When Mississippi lawmakers gathered Jan. 6 to start their new 90-day session, major issues were identified as the budget, voter ID, tobacco taxes and funding for big-ticket items such as education and health care for the poor.

When the Legislature adjourned for a month last week, major issues remaining were the budget, tobacco taxes and funding for big-ticket items such as education and health care for the poor.

Not to fault the legislators entirely. It’s a highly unusual year. Much depends on how many of the billions of dollars coming to Mississippi under federal economic stimulus legislation will be under the Legislature’s control. Until that’s known, no spending plan can be comprehensive.

Of course, lawmakers have every reason to hope the federal funds once again fulfill pledges the state has made to support public schools and Medicaid. It remains irresponsible that such major spending categories have had their funding cobbled together in all sorts of ways for several years. The Legislature simply has refused to devise a stable, workable funding plan — so every year there’s been a crisis and a last-minute remedy to keep teachers in classrooms and nursing home residents from being moved to the streets.

Voter ID was dealt with. Four Republicans in the Senate dashed a compromise plan, and it’s still not clear why. The measure would have added Mississippi to the growing list of states where people casting ballots are asked to show some proof of identity and where people casting ballots in advance of election day are not required to offer a reason why they can’t go to polls during the normal hours.

As long as voter ID has been a rallying cry for Republicans in this state, it’s absurd that this House-passed bill was killed.

In a month, it is hoped, more will be known about what’s in the federal treat bag for Mississippi. Maybe then, lawmakers can do what they were elected to do.

Maybe.