Thanks to government action, and through no fault of their own, private sector companies have taken it on the chin for two months now. 

Mostly, those have been small companies. Mostly, these are companies that don’t employ lobbyists and don’t hold valuable government contracts. Some of these companies don’t even have employees – beyond owners who derive their incomes through profits, not salaries.

Many of them did not get a Payroll Protection Program loan from the SBA. These are the entrepreneurs, small business owners, and self-starters we should take care of immediately. They display the kind of personal responsibility and resilience we should hold up as an example to the rest of the world.

The small business owners and entrepreneurs are the lifeblood of thriving economies. They focus on serving consumers and developing superior business models in highly-competitive environments. Sometimes, they even create whole new categories with their creative ideas and execution. 

They don’t line up for government grants, tax incentives, or contracts. They don’t spend time trying to entertain or seek favors from our elected representatives. These are the folks on the front lines. They are creating new products and services to serve their fellow citizens. They are risking their own capital or the capital of private investors or banks. In other words, these small business owners know best how to get the greatest return on their money – because they have to. 

Let’s make sure they are the ones who receive not only the first monies allocated by the legislature, but also the largest portion of it.

According to the Tax Policy Center, Mississippi leads all of the Southeast in terms of its local tax burden as a percentage of personal income. It has been hovering at or above 10% since 1997, putting Mississippi on par with high tax states like California, Illinois, Minnesota, and New York. In terms of local business taxes, Mississippi companies contribute about 75% of the local tax revenue, which is higher than all of our surrounding states and roughly 50% more than the national average. This acts as a damper on small business development, expansion, and start-ups.

While we’re putting a “restrictor plate” on small businesses and the private sector not directly engaged with government, we double down on government spending. According to a 2018 study from the Cato Institute, Mississippi has the nation’s highest percentage of state and local spending as a percentage of GDP. Over the last three decades, the percentage of state and local spending has increased. Today, it stands at roughly 21% of our GDP. 

According to most economists who study it, that’s about twice the optimal rate of government spending in order for a state to maximize economic growth.

The federal government has sent Mississippi $1.25 billion, through the CARES Act, to be used to address the economic damage from COVID-19. The legislature and the governor have agreed, in some way, to work together on the allocation of that money. 

The devil will be in the details. 

I’m worried by some of the things I’ve heard about the initial plans. Right now, it looks like $100 million, or eight percent of the funds, will be designated for small businesses who got no relief from the PPP funds in April. I’ve heard the plan is to send as much as $300 million, or 24% of the total, to small businesses. It’s a nice start and the right place to begin helping the economic recovery. 

However, what are the plans with the other 76%, representing $950 million in relief funds? Keep in mind, healthcare facilities have already received federal monies, as have airports and the Mississippi Department of Education.

I’m hearing certain government agencies, counties, and cities are looking for money from the CARES Act funds. State and local governments should be the last to receive such funds and only after they can demonstrate pandemic-caused expenses to be reimbursed. Personally, I would recommend we ask State Auditor Shad White and his team of auditors to oversee the verification process. 

Keep in mind, almost all government workers continued to get paid during the shutdown. And those who were furloughed are eligible to receive unemployment or to receive back pay. Some legislators are even talking about providing “hazard pay” to certain government workers. While we appreciate and value the work of many civil servants, we need to appreciate the fact that most of our private sector members of the workforce didn’t go on unemployment, won’t get back pay or hazard pay, and don’t even know what a pension is.

Putting fairness aside, one of the most important reasons for allocating the majority of the funds to the private sector is because we have an overwhelming amount of evidence that shows us the private sector allocates money more efficiently and effectively than the public sector. If anyone doubts that rule applies in Mississippi, they only need to look at the way the Department of Human Services deployed resources it received from the federal government.

As this healthcare catastrophe winds down and our economy begins to wind up, let’s not prolong our economic pain by continuing to rely too much on government for our solutions. 

Let’s insist government stay limited to the functions it does well and allow small businesses, entrepreneurs, competition, and consumer choice to lead the way. Recognizing that private sector participants are in need, not government, and that small businesses are a core part of the path to economic recovery, we strongly support allocating a majority of the CARES Act funds to support recovery through the private sector.

This page will be updated daily to reflect developments related to the spread of COVID-19 in Mississippi. 

Since Mississippi’s first positive case of coronavirus on March 11, life has been uprooted for many Mississippians. Many are working from home. Schools are closed. Churches are closed. Restaurants dining halls are closed.

