Mississippi lawmakers vote to abolish income tax but made mistakes
Lawmakers passed a bill to phase out the state’s income tax by 2030. But, the bill contained a mistake.
An oversight in the bill’s revenue triggers could result in faster tax rate reductions than intended, as noted by analysts and confirmed by lawmakers.
The House has held the bill for reconsideration to potentially amend the error before sending it to Gov. Tate Reeves for approval.
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Mississippi lawmakers passed legislation that would eventually phase out the state’s income tax. However, the bill language contains a mistake that would trigger drops in the rate more quickly than planned.
An amended House Bill 1 passed in the House by a 92-27 margin on Thursday. If signed by Gov. Tate Reeves, it would decrease the state’s income tax by 0.25% annually until it reaches 3% in 2030. The tax would drop further based on how much more tax revenue the state brings in than it spends. The bill also lowers the state’s grocery tax from its current 7% to 5%.
To compensate for some lost revenue, the bill would gradually increase the state’s gas tax to 27 cents per gallon by July 2027.
The House and Senate had separate plans to cut the income tax, but senators amended and returned the House version for concurrence.
The mistake
The Tax Foundation’s Jared Walczak pointed out the potential error Thursday morning, noting that the triggers for the years after 2030 in which the state would cut the income tax would be much smaller than the revenue drop from the cut.
“Let’s say each point on the rate is worth $460 million (ballpark),” he posted to X. “Growth of 0.85% of $460 million is ~$4 million. The cost of a 0.2% rate cut is $92 million!”
Mississippi Today confirmed the error with multiple lawmakers, saying the .85% should have been 85%.
House lawmakers chose to hold the bill for reconsideration instead of sending it to Reeves for consideration. It’s unclear if they’ll amend the bill or pass it and change the law before the mistaken revenue triggers take effect in the coming years.
Trump administration could give gun rights back to some ex-convicts
The DOJ is taking steps to allow the ATF to restore firearm rights to certain individuals with previous prison sentences. The move led to reaction from both sides of the gun rights argument.
President Trump previously signed an executive order directing Attorney General Pam Bondi to review Biden-era firearms measures. Critics argue the administration’s actions could rearm violent criminals.
The DOJ moved to restore actor Mel Gibson’s gun rights following his domestic violence conviction. It sparked criticism from gun control advocates and praise from Second Amendment supporters.
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The U.S. Department of Justice is taking steps to give the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives the ability to restore gun rights to some Americans with previous prison sentences.
Congress chose to bar the ATF from removing individual firearms restrictions in 1992 via annual spending bills, to which the DOJ said many gun laws and regulations have changed since.
“This confusing state of affairs has taken on greater significance given developments in Second Amendment jurisprudence since 1992.” the agency writes.
DOJ stressed that ATF would still give an appropriate differentiation between “certain individuals who no longer warrant such disability based on a combination of the nature of their past criminal activity and their subsequent and current law-abiding behavior while screening out others for whom full restoration of firearm rights would not be appropriate.”
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Friday, Feb. 7. It directed Attorney General Pam Bondi to assess whether various Biden-era firearms measures infringe on Second Amendment rights.
Gibson’s guns
The Justice Department recently moved to restore actor and Trump supporter Mel Gibson’s gun rights stemming from his plea agreement for domestic violence in 2011. A top pardoning official refused to approve the matter and claimed last week that she was asked to resign over it.
Everytown for Gun Safety, a group that advocates for more gun restrictions, said the Trump administration is making it easier for violent criminals to rearm.
“The Trump Administration is throwing out decades of bipartisan precedent and laying the groundwork to put guns back in the hands of domestic abusers and violent criminals,” said Everytown President John Feinblatt.
Gun rights advocates celebrated the decision.
“The DOJ’s decision to finally withdraw ATF’s authority in this matter is an encouraging sign that this administration is serious about protecting the Second Amendment for all Americans,” said Erich Pratt, senior vice president of Gun Owners of America.
DOJ drops lawsuits against 3 states surrounding immigration laws
The U.S. Department of Justice has granted Texas, Oklahoma and Iowa permission to allow state and local law enforcement to enforce immigration laws. This shift follows the return of President Donald Trump to the White House, reversing Biden-era efforts to block these measures.
In Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott’s law allows police to arrest individuals suspected of illegally crossing the U.S.-Mexico border.
Oklahoma and Iowa are advancing similar laws, allowing state police to act in coordination with federal immigration agencies.
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The U.S. Department of Justice approved the authority of state police in Texas, Oklahoma and Iowa to enforce immigration laws. The decision marks a shift in state-level involvement in immigration enforcement.
