FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Jackson, MS): The Mississippi Center for Public Policy has re-launched its Legislative Tracker.
The updated website will summarize legislation being moved through the process and make the information assessible to both the average and scholarly viewer, grade each bill on whether it increases or decreases liberty, and amplify transparency amongst legislative output.
The MCPP Legislative Tracker will:
- Show what bills are being discussed and moved through the legislative process
- Allow MCPP to rate the bills, giving a green light for those that extend liberty, a red light to those that limit liberty, and a yellow light to those that we are ambivalent about – an "MCPP APROVED" stamp will be given to bills that especially enhance freedom and liberty.
- Show a rating for each member of the legislature, keeping lawmakers in line with the promises they made to their constituents
"All Mississippians deserve to know whether their legislators are effectively representing the interests of their communities," said Senior Director of Policy & Communications Hunter Estes. "Our Legislative Tracker helps to accomplish exactly that. We summarize legislation, offer our thoughts on the impact bills could have on your rights and liberties, and publish this information to the public. We believe that transparency is the best way to ensure our representatives carry out the promises they made to the people. We hope you’ll find this tool valuable as you work to stay up to date on what’s happening under the dome of our capitol building."
You may access the Legislative Tracker HERE.
For media inquiries, please reach out to Stone Clanton, [email protected].
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Jackson, MS): The Mississippi Center for Public Policy has released its plan for success in 2022 – The MCPP Freedom Agenda, which will become a yearly strategy to lay out our goals for each Legislative Session. The Freedom Agenda will cover five areas needed for policy reform: Critical Race Theory, economic liberty, education, healthcare, and technology & innovation.
"Freedom is a process," said Senior Director of Policy & Communications Hunter Estes. "The defense of our liberties necessitates constant work. Recognizing this, we are launching a strategic campaign to advance freedom in Mississippi from the classroom to the hospital, the office to the home, and the college campus to the tech start-up. Our goal is to better Mississippi, and we believe these tangible legislative reforms can help to accomplish that mission."
The 2022 Freedom Agenda sets out a twelve-point plan:
- Combat Critical Race Theory
- Promote Academic Transparency
- State Income Tax Abolition
- Red Tape Reduction
- Open Enrollment in Education
- Cap School Board Administrative Costs
- Establish Multiple Charter School Authorizers
- Free Speech on Campus
- Repeal Certificate of Need
- Repeal of Moratorium on Home Health Agencies
- Agricultural Incubator
- Reduce Barriers to Telemedicine/Telepharmacy
“Mississippi needs a boost. That’s why we are publishing our Freedom Agenda to help elevate our state. Each of these twelve reforms are affordable and achievable – and our lawmakers could easily make them happen,” said President & CEO Douglas Carswell. “The Freedom Agenda includes measures to give families tax breaks and grow our economy, so that young citizens of the Magnolia State won’t have to move away to work. We also propose school freedom to ensure that every child growing up in here gets the chance of a great education, as well as detailed reforms to make healthcare more affordable.”
The Mississippi Center for Public Policy believes providing these twelve reforms would lift up our state, safeguard liberty, and promote limited government. Ultimately, we also believe they would make Mississippi more prosperous and a happier place to live, work, and raise a family.
You may read the full 2022 Freedom Agenda HERE.
For media inquiries, please reach out to Stone Clanton, [email protected].
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Jackson, MS): The Mississippi Center for Public Policy continues its effort to make the case for the abolishment of the state income tax by addressing the immorality of the levy.
The inherent idea of an income tax suggests that, depending on how hard someone works and how much they earn, they will then be taxed accordingly. This is wrong.
For a government to take from its citizens, not because they have broken any law – but simply because they have worked for their earnings – is to pervert its own function and to misuse for injustice the power that it has been granted to maintain justice. Everyone should be treated equally under the law, including taxation, and contribute the same as every other citizen for the upkeep of the society in which they live.
