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(Jackson, MS): Today the Mississippi Center for Public Policy released a report on the state's K-12 Public Education System, identifying issues and offering solutions.

The report reveals that:

• Academic standards among Mississippi public schools are poor, and no significant improvement has been documented with validity.
• The problem in K-12 education is structural, not merely a lack of money.

The report then goes on to set out a roadmap to address some of the systemic obstacles to improving public education in the Magnolia State. The report calls for:

• Capping administration costs: Some school board districts spend too much money on bureaucracy. Today’s report shows the steps that are needed to ensure money goes into the classroom instead.
• Open enrollment: Instead of automatically enrolling children in schools, the report shows how Mississippi families could be given a new right to choose a school for their child.  
• Multiple charter school authorizer boards: Today’s report reveals that less than half of one percent of Mississippi students attend a charter school.

“Today’s report shows what we need to do to address Mississippi’s historic education underperformance,” said Douglas Carswell, President & CEO of the Mississippi Center for Public Policy. “The great news is that right now there are a number of bills in the state legislature that would give us the three key reforms we need to transform Mississippi education.”

Carswell continued saying, “HB 874, the Mississippi Scholarship Act, would ensure that every parent had a choice to get the best for their child. HB 1349 and SB 2177 would achieve open enrollment. There are also two bills in the Senate that would begin to cap administration costs, and I am excited to see HB 1194, which would establish multiple authorizer boards to ensure that we get more Charter Schools across the state.”

For media inquiries, please reach out to Stone Clanton, [email protected].

Agricultural regulations can be among the most burdensome regulations in the entire economy. This is especially true for innovative agricultural technologies and business models. Thankfully, Mississippi legislators are leading the charge for a reduction in red tape. Representatives Jansen Owen and Kent McCarty introduced House Bill 1055 to create a pathway for innovators to be exempt from onerous regulations.  

It’s no secret that removing regulatory burdens is a catalyst for economic growth, and this bill seeks to accomplish just that in the agricultural sector. In an interview with Mississippi Center for Public Policy, Representative Owen noted: “Reducing regulatory burdens is key to growing our economy. This legislation will make it easier for farmers across Mississippi to earn their living, feed their families, and feed Mississippi’s families.”

According to the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce (MDAC), the agriculture sector directly or indirectly employs approximately 17 percent of the state workforce. Thousands of agricultural businesses have seen great success in the Magnolia State. Yet, many of the regulations in the state were written in the 1970s and 1980s and do not quite account for the innovative agricultural technologies and business models of the 2020s.

To address this problem, House Bill 1055 gives agricultural innovators the option to be exempt from certain regulations that do not have an effect on health or safety. Known as a “regulatory sandbox,” this regulatory relief model that exempts innovators from unapplicable regulations has seen success in several states and sectors, including financial technology, insurance, blockchain, property technology, and others.

While the complexity of agricultural regulations is immense, the bill establishes a straightforward and business-friendly program within the MDAC for innovators to test their products in the open market. If an individual encounters an agricultural regulation that is not tied to health or safety, they could apply to the innovation program and request an exemption. If the exemption request is not found to be a threat to public health or safety, the innovator’s request would be granted, and they would be permitted to operate under the exemption.

The agricultural innovations that could benefit from such a program are numerous, but these innovations can be easily summarized into two categories: innovative business models and innovative ag-tech. On the one hand, there are innovative business models that don’t quite fit into the current regulatory structure, such as urban agriculture and direct farm-to-consumer sales.

Agricultural technology also carries promise for the use of an agricultural regulatory exemption program. For instance, under current regulation in the state, a pilot’s license would be required in order for a drone operator to use a drone to distribute pesticides on fields. This is because of an outdated provision implemented in the days when planes were the only way to distribute substances via the air. Mississippi has a chance to show that it is open for business, and become a destination for agricultural innovators. Thanks to the forward-thinking of Representatives Owen and McCarty, the state could see the fruits of agricultural innovation grow and expand, without the impediment of excessive government regulations.

The Mississippi Center for Public Policy approves of this legislation and will continue to update you as the 2022 Mississippi Legislative Session continues, and you can keep up with measures by watching our Legislative Tracker.

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(Jackson, MS): On Tuesday, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) filed a court document announcing that tomorrow the agency plans to withdraw the emergency temporary standard (ETS) requiring private employers to force their employees to undergo vaccination or be subject to constant testing and mask-wearing. This comes after the United States Supreme Court issued an administrative stay temporarily halting enforcement of the mandate for private employers, which had been challenged in court by multiple states and private employers, including Gulf Coast Restaurant Group which is represented by the Mississippi Justice Institute (MJI).

"On January 13, 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court stayed the Vaccination and Testing ETS, finding that challengers were likely to prevail on their claims,” read the court filing. “After evaluating the Court’s decision, OSHA decided to withdraw the Vaccination and Testing ETS as an enforceable emergency temporary standard."

The court filing indicated that OSHA still plans to move forward with the rulemaking process for a separate, non-emergency proposed rule for private employers which could potentially require vaccination or testing for employees.