In the span of a few days, the Department of Justice sent letters to the three states, effectively allowing state and local law enforcement to arrest individuals suspected of being in the U.S. illegally. This move comes after President Donald Trump’s return to office, signaling a reversal of the Biden administration’s efforts to block these laws.
Texas immigration law tied up in courts since 2023
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed a 2023 law allowing state and local police to arrest individuals suspected of illegally crossing the U.S.-Mexico border. The law permits arrests with evidence, and individuals face misdemeanor charges for a first offense. However, crimes escalate to felony charges for repeat offenders.
Senate Bill 4 also gives judges the power to deport individuals without trial, resulting in the dropping of all charges.
However, since its passage, the law has been tied up in the courts. In response to the law, the Biden administration filed a lawsuit, which led to a federal judge blocking the law. Texas appealed the ruling, and the appellate court temporarily paused the decision.
Civil rights groups and Biden officials pushed for the U.S. Supreme Court to maintain the block, but the high court issued an administrative stay. The Supreme Court’s ruling effectively froze the law until a final decision is made in the lower courts.
Oklahoma immigration law
A similar situation has unfolded in Oklahoma. The state law, which makes it a felony for individuals to be in the state without legal immigration status, has also faced legal challenges. Biden’s DOJ and nonprofit organizations filed lawsuits claiming House Bill 4156 interferes with federal authority.
In 2024, Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt signed a law enabling state law enforcement to directly connect with federal immigration agencies through Operation Guardian. This initiative creates a local immigration enforcement system that does not step on federal authority.
Immigration law in Iowa
Meanwhile, in Iowa, lawmakers are moving forward with a law set to take effect in July 2024. Under the proposed legislation, state and local law enforcement would have the authority to detain and charge individuals based on outstanding deportation orders or prior entry denials.
More than a dozen states have already passed laws granting state and local police the power to make arrests based on immigration status. However, 11 states and the District of Columbia have enacted laws prohibiting such practices, banning officers from using their resources to support federal immigration enforcement.
Reintroduced bill aims to halt wind energy projects on the Great Lakes
A bill reintroduced to Congress by Rep. Nick Langworthy aims to block wind turbine developments on the Great Lakes by revoking access to federal tax credits. Langworthy originally introduced The Lakes Before Turbines Act in 2023.
Langworthy cites environmental concerns, economic impacts and limited energy benefits as key reasons for again pushing for the passage of this legislation.
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory has found the Great Lakes hold significant wind energy potential, with capacity estimates exceeding electricity use in five out of the eight states bordering these bodies of water.
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A bill reintroduced to Congress in March seeks to halt the development of wind turbines on the Great Lakes. The Lakes Before Turbines Act, first proposed in 2023 by Rep. Nick Langworthy, R-N.Y., is back before lawmakers.
Why is there a push to stop wind projects on the Great Lakes?
Langworthy is also behind this latest effort to pass the legislation. He argues wind turbines along the Great Lakes pose significant risks to both the environment and the region’s economy, which relies heavily on its tourism industry.
The congressman also called turbines “expensive” and “unreliable,” claiming they have a limited impact on energy supply.
“Wind turbines do not belong on the shorelines of our Great Lakes,” Langworthy said. “They would harm the Lake’s precious ecosystem.”
How will this bill halt wind projects on the Great Lakes?
The proposed legislation would prevent wind energy developers from using federal tax credits for projects on the Great Lakes, a move designed to reduce the financial feasibility of such developments. Langworthy said that without government subsidies, energy companies would likely be deterred by the costly prospect of building wind farms in the region.
What is the argument against passing this bill?
However, previous studies have found the potential for wind energy generation on the Great Lakes is significant.
According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the Great Lakes could support 160 gigawatts of capacity for fixed-bottom turbines and more than 400 gigawatts for floating systems. That output would exceed the annual electricity consumption of five out of the eight U.S. states bordering the lakes.
What happens next?
As this bill now returns before Congress, it does so under a much different political landscape. The Trump administration is promoting energy policies less favorable to wind power projects compared to the pro-renewable approach of the Biden era.
Shifting priorities in the U.S. energy sector have already impacted the global renewable market. German energy company RWE, one of the world’s largest offshore wind developers, recently announced plans to reduce its investments by nearly $11 billion through 2030, citing uncertainty surrounding American clean energy initiatives as a contributing factor.
Florida Democrats hold town halls in GOP districts with ‘missing’ posters
Democrats are hosting events in Republican-held districts across all 50 states. These events included displaying “missing” posters featuring Republican lawmakers.