"It's time to give Mississippi a boost and get our state growing," said Douglas Carswell, President & CEO of the Mississippi Center for Public Policy. "Abolishing the state income tax would give every Mississippi worker a pay raise. It would mean they had more money to spend on their priorities and families."
People are better at spending their own money than the government. Leaving Mississippians to keep more of their money to spend on their preferences will ultimately make Mississippi's economy more efficient.
MCPP hopes to see cooperation between state leaders and offers these recommendations to see a successful implementation of abolishing the Mississippi income tax:
- Keep non-income tax rates the same and appropriate the State's $1 billion surplus revenue to reduce the income tax revenues
- Appropriate 50% of budget surpluses to reduce income tax revenues until it has been entirely eliminated
- Place cap on State's general fund budget increases that prohibit increases above 1.5% annually
The Mississippi Center for Public Policy believes repealing the state's income tax would be both a moral and economic good, leading to higher incomes, competitiveness, and prosperity for all Mississippians.
You can read the FULL REPORT HERE.
For media inquiries, please reach out to Stone Clanton, [email protected].
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Jackson, MS): The Mississippi Center for Public Policy today released a policy paper reiterating the case for abolishing the state income tax.
"It's time to give Mississippi a boost and get our state growing," said Douglas Carswell, President & CEO of the Mississippi Center for Public Policy. “Abolishing the state income tax would give every Mississippi worker a pay raise. It would mean they had more money to spend on their priorities and families.”
“With Mississippi’s budget in a record $ 1 billion surplus, now is the time to do it” he went on to explain. “Let’s not wait for politicians to figure out new ways to spend that surplus. Let’s use it to allow workers to keep more of their own earnings.”
MCPP's "Axe the Tax” campaign is set to popularize the argument in favor of giving Mississippi a tax break through the abolishment of the state income tax. The report highlights many key points of the argument, including:
- It would give a major tax break for working families. The median household income in Mississippi is $45,081, and under the current structure, such a household would have to pay approximately $1,600 in state income taxes. The Governor’s executive budget recommendations suggests an individual with a taxable income of $40,000 would be $1,850 better off if income tax was eliminated.
- It would make Mississippi more economically competitive. Neither Florida, Tennessee, nor Texas have state income taxes, and all three have prospered. Mississippi, however, has done less well, decreasing in population and growing less rapidly. Repealing the income tax would assist people with higher and lower incomes in a personal tax break and encourage more private consumer spending.
- It would be great for local entrepreneurs. Mississippi has a long history of giving tax cuts to big corporations. An abolition of the income tax would be a break that helps ordinary businesses – not just those that are well connected in Jackson.
While it failed to pass in the 2021 legislative session, it is likely the issue of income tax abolition will be featured prominently in the 2022 session. MCPP hopes to see cooperation between state leaders ahead of this and offers these recommendations to see a successful process:
- Keep non-income tax rates the same and appropriate the State's $1 billion surplus revenue to reduce the income tax revenues
- Appropriate 50% of budget surpluses to reduce income tax revenues until it has been entirely eliminated
- Place cap on State's general fund budget increases that prohibit increases above 1.5% annually
The Mississippi Center for Public Policy believes repealing the Mississippi income tax would be both a moral and economic good, leading to higher incomes, competitiveness, and prosperity for all Mississippians.
You can read the FULL REPORT HERE.
For media inquiries, please reach out to Stone Clanton, [email protected].
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Jackson, MS): The Mississippi Justice Institute and its client, Gulf Coast Restaurant Group, have halted the Biden administration's unconstitutional vaccine mandate for private employers.
The U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, on Saturday, temporarily blocked enforcement of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) mandate pending further review by the court, finding that there is "cause to believe that there are grave statutory and constitutional issues with the Mandate."
The Mississippi Justice Institute (MJI) represents Gulf Coast Restaurant Group – the corporate family of restaurants such as Half Shell Oyster House and the Rackhouse – in the litigation challenging the vaccine mandate for private employers. Gulf Coast Restaurant Group, like many other businesses, is already struggling with labor shortages and believes that the vaccine mandate will lead to further staffing reductions and harm to its business and customers.
