So Much for Board and Commission Elimination

A bill pending before the Mississippi House of Representatives is likely to raise some heated concerns when it is debated this week.

House Bill 525 would establish term limits on individuals serving on dozens of state boards and commissions.

Here is the language that is repeated throughout the bill:

"however, upon the expiration of the term of each member in office on July 1, 2014, all subsequent terms shall be for four (4) years.  A member initially appointed to the board after July 1, 2014, may not serve more than eight (8) consecutive years.  A board member serving on July 1, 2014, may be reappointed to a subsequent term; however, any member so reappointed may only serve that portion of a subsequent term which, when added to the member's prior service on the board, does not exceed eight (8) consecutive years."

If this bill goes into effect, dozens of appointees to these boards and commissions will essentially be fired, leaving Governor Phil Bryant with the ability to appoint his friends to these vital roles. Given the animosity between Bryant and Lt. Governor Reeves, it would be interesting to watch these Senate confirmation proceedings take place.

In his first State of the State address, Bryant hit on the theme of eliminating and/or consolidating state boards and commissions in order to save money. Once again, he is missing his own targets.