GOP representatives, like Rep. Anna Paulina Luna of Florida, defended their availability for public events.
The Democratic National Committee is launching billboards in key Republican districts, labeling GOP lawmakers as “cowards” and urging constituents to demand town halls, amidst growing calls for Republican lawmakers to face criticism on issues like the Trump administration’s cuts.
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In response to the Republican Party leadership’s advice to lawmakers to avoid holding town halls after several tense confrontations, the Democratic Party is holding its own community events in Republican-held districts in all 50 states. Now, Democratic lawmakers in Florida have taken it a step further, by displaying “missing” posters at town hall events featuring photos of their Republican colleagues.
What did the posters say?
One of the posters at an event Saturday, March 15, put a spotlight on Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, whose spokesperson told Fox News Luna has been available at “numerous events” and she doesn’t work for “the leftist mob.”
Republican consultant Frank Luntz commented on photos from the event on X.
“I have never seen the national democratic party in such chaos and confusion,” Luntz wrote. “Whether it’s childish stunts on the floor of congress or performance art with their fake town halls, there is nothing authentic or compelling about their message, their tactics or their delivery.”
I have never seen the national Democratic Party in such chaos and confusion.
Whether it's childish stunts on the floor of Congress or performance art with their fake town halls, there is nothing authentic or compelling about their message, their tactics, or their delivery. https://t.co/M24fNl0V2b
Meanwhile, many Democratic lawmakers have said Republican lawmakers should be facing their constituents, who are criticizing the Trump administration’s effort to make sweeping cuts.
DNC Billboard campaign
The Democratic National Committee said Wednesday, March 19 that it’s launching a series of billboards in some Republican-held congressional districts including Florida, Colorado and Iowa, among others. These billboards will encourage people to call for town halls from their Republican representatives.
Each billboard calls the member of Congress a “coward” and provides the phone number for the member’s Washington, D.C. office.
Which GOP House members have still held town halls?
A few GOP House members recently ignored House Speaker Mike Johnson’s suggestion to pause public meetings, including Republican Reps. Mike Flood of Nebraska and Chuck Edwards of North Carolina.
Both faced several interruptions from the crowds.
The National Republican Congressional Committee encouraged lawmakers to do more virtual events instead of in-person town halls.
Trump directs Education Department to begin shutting down with executive order
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday to shut down the Department of Education, which was a key campaign promise. The order initiates the process of shuttering the department and directs Education Secretary Linda McMahon to take steps toward transferring the agency’s essential services to other government departments.
Trump cannot close the federal agency on his own because congressional approval is required.
The order reads for McMahon to “take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education and return education authority to the states, while continuing to ensure the effectiveness and uninterrupted delivery of services, programs, and benefits on which Americans rely.”
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President Donald Trump took a major step toward dismantling the Department of Education. Trump signed an executive order on Thursday, March 20, to shut down the agency, which was a key campaign promise.
What does the order do?
The order initiates the process of shuttering the department and directs Education Secretary Linda McMahon to make preparations to transfer the department’s essential services to other government departments.
However, as Straight Arrow News recently reported, Trump cannot close the federal agency on his own because congressional approval is required.
The order directsMcMahon to “take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education and return education authority to the states, while continuing to ensure the effective and uninterrupted delivery of services, programs, and benefits on which Americans rely.”
Why can’t Trump do it alone?
Congress would need 60 votes to break a filibuster in the Senate, where GOP lawmakers currently hold 53 seats, to eliminate the agency. Senate Democrats have shown no sign they’ll support abolishing the agency.
How are Democrats responding?
“Trump and Musk are taking a wrecking ball to the Department of Education and firing half of its staff,” Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., said in a statement on Thursday.
Murray promised to fight what she dubs a “Trump and Musk slash and burn campaign.”
The Trump administration cannot dismantle the department through executive action alone, but can slash staffing and cut what it deems inefficient programs. Straight Arrow News’ Karah Rucker breaks down what Trump can do on his own.
What happens next?
Even before its signing, the order was challenged in court by a group of Democratic state attorneys general in a lawsuit meant to block the administration from closing the department and suspend layoffs to nearly half of the agency’s staff that were announced last week.
“This is a dark day for millions of American children who depend on federal funding for quality education, including those in poor and rural communities with parents who voted for Trump,” NAACP President Derrick Johnson said in a statement.
What is the White House saying?
The Trump administration argued the department has “failed students, parents and teachers.” Trump also said the agency has spent more than $3 trillion since its inception in 1979 without improving student test scores.
