For most of Mississippi’s 200 years, the state Legislature has zealously protected its position as the most powerful branch in state government.
In a recent and surprising turn, the Republican-dominated Legislature has been pushing bills to cede more power to the governor.
Sen. Lydia Chassaniol, R-Winona, is pushing a proposal that would dissolve the independent Mississippi Arts Commission and turn its functions over to the gubernatorially controlled Mississippi Development Authority. A Senate panel approved separately last week a bill to let the governor choose who runs three state agencies — Health, Mental Health and Rehabilitation Services departments — instead of the boards that oversee them. On Monday, a third bill was debated, but eventually tabled, to give the governor veto power over the regulations adopted some 80 to 100 boards and commissions.
Gov. Phil Bryant’s efforts to consolidate some state agencies and commissions, and thus reduce bureaucratic bloat, is commendable. Still, lawmakers should be careful not to replace that problem with another — giving Bryant or any governor control over aspects of state government for which they have little to no expertise.
The majority of the state’s boards and commissions are filled by gubernatorial appointees. A governor’s job is to put good, qualified people on these oversight boards, then let them be. It’s a system that seems to work well enough.