Here is what you need to know about COVID-19 in Mississippi, what you can do to stop it from spreading, and what steps state and local governments have or have not taken in response.

Safer at home order replaces shelter in place

Gov. Tate Reeves announced on April 24 that the state will be taking a measured approach to reopen Mississippi as the current shelter-in-place order is replaced with a new, safer-at-home order. The new order will be in effect Monday, April 27, at 8 a.m.

Many currently closed businesses will be allowed to open under certain circumstances. Retail stores can reopen, but they must reduce capacity by 50 percent based on their designated full capacity. Masks are highly recommended, but not mandated. 

A large grouping of currently closed businesses – including movie theaters, bars, museums, casinos, salons and barber shops, gyms, and clubs – will remain closed. Restaurants remain limited to curbside, take out, or delivery as dining rooms are still closed. 

Gatherings of 10 or more remain prohibited, and Reeves said this will be enforced. There is also a classification of the most vulnerable, including the elderly and those with pre-existing health conditions, who are required to continue sheltering in place. 

The order is in effect for two weeks, though Reeves said they may review the order prior to see if more of the state can open up. 

How many people have coronavirus in Mississippi and where do they live?

Mississippi’s first positive case of coronavirus was confirmed on March 11. As of April 29, that number had escalated to 6,569. There has been 250 deaths reported.

Hinds county, the largest county in the state, has the most cases in the state at 450. Lauderdale county has 334 cases and Desoto county has 277. By April 9, at least one positive test has occurred in virtually every county in the state. As of April 28, 66,094 residents had been tested.

How to protect yourself and your loved ones

COVID-19 causes flu-like illness ranging from mild to severe, with symptoms of fever, coughing, fatigue, and difficulty breathing. Like the flu, COVID-19 is thought to spread person-to-person by close contact (within 6 feet) and by coughing or sneezing. Other possible routes of transmission may include touching surfaces contaminated by the virus. The Department of Health has a list of directions for all individuals to remain healthy during this time.

This includes:

• Stay home if you are sick, and avoid close contact with anyone who is ill.
• Cover your coughs and sneezes. When possible, cough, sneeze or blow your nose into a tissue, and throw the tissue away.
• If you are sick, especially with shortness of breath, severe cough, fever or severe chest pain, call a doctor or healthcare provider for instructions on being safely examined.
• Avoid social and community gatherings where 10 people or more would come into close contact.
• Practice social distancing  when your are in a group of people.
• Avoid unnecessary (non-urgent) air, bus or train travel.
• Limit visitation to older relatives or friends (especially in nursing or care homes).
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
• Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly, especially after coughing or sneezing, blowing your nose, and using the bathroom. Effective handwashing takes about 20 seconds, and includes cleaning under fingernails, between fingers, and washing the back of hands as well as the front. 
• Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that are touched often.
• Stay in good overall health by eating right and staying active. If you are living with diabetes, heart disease or other condition, keep in touch with your doctor and stay current with your treatment.
• During or before flu season, get a flu shot. Flu vaccination can prevent the flu or make it less severe, and decrease your chance of hospitalization and death. It also keeps you healthier and better able to fight off infections.

Lawsuit filed against Jackson: The Mississippi Justice Institute has filed a lawsuit against the city of Jackson over a new order banning open carry in the city.

Legislature to return May 18: Legislative leadership has announced plans to return to Jackson on May 18, some two months after the session as suspended. On March 16, the legislature suspended the legislative session. HCR 65 extends the session to June 9 and adjust the deadlines for legislation. Previously, the session was supposed to end, known as sine die (which means with no appointed date for resumption), on May 3. Under the resolution, the legislature could reconvene on or before April 1. If the legislature hasn’t returned, completed its business, and adjourned sine die by June 9, the final day of the session could be pushed back to July 9, which would be after the start of the fiscal year.

Schools closed for remainder of year: Gov. Tate Reeves announced on April 14 that school buildings will be closed for the remainder of the year, but students would continue distance learning.

Board of Medical Licensure walks back regulation change: The board initially signed an order allowing patients to access out-of-state doctors via telemedicine, something most states have done. They then revised that to only allow the practice of using out-of-state doctors if a you have a prior doctor-patient relationship.

Tax filing deadline extended one month: The state has extended the tax filing deadline from April 15 to May 15. The Department of Revenue said they are unable to move the deadline to July 15, like the federal government, because the state fiscal year begins on July 1.