"We are glad to see that the Biden Administration has finally dropped its unconstitutional vaccine mandate after months of litigation and uncertainty for Mississippi businesses and workers," said MJI Director Aaron Rice. "If the agency includes similarly unconstitutional rules in any future regulations, we stand ready to fight for the rights of Mississippi employees and businesses again."

Attorney General Lynn Fitch represented the State of Mississippi in the lawsuit, which was filed in the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals by a coalition of states and private employers. The suit was ultimately consolidated with similar lawsuits from around the nation in the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, before being heard by the U.S. Supreme Court following the petitioners’ motions for an emergency administrative stay of the mandate.

"The Mississippi Justice Institute is proud to have represented Gulf Coast Restaurant Group in this litigation, and to have partnered with Attorney General Lynn Fitch to challenge this extraordinary federal overreach," said Rice. "While we and our client are grateful for the development of the COVID vaccines, we could not stand by while the federal government violated the Constitution and infringed on the individual liberties of Mississippi businesses and workers."

The Mississippi Justice Institute is a non-profit, constitutional litigation center and the legal arm of the Mississippi Center for Public Policy.

For media inquiries, please reach out to Stone Clanton, [email protected].

Over the course a Man's history on Planet Earth, there have always been two mindsets on how to run things: control and empowerment.

A Stand Togther video goes in depth into the ideals of these factions. The "control" view, the narrator says, "is rooted in a deep skepticism of human beings." The control views basically says that the only way for the masses to function is to be led by a small group of the "smartest" and "best" – It's like sheep with a shepherd. This, of course, has been the status quo since, essentially, the dawn of civilization. You can clearly see these roots in absolute monarchies, dictatorships, etc.

On the other hand, you have the "empowerment" view. The narrator goes on to explain that it believes "we all have dignity and worth, and that every individual has something to contribute." The most expansive example of this, he says, comes in 1776, and I couldn't agree more. The signing of the Declaration of Independence set America (and by example, the world) up as a bottom-up system. Every individual is important, and with them, the greater society benefits.

This truly correlates with the idea of free markets. Thomas Edison, Steve Jobs, and Lonnie Johnson are all American examples of this. Thomas Edison invented the electric light bulb after countless failures. Steve Jobs helped make personal computers affordable for the average person. Lonnie Johnson, an aerospace engineer, invented the Super Soaker water gun, which has been among the world's bestselling toys ever since. These three men and their inventions, wealth, contributions to society, and society's benefit(s) from them have all been products of the free market.

Despite the ups and downs of a market-based economy – which I happen to think is the beauty of it, anyway (It's trial and error, which increases competition, if not with a competitor, your own product) – , the principles and lessons of a liberal economy have been understood and successfully implemented by a significant number of countries around the globe. Economic freedom alleviates victims of poverty, encourages the betterment and innovation and progress of oneself, and ensures greater societal progress. It's critical to generating the broader-based economic growth that brings more prosperity and opportunities for a greater number of people to work, produce, and save. It's no wonder "communist" countries like China and Cuba have integrated portions of capitalism into their brand of the the left-wing ideology.

Advancing the free market is the most effective way to challenge big government and concentrated power, the status quo. At the Mississippi Center for Public Policy, we're fighting for it.

As the 2022 Mississippi Legislative Session continues, and you can keep up with measures to expand economic liberty by watching our Legislative Tracker.

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It has undoubtedly been an eventful week here in Jackson. I want to make sure that y’all get a transparent view into what’s happening with the legislature at the moment. Hopefully, you will find this insight helpful…

Here’s the good, the bad, and the interesting:

The Good:

• The House voted overwhelmingly to eliminate the income tax with the passage of the Mississippi Tax Freedom Act of 2022. This is a sweeping move that would allow Mississippians to keep more of their own money. It also slashes the car tag rate and grocery tax, further ensuring that all Mississippians benefit from this approach to tax reduction.

• SB 2162, introduced by Sen. Kevin Blackwell, would create a pilot program to require certain agencies to develop a comprehensive regulatory catalog and to not introduce a new regulation without first getting rid of two or more regulations.

• HB415, SB 2186, SB 2089, and SB 2424 introduced by Rep. Nick Bain, Sen. Angela Hill, Sen. Chris McDaniel, and Sen. Dennis DeBar respectively would all place limitations on the salary of the State Superintendent of Education. I’m glad to see these efforts to reel in administrative spending. To read more about the largesse that exists in many public salaries, check out our Fat Cat Report here.

• SB 2434 from Sen. Jeremy England would have school districts make lesson plans publicly accessible. This would be an astounding move of transparency that would give parents a clearer view into what their children are learning and give teachers across the state a means of lesson sharing.

The Bad:

• HB 108 would expand the state’s Medicaid system. On average, 25% of current Medicaid payments across states are made wrongfully. Why would we expand a failing system?

The Interesting:

-The Senate voted to send the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Act to the House for consideration. While the bill establishes a medical marijuana program in the state, it also places significant taxes on the industry.

• HB 645 would require sellers to let folks know if a mattress was previously owned. I wouldn’t sleep on this piece of legislation, just as I’d prefer knowing if a mattress I bought had already been used!

