Yesterday's rulings by the U.S. Supreme Court did NOT create a fundamental right for same-sex couples to marry. Mississippi's laws regarding the definition of marriage are not affected by these rulings. In fact, the Court seemed to reinforce the right of states to define marriage for the purpose of their own laws. (more…)

Government poverty programs usually start with a small nucleus of people who, most everyone agrees, really need help. Then just beyond that nucleus, there is a group of people who almost qualify but make just a little too much money. So wouldn’t compassion demand that you expand the program just a little to include them? When you do that, you’ve now created a bigger circle, meaning even more people just beyond the line, and the pressure builds to include those people. And so it goes, eventually encompassing vast groups of people who would never have been defined as being “needy” when the program first began. (more…)

Most rational people are concerned about the unconscionable burden of debt being placed on our children and grandchildren by the federal government. The explosion in federal spending is largely due to the rapid and unsustainable growth in entitlement programs. (more…)

It is a travesty that a majority of the Senate Education Committee would consider the CEO of one of Mississippi's greatest success stories to be unworthy to serve on the State Board of Education.

Maybe the education establishment is afraid that Bomgar might try to apply the same innovation to the education system that he has to the technology sector. (more…)

This morning, the Senate passed the conference report on charter schools by a vote of 34-18, which sends the measure to the governor for his signature. The House approved the conference report yesterday by a vote of 62-56. This is far from a perfect bill, but it is a good start and will give some Mississippi children an opportunity to receive a quality education that they would not have had otherwise. In politics, (more…)

When legislators or the public consider a newly-proposed government program, or an existing one for that matter, the first thought is usually, "How can we make this work best?" Instead, the first question should be, "Is this something government should be doing at all?" (more…)

We appreciate Governor Bryant's willingness to take a stand on this issue. The promise of state control over an Obamacare health insurance exchange is an illusion. Federal officials have the power to dictate the operation of an Obamacare exchange, and we have no doubt they will do so over time.
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Vital Signs Radio Commentary

Vital Signs Radio Commentary is a 60-second commentary by MCPP President Forest Thigpen. It is aired on the stations and networks listed below.

You can listen anytime, by clicking here to go to the MCPP Commentary page on this website. Just click the title you would like to hear, and you'll see the text of the commentary and "click here to listen to this commentary." (more…)

In the first episode of The Beverly Hillbillies, Jed Clampett’s sister asks how much the oil company is going to pay him for the oil on his property. Jed said, “Twelve dollars.” His sister was shocked: “Only twelve dollars?!” Jed replied, “Yeah, but it’s some new kind of dollar. I’ve heard of paper dollars, and I’ve heard of silver dollars, but these are called mill-ee-yun’ dollars.” (more…)