrose) to indicate he will be working on a new proposal- but won’t let any details known right now.

Further, the Democrats appear to have taken on the talking point that Barbour is refusing to compromise. This includes both the state party and one of the governor’s loudest opponents in the House, state Rep. Cecil Brown (D-Jackson).

As the Democrats attempt to have their voice heard, we have seen a shift from simply cticizing the governor’s ideas to offering counter proposals and then say the governor is not compromising when when he doesn’t accept their counter.

In just a week, the House and Senate have once again staked their claim as to what we should expect to see come out of each respective chamber.