Some issues are downright tricky - philosophically, politically and practically.
Among them is legislation - approved by lawmakers and sent to the governor - to revoke municipal authority over specific decisions and vest it in state government.
Under the proposal awaiting Gov. Jay Nixon's signature, cities would not be allowed to raise the minimum wage above the state level or to prohibit stores from using plastic bags.
Let's look at three criteria, beginning with:
• Philosophical: Government is divided into levels - federal, state and local - and branches: executive, legislative and judicial.
A specific level and branch of government must oversee an initiative, regulation or law, but that authority sometimes is in dispute. Example include efforts by Missouri lawmakers to "nullify" some federal laws.
• Political: Although "local control" traditionally has been a Republican mantra, GOP majorities in the House and Senate in this case supported state rather than local control.
Republicans cite that axiom that there is an exception for every rule, and argue this is one of them. State Rep. Caleb Rowden, R-Columbia said: "When we talk about decisions that don't just impact the narrow scope of people in municipalities, but business owners broadly, the best place for those decisions to happen are at the state level."
• Practical: As a practical matter, the case can be made that statewide uniformity of employment laws - including a minimum wage - is desirable.
Some employers operate in a number of Missouri cities. And we're not referring only to major retailers; a number of local businesses maintain branches elsewhere.
But, can the same uniformity argument being extended to the use of plastic bags, largely a practice used by grocery stores.
Although some grocery chains operate in a number of Missouri municipalities, we're not convinced the state needs to oversee grocery bag distribution.
Environments oppose the use of plastic bags, but grocers favor them because they are a less costly alternative to paper bags.
And, regarding municipal attempts to ban plastic bags, we are troubled by the dual legislating/lobbying arguments voiced by state Rep. Dan Shaul, R-Imperial, who also is state director of the Missouri Grocers Association.
Overall, we believe state government can make a convincing case for retaining minimum wage authority. We see no similar rationale to justify the state's interest in the paper-or-plastic question.