Reeves issues executive order for unemployment benefits: Reeves issued an executive order on March 21 that will allow Mississippians to claim unemployment benefits without the one-week waiting period. Work search requirements have also been suspended.

Alcohol restrictions lifted: The Department of Revenue has updated two regulations making it easier for consumers to purchases alcohol. DOR is now allowing liquor stores to take orders online or over the phone, while providing curbside delivery rather than having to enter the retail establishment. DOR will also allow customers to purchase a sealed bottle of wine with their to-go order. To-go sales of mixed drinks remain prohibited.

Telemedicine regs lifted: The Mississippi State Board of Medical Licensure has temporarily lifted multiple regulations concerning access to telemedicine. The Board is encouraging “all physicians to utilize telemedicine so as to avoid unnecessary patient travel both in-state and out of state.” With that, the Board has said they will not enforce “any statute, rule, or regulation” that requires physicians to personally examine a patient prior to the issuance of a prescription. This includes controlled substances, and every physician will have access to the Prescription Monitoring Program when a controlled substance is issued and urine drug tests will not be required. Additionally, out-of-state physicians may also utilize telemedicine in treating patients in Mississippi without securing a license to practice medicine in the state. 

Casinos in Mississippi closed: On March 16, the Mississippi Gaming Commission announced that all private casinos in the state will be indefinitely closed. This does not impact Indian-owned casinos. 

Primary election: The Republican primary runoff for the 2nd Congressional District has been rescheduled from March 31 to June 23. 

The Mississippi legislature will be returning to Jackson on May 18 to continue unfinished business. While the state budget will be the priority, the legislature also has to act on repealers that are expiring on June 30.  

Repealers are sunset provisions that end an agency or program unless they are extended after a certain period of time. The legislature uses this tactic on a new program to force a re-evaluation (usually in two or three years) and possible changes. 

Most state agencies have a repealer on them, usually for four years, and extending this is often a formality without major changes. 

The cities that pass tourism related taxes on hotels and restaurants have a repealer and several cities — Pontotoc, Hattiesburg, West Point and Winona — have taxes that will expire due to their repealers. 

The biggest repealers that need to be dealt with by the legislature are the Education Scholarship Account program for children with special needs and the Public Service Commission, which regulates utilities. Without legislative action, the ESA program will end on July 1 and the PSC will cease to exist on the same date.

The ESA program could’ve been extended last year, but after a clean bill passed the Senate, the House Education Committee let it die without a vote. The sole remaining hope for the ESA program, Senate Bill 2594, changes the program for the worse in several ways.

One of those ways is that it will end the ability of parents to use ESA funds to pay for online programs and remove the ability for parents to allow their child to attend a school in another state (using the ESA to pay tuition) if there isn’t a school within 30 miles of their home.

The good news is the bill will extend the program to 2024. It passed the Senate and will be in the hands of the House once the legislature reconvenes.

As for the PSC, House Bill 1561 would extend the repealer for the PSC until 2024. The bill would also require the state’s two-investor owned utilities (which are regulated by the PSC) to incorporate the costs of purchasing electricity from renewable sources into the ratebase, meaning ratepayers will have to pick up the tab for wind, solar and biomass energy.

The bill was passed by the House and is now in the hands of the Senate.

As for some of the other repealers in need of legislative action, they are:

• SB 2771 would extend the repealer on the related tax credits and increase the amount of credit for businesses as part of the Children’s Promise Act. It was tabled and subject to call, which means it is still alive.
• HB 679 would extend the ability of the state Board of Health to charge fees for services based on the cost of those services. This bill has passed the House.
• HB 681 would give the State Port Authority the ability to use design-build method for certain projects and has passed the House.
• HB 684 would extend the repealer on the law that requires counties to levy a forest acreage tax. It has passed the House.
• HB 685 would extend the authority of the state to house offenders in county jails when there isn’t enough space in prisons. Has passed the House.
• HB 686 would extend the repealer on the Patient’s Right to Informed Healthcare Choices Act. It has passed the House.
• HB 687 would continue the requirement that the Mississippi Boll Weevil Management Corporation submit audits by November 15. Passed by the House. A Senate version is now in the hands of the House Agriculture Committee.
• HB 688 would extend the repealer on the MS Pharmacy Practice Act. Passed the House.
• HB 689 would extend the repealer on the Petroleum Products Inspection Law. It has passed the House.
• SB 2307 would continue the State Board of Barber Examiners until 2024. It has passed the Senate.
• SB 2509 would extend the repealer on state law that defines what constitutes a failing school district. Passed by the Senate, it is now in the hands of the House Education Committee.
• SB 2353 would reauthorize the Critical Needs Teacher Forgivable Loan Program. It passed the Senate and has been double-referred (not a death sentence since the bill deals with appropriations) to the House Education and Appropriations committees.