EU delays tariffs on $4.9 billion of US goods set to hit by April 1
The European Union announced Thursday it’s delaying plans to retaliate against President Donald Trump’s tariffs on European aluminum and steel until the middle of April. The EU had planned to implement retaliatory tariffs on U.S. products, including a 50% tariff on whiskey on April 1.
The move comes as world leaders work to consider a response to the Trump administration’s “reciprocal” tariffs that the president has vowed to announce on April 2.
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The European Union (EU) announced on Thursday, March 20, it is delaying plans to retaliate against President Donald Trump’s tariffs on European aluminum and steel until the middle of April.
Why the delay?
The EU now says it would move back its tariffs for “additional discussions.”
The bloc considered reinstating 2018 tariffs on nearly $5 billion of U.S. on April 1, followed by more tariffs on $19 billion in U.S. goods.
“We are now considering to align the timing of the two sets of EU counter-measure so we can consult with member states on both lists simultaneously, and this would give us extra time for negotiations with our American partners,” European Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic told the European Parliament on Thursday.
When are the tariffs now set to take effect?
The commission then confirmed all EU retaliatory measures would take effect in mid-April.
The first set of retaliatory actions include a 50% tariff on whiskey. Trump promised to impose a 200% on all wines and other alcohol coming from the EU if the bloc goes ahead with the plan.
The Trump administration also says it plans “reciprocal” tariffs on April 2 to balance the world trading system.
The EU counter-measure pause could reportedly change some of the U.S. goods targeted.
Which countries are concerned?
French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou expressed concern on Sunday that the EU was misguided in imposing a tariff on American whiskey and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni warned the EU on Tuesday against escalating the trade dispute with the United States.
How the Department of Education spent $268 billion last year
President Donald Trump has issued an executive order aiming to do away with the Department of Education. The president has been critical of the state of education in the U.S. and the agency’s influence.
The agency is relatively new, but its origins go back to 1867. If the president succeeds, it would mark the second time the Department of Education has been shut down.
The Department of Education spent more than a quarter of a trillion dollars in fiscal year 2024, accounting for 4% of all federal government spending.
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President Donald Trump signed an executive order that takes steps to dismantle the Department of Education on Thursday, March 20. The move culminates decades of efforts by Republicans to shut down the agency, and will take an act of Congress to permanently close it.
Trump’s latest order builds on a promise he made on Inauguration Day.
“We have an education system that teaches our children to be ashamed of themselves, in many cases, to hate our country, despite the love that we try so desperately to provide to them,” Trump said during his inaugural address in January. “All of this will change, starting today, and it will change very quickly.”
The agency has been shut down before
The current Department of Education has technically only existed since 1980, but its origins date back to 1867.
President Andrew Johnson created the first Department of Education to collect information and statistics about schools throughout the country. However, because some worried it would have too much control over local schools, the government downgraded the agency to the Office of Education a year later.
Starting in the 1950s and continuing into the late 1970s, countless factors contributed to the expansion of federal education funding. In October 1979, Congress passed the Department of Education Organization Act, which consolidated several federal agencies. The Department of Education officially reopened its doors in May 1980.
What’s the Department of Education’s purpose?
“The mission of the Department of Education (ED) is to promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access for students of all ages,” the agency website reads.
The Department of Education essentially oversees education policy and provides funding for programs and individuals in need.
Globally, the U.S. ranks ninth in reading, 16th in science and 24th in math, according to the latest figures from the Program for International Student Assessment.
How much does the department spend in one year?
For fiscal year 2024, the Department of Education’s gross cost for its programs and operations reached roughly $252 billion. Total outlays, which account for certain spending adjustments, totaled $268 billion.
The expenditure accounts for a total of 4% of federal government spending for the year.
The Department of Health and Human Services takes 25.4% of the total budget due to Medicare and Medicaid costs. The Social Security Administration makes up about 22.4% of the budget, while the Treasury Department takes up 19.5%. The Department of Defense comes in at 13.5%, followed by Veterans Affairs at 4.8% and then the Department of Education at its 4% mark.
Sixty percent, or $160.7 billion of the budget goes straight to the office of Federal Student Aid. The higher education chunk pays for Pell Grants, work-study programs and loans.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Thursday, March 20, the department would continue managing federal student loans under Trump’s action.
Roughly 25%, or $68.1 billion, gets transferred to states. Another $39.9 billion goes to elementary and secondary education grants.
The department sent $18.8 billion to schools with a large number of poor, neglected or “educationally disadvantaged” students; it spent $15.5 billion on special education programs across the country and it allocated $5.5 billion to general school improvement programs, like after-school programs and classroom technology.
