All eyes turn to the state Capitol building at noon today as the Mississippi Legislature convenes for the 2011 session.

Many issues will be brought up for discussion as the session gets under way, but two critical issues will likely take the forefront — the budget and redistricting.

Redistricting will be the most critical in the minds of politicians — worried over protecting his or her turf. Voters, however, are more concerned about something more near and dear to their hearts — and wallets.

State budget worries should be clear to all. The state’s finances were propped up last year by federal stimulus money. This year, with Uncle Sam’s handouts drying up, and a slower-than-hoped-for recovery of state tax receipts, something has to give. The smart thing to do — the thing Joe and Sally Mississippian would do in their own home budget — would be to dramatically scale back spending.

If the Adams County Supervisors can have a county employee who apparently talked non-stop on his taxpayer-provided cell phone for literally days on end, imagine the kind of waste we might have at the state level.

But rather than logic, we fear we’ll have the same old déj vu feeling again once budget talks get going full speed. Everyone will get into protectionism mode and state gridlock will ensue until someone eventually flinches and we eek by again this year, but barely making it.

Wouldn’t it be refreshing to see lawmakers quickly come together and forge a plan to save taxpayer money so that the state isn’t just “getting by” but truly preparing for the future?