As the coronavirus quarantine continues to spread in Mississippi and throughout the country, many are asking the same question: When will we hit our peak? And when will life be back to normal?

One of the most frequently cited models is that of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington. This provides projections for every state in the nation, incorporating current trend lines of deaths in the United States, with total projected deaths, and the peak day – the day we will see the most deaths. 

According to the most recent estimates, Mississippi is projected to hit peak daily deaths of 14 on April 25. That represents 0.4 daily deaths per 100,000 residents. That is the projection. The range shows we could see somewhere between 2 to 54 deaths on the peak day.

According to the current data, Mississippi is projected to see 400 deaths because of coronavirus, though the range now shows between 208 and 1,014. To date, there have been 193 deaths in the state. We are also not expected to see hospital bed shortages. 

How does that compare to neighboring states?

Most of the national coverage has focused on the hotspots around New York, or closer to home, in Louisiana. To get a better idea of what Mississippi’s projections mean, we took a closer look at projections for states closest to Mississippi. 

The model is heavily dependent on social distancing measures such as stay-at-home orders, closing non-essential businesses, and closing schools. It assumes social distancing orders remain in place until the end of May. 

These projections are current as of April 23. This will be updated regularly to reflect any changes.

Mississippi is projected to have the medical resources needed when the state hits its peak medical equipment usage from the coronavirus pandemic on Thursday. 

That projection is according to the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington.

The state will need 100 ICU beds, while 340 are available. The state will need 410 hospital beds, with 5,733 available. Eighty-nine ventilators are needed.

Louisiana is the only neighboring state to have insufficient resources. It hit its peak on April 14, with 648 ICU beds needed and 477 available.

Most shortages were in the Northeast, which has been the national hotspot for coronavirus. Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York all had deficits of hospital beds and ICU beds. Massachusetts did not have enough ICU beds. 

For the most part though, beds have not been an issue. 

Underlying conditions are one of the reasons why the death rate in Mississippi is so high from the coronavirus pandemic.

Mississippi is ranked 17th in the death rate for COVID-19. One of the main reasons the state is ranked so high is that it has some of the highest incidences nationally of these underlying conditions that can lead to increased morbidity from the virus.

They include:

• Hypertension (high blood pressure). Mississippi has the nation’s highest death rate in this category during normal times.
• Obesity. Mississippi is the nation’s fattest state, with 39.5 percent of its citizens considered obese according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.
• Diabetes. The Magnolia State has the second highest death rate nationally from this disease.
• Cardiovascular disease. Mississippi has the nation’s highest death rate from this syndrome and this is the number one cause of death statewide.
• Renal (kidney) disease, which Mississippi leads the nation in the death rate.
• Lung disease. Mississippi has the third highest death rate nationwide for lung disease
• Compromised immune system. Jackson is the fourth-highest city nationally for HIV infection rates.

There are 2,003 cases of COVID-19 statewide, with 67 deaths, according to data from the state Department of Health as of April 9. 

Four of the COVID-19 deaths statewide have been from those without any of these conditions, with the rest having one or more of these issues. 

Forty deaths statewide have come from those with cardiovascular disease, while 34 with diabetes have passed away after catching the virus. Twenty six of the COVID-19 victims in the state also had hypertension.

The latest models at the Institutes for Health Metrics and Evaluation predict that there will be 301 deaths from COVID-19 in Mississippi. The models also predict that April 19 is the projected peak in daily deaths, which would be 11 deaths. 

The models also predict that there won’t be a bed shortage (5,733 available) by the disease’s peak in Mississippi, same for intensive care unit beds (111 needed, 340 available). 

To implement lessons learned from the unprecedented emergency caused by the spread of the coronavirus, there are numerous long-term strategies we encourage Mississippi legislators and leaders to tackle to ensure a prosperous future for all.  

These aren’t different than what Mississippi Center for Public Policy has long advocated. But as the current pandemic crystalized, we witnessed how government regulations often got in the way and stymied the help they are designed to provide. This was true in the past, it is true today, and will be true in the future. 