How do states benefit from Department of Education money?
The agency provided roughly 14% of funding for the nation’s public schools in fiscal year 2022, according to the most recent Census data. Not all of that federal funding comes from the Department of Education — some of it supports school meals from the Department of Agriculture — but the majority is Department of Education funding.
The state that received the largest share of its funding from the federal government is Mississippi at 23.3%, according to a Pew Research Center analysis. Mississippi was followed by South Dakota, Montana and Alaska. As far as individual school systems go, Detroit receives nearly 50% of its funding from the federal government.
ICE arrests Georgetown student over alleged ties to Hamas senior adviser
A Georgetown University doctoral student, Badar Khan Suri, was arrested by ICE in Virginia and is facing deportation. DHS alleges he spread Hamas propaganda and has ties to a Hamas adviser.
Suri’s attorney denies the claims of spreading propaganda, suggesting the arrest is linked in relation to his father-in-law, a former adviser to a senior Hamas official.
DHS is using the same immigration law to deport Suri and another student, Mahmoud Khalil.
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A Georgetown University doctoral student was arrested at his home in Virginia by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and now faces deportation, according to his lawyer who spoke to several news outlets. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed the arrest.
Badar Khan Suri, an Indian national studying in the U.S. on a student visa, was taken into custody during the week of March 17. He is currently being held in Alexandria, Louisiana, as he awaits his immigration court date.
DHS alleged Hamas propaganda, terror ties
DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin accused Suri of “spreading Hamas propaganda and promoting antisemitism on social media.” She also said he has “close connections to a known or suspected terrorist who is a senior adviser to Hamas.”
Suri’s attorney, Hassan Ahmad, said his client denies all accusations. Ahmad suggested the arrest may be linked to Suri’s family ties rather than his own actions.
Suri is married to a Palestinian-American, and his father-in-law is a former adviser to Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, who was assassinated in Iran in 2024. According to The New York Times, Suri’s father-in-law confirmed the family connection but stated that Suri has not participated in political activism.
What is the legal basis for deportation?
DHS said Secretary of State Marco Rubio deemed Suri “deportable” on March 15 under the Immigration and Nationality Act. This law allows the secretary of state to remove individuals whose presence could cause “potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States.”
The same provision is also being used to deport Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University student and pro-Palestinian activist.
How did Georgetown respond?
Georgetown University confirmed that Suri was granted a visa to conduct doctoral research on peace building in Iraq and Afghanistan. The university stated that it is not aware of any “illegal activity” involving him.
While DHS argued that the detention is a matter of national security, civil rights groups criticized the arrests of Suri and Khalil, suggesting they may violate First Amendment rights. Both students’ legal teams are actively challenging their detention and potential deportation.
Top LA city official says $1 billion budget deficit could lead to thousands of layoffs
The city of Los Angeles is looking at a massive $1 billion budget deficit in the upcoming fiscal year. The result will likely be thousands of layoffs, according to a top city official.
The costs associated with the devastating wildfires this year are among the reasons for the revenue shortfall.
Mayor Karen Bass will deliver the budget, with the steep cuts included, in late April.
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The city of Los Angeles is facing a $1 billion budget gap for fiscal year 2025-26 that will require massive cuts. The city’s top financial adviser delivered the outlook on Wednesday, March 19.
City Administrative Officer Matthew Szabo said the city is looking at thousands of layoffs, not hundreds. He added that layoffs will not be the only solution.
What are some of the contributing factors to the large deficit?
The large budget deficit is reportedly a result of lower than anticipated tax revenue, increased liability or legal payouts, and money for waste fees and funds needed to cover Los Angeles police and firefighter pensions.
Szabo said the city’s rising liability payouts pretty much tripled in the past year, from $112 million to $320 million. The city is now working with the California Legislature on a bill to possibly cap damages.
Pay raises for city workers are set to kick in on July 1, adding $250 million in costs. The City Council is now discussing various contracts and possible concessions with unions representing public employees, including police, firefighters, garbage truck drivers and librarians.
Mayor Karen Bass, D, issued a statement saying that her upcoming budget will make the best use of their scarce dollars. However, she warned of fundamental changes in the way the city operates. She urged the chief administrative officer to report to her with plans to reduce spending while protecting essential services.
What’s next?
Projections show that revenue will fall hundreds of millions of dollars short due to trade, immigration policies and the impact of this year’s devastating wildfires.
Mayor Bass will deliver her budget, detailing the steep cuts on April 21.