"We are grateful that the court recognized the serious constitutional concerns raised by this mandate and has stayed its enforcement pending further review,” said MJI Director, Aaron Rice. “We will continue fighting to put a permanent stop to this unprecedented federal overreach."
"We are delighted to hear this news from the court,” said Kevin Fish, Vice President of Gulf Coast Restaurant Group. “We know that hard-working Mississippians who were worried about potentially losing their jobs can take a huge sigh of relief."
Attorney General Lynn Fitch represents the State of Mississippi in the lawsuit. "I encourage everyone to consider vaccination, but the decision is yours and the President should not force anyone to vaccinate for fear of losing their jobs, especially not on the cusp of the holidays," said Fitch. "I appreciate Gulf Coast Restaurant Group and the Mississippi Justice Institute standing with me on behalf of the 84 million American workers who will be impacted by this mandate."
This temporary stay represents a major initial victory in the challenge to the Biden administration’s vaccine mandate for private employers. MJI and Gulf Coast Restaurant Group look forward to continuing the fight in court.
Please direct all media inquiries to Stone Clanton, [email protected].
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Jackson, MS): The Mississippi Justice Institute – a non-profit Constitutional litigation center and the legal arm of the Mississippi Center for Public Policy – filed suit today to challenge the Biden administration’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate for private employers.
The mandate, issued by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), requires private companies with more than 100 employees to ensure that all of their workers are either fully vaccinated by January 4th, 2022, or subject to weekly testing and mask-wearing. OSHA says "fully vaccinated" means that the employee has received two doses of Moderna or Pfizer's vaccine, or one dose of the Johnson & Johnson's vaccine. The companies are subject to fines well over $13,000 per day for each employee that does not comply.
The Mississippi Justice Institute (MJI) represents Gulf Coast Restaurant Group, a corporate family of restaurants including Half Shell Oyster House and the Rackhouse. Attorney General Lynn Fitch represents the State of Mississippi in the suit. The lawsuit was filed by a coalition of states, including Mississippi, Texas, Louisiana, South Carolina, and Utah, as well as private employers in several of those states.
“The Mississippi Justice Institute is proud to represent Gulf Coast Restaurant Group, and to partner with Attorney General Lynn Fitch to challenge this extraordinary federal overreach,” said MJI Director, Aaron Rice. “While we and our client are grateful for the development of the COVID vaccines, we cannot stand by while the federal government brazenly exceeds its constitutional authority and infringes on the individual liberties of Mississippi businesses and workers.”
"While I am personally pro-vaccination, I completely disagree with this policy,” said Kevin Fish, Vice President of Gulf Coast Restaurant Group. “It is completely arbitrary. This policy will place an unfair and unreasonable burden upon my staff simply because of the number of employees I have."
In addition to turning employers into federal vaccine enforcers, the regulation will also result in many leaving the workforce entirely. This would accelerate a trend that has devastated the nation’s economic growth in the wake of pandemic.
"The federal government has no business forcing Mississippi workers to get vaccinated or forcing Mississippi businesses to fire their employees,” said Rice. “This is still a free country. In America, we have presidents, not kings."
The lawsuit was filed in the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
Please direct all media inquiries to to Stone Clanton, [email protected]
Aaron Rice, the Director of the Mississippi Justice Institute, joined the Todd Starnes along with Rep. Dana Criswell to talk about our new lawsuit against the city of Jackson's attempt to suspend open carry rights.
Wading through Mississippi’s morass of regulations would take 13 weeks to absorb its 9.3 million words and 117,558 restrictions.
Reihan Salam, Executive Editor of National Review and the author of Melting Pot or Civil War?: A Son of Immigrants Makes the Case Against Open Borders, joined MCPP for our Liberty Luncheon on November 15.
Purchase his book here: https://www.amazon.com/Melting-Pot-Civil-War-Immigrants-ebook/dp/B06W599DSM/