As bills move through the legislative process, you can stay updated on them, learn about what they do, and find out how your legislators are voting through our Legislative Tracker.

If you have any questions or comments, please let me know! We’ll continue this fight for liberty in Mississippi together.

All the Best,

Hunter

Members of the Legislature have introduced legislation that would bring major reform to the State's educational system by changing just a couple of things.

In the Senate, Senator Jeremy England (R-D 51) introduced legislation that would require public schools to make their educational material easily accessible to the general public. SB 2434 would be a major step in the right direction, as providing academic transparency is a key part in exposing the left-wing bias most, if not all, educational systems have (i.e., Critical Race Theory). Parents and taxpayers have a right to know exactly what their children are being taught and what their money is being spent on.

In regards to capping educational Fat Cat salaries, their has been numerous legislation pieces introduced from both chambers.

In the House of Representatives, Representative Nick Bain (R-D 2) authored HB 415 which would align the salary of the State Superintendent of Public Education's $300,000 salary to no more than 150% of the Governor's $122,160 salary. Back in the Senate, Senators Angela Burks Hill, Chris McDaniel, and Dennis Debar, Jr. have introduced similar legislation that would either require a limitation on the State Superintendent's salary or that it should not exceed the Governor's. Too much of our education budget is spent on administrative costs and bureaucratic salaries. We support efforts to ensure that more money goes into the classroom instead.

While just two examples of reforms that could be coming to public school classrooms and the system, we believe they would be an incredible help in transparency, getting parents and others more involved in the education of the Magnolia State's future, and keeping more money in the classroom (instead of someone's pockets).

The Mississippi Center for Public Policy approves of these introductions and will continue to update you as the 2022 Mississippi Legislative Session continues, and you can keep up with measures by watching our Legislative Tracker.

The issues of government administrative costs can often get enormously complicated, but in some cases, the issues can be fairly easy to grasp. For example, despite having a lower population than most other states, and a much smaller education budget, Mississippi’s Superintendent of Education receives among the highest salary of any state superintendent in the country.

Representative Nick Bain has introduced a bill to change that. House Bill 415 is a bill to cap the salary of the State Superintendent of Education to no more than 150% of the Governor’s salary. Senators Dennis DeBar, Angela Burkes Hill, and Chris McDaniel have introduced similar legislation in the upper chamber. The bills would save taxpayers money and direct more funding into the classroom. The Governor’s current salary is set at $122,160. The Superintendent’s salary is $300,000. 

In an interview with the Mississippi Center for Public Policy, Representative Bain noted: “For me it is hard to justify her making that much. We have teachers in the classrooms with our children, who work their fingers to the bone, and they barely get by. It’s time we take a hard look at how she gets paid.” Representative Bain’s bill would lower the salary to a maximum of $183,240. This would place the Superintendent’s salary closer in line with the heads of other agencies in the state and the state education superintendents of other states.

Such actions by the legislature are applaudable. In 2021, MCPP released the “Fat Cat Report,” which outlined the top 50 state and local government salaries in Mississippi and found that many administrators within the education system made amongst the highest salaries in the state.

This coincides with an earlier report released by the State Auditor, which found that administrative costs have seen an overall increase. The report concluded that such funds could have been put back into the classroom, to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars. It is also important to note that while the costs of education superintendents and other administrators were included in the increased costs, such cost increases do not include actual teachers, which are categorized as an inside-the-classroom cost.

While government agencies and administrators often insist on the need for increased funding, a good place to start might just be by decreasing the salaries of overpaid administrators. There is no defensible case for Mississippi’s State Superintendent of Education to make far more than the superintendents of other states, particularly when the state has consistently had education budget challenges.

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The American Conservative Union, Americans for Prosperity - Mississippi, Americans for Tax Reform, Bigger Pie Forum, Empower Mississippi, The Mississippi Center for Public Policy, The National Federation of Independent Business, National Taxpayers Union, and Taxpayers Protection Alliance have sent a letter to the Mississippi Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and members of the Senate and House of Representatives in support of the repeal of the state's income tax.

The Mississippi Center for Public Policy believes repealing the state income tax would be both a moral and economic good, leading to higher incomes, competitiveness, and prosperity for all Mississippians!

"Mississippi needs a boost," said President & CEO Douglas Carswell. "This coalition has come together to support abolishing the income tax because it’s so important. I hope every conservative in Mississippi will now help make this much needed tax break happen."

"Mississippi stands at a crossroads. With unprecedented revenue surplus and considerable federal dollars at its disposal, policymakers have a unique opportunity to prove that conservative state-based tax and spending reform can work to improve the lives of its citizens," reads the letter. "The Magnolia State can lead boldly in the elimination of the income tax, creating a more competitive environment that attracts new people and capital, increases productivity and grows the economy, and
yields better, higher paying jobs."

Senior Director of Policy & Communications said, "Mississippi has a chance to fundamentally transform its economy with the elimination of the income tax. We are proud to be a part of this conservative coalition fighting for change and are hopeful that the legislation will move forward. We will continue seeking to advance economic liberty as part of our Freedom Agenda for the state.”

For media inquiries, please reach out to Stone Clanton, [email protected]