Healthcare:

1. Repeal CON laws

Certificate of Need laws require would-be medical providers to prove — essentially to their competitors — that their community needs a new facility or service. And they are one of the reasons we see a shortage of hospital beds during a time of crisis. The Mississippi Department of Health is the central planner tasked with administering the state’s CON program. The Department’s CON Review program applies to “the establishment of new healthcare facilities, the offering of defined new institutional health services, and the acquisition of major medical equipment.” In some cases, new CONs have not been issued for decades because of government mandated prohibitions. Healthcare facilities shouldn’t have to ask the state for permission to open or expand a facility. 

Read more about Certificate of Need laws

2. Expand scope of practice

Current regulations prevent nurse practitioners from practicing up to their full practice authority. Rather, they are required to enter into a “collaborative agreement” with a physician if an APRN wishes to open their own clinic. APRNs should be allowed to practice without this agreement. 

Read more about scope of practice

3. Allow out-of-state medical professionals to provide telemedicine

Mississippi has been recognized as a leader in telemedicine, something that is vitally important in a rural state. But as with most healthcare regulations, they are designed to favor incumbents. The state should allow patients to access out-of-state medical professionals for telemedicine services. This was a change the Board of Licensure temporarily made, before the regulation was updated to only allow telemedicine appointments for those who had a prior patient-doctor relationship. Mississippians should be able to access the doctor or nurse practitioner of their choosing, regardless of the state they are licensed. 

4. Expand Right-to-Try in Mississippi

Right to Try laws gives terminally ill patients the ability to try medicines that have not yet been approved by the federal government for market. Mississippi enacted Right to Try legislation in 2015, part of a movement that has swept across the country. The state should expand the current list of eligible patients to an individual with a traumatic injury and to allow adult stem cells as a treatment option, as pending legislation would allow. This would expand upon the current individual freedoms for terminally ill patients who have exhausted their government-approved options and are simply looking for another option. 

Licensing and regulations:

5. Require a full regulatory audit of every agency to provide regulatory relief

Pending legislation would require a regulatory audit of four agencies in the state. That should be expanded to every agency in the state to provide a full picture of our regulatory burden. As we have seen, numerous regulations hinder access to healthcare and our ability to use technology for services, ranging from medical supply delivery via drones to alcohol delivery. Additionally, going forward, for every new regulation an agency adopts, two should be removed as we work to scale down the 117,000 regulations in the state. 

Read more about government regulations

6. Permit the OLRC to review, and potentially replace, all regulations

Pending legislation would allow the Occupational Licensing Review Commission to review and replace past regulations. This should be adopted to ensure overburdensome regulations that hamper economic growth and prevent competition are removed from the books. We have seen numerous state and federal regulation temporarily removed. This should be done on a regular basis and should be permanent. 

7. Recognize all out-of-state occupational licenses

Professionals who are trained in another state generally have to jump through numerous hoops to work in Mississippi. If someone has received an occupational license in another state, the state should recognize that license and allow them to immediately work in Mississippi.

Read more about occupational licensing

8. Enable commercial drones for medical supply deliveries

In numerous locations around the globe, commercial drones play a key role in delivering medical supplies. This could serve a critical need in the state. But for that to happen in Mississippi we need to change multiple regulations concerning our airspace lease laws, laws vesting air rights with landowners, and our avigation easement law. 

Read more about drones

9. Modernize the DMV

Before the coronavirus outbreak, wait times at the DMV were already a major inconvenience, at the least. We should allow technology to automate the DMV and only have customer service reps to provide backup, if needed. Today, kiosks have technology to read documents containing your new address if you need to renew your license and your address has changed. If you moved from out of state, they can quickly confirm your current license from that state. If your license is suspended or you owe back fees, the kiosk will recognize that. If you are getting a license for the first time, they will be able to serve you. You could even take your exam at the kiosk. They can take pictures. They can do vision exams. They can accept cash, checks, or credit cards. When it comes to getting a driver’s license, it shouldn’t be a challenge. Or require a day off from work. 

Read more about modernizing DMVs

Education:

10. Enable online learning in Mississippi

Mississippi has a very limited public virtual school, but no full-time options for students wishing to pursue that course, emergency or not. Yet, as the education future continues to develop, we will continue to see a demand for online learning. With online learning options, students literally have the world at their fingertips. Whether it’s a unique subject with hard-to-find instructors, a class they need more help with, or one that they are wishing to dive deeper into, the ability to use technology to transform education is very real. Mississippi should work to expand the current Virtual Public School to make it full-time and remove the prohibition on virtual charter schools to provide parents with more options.

Read more about online learning

In times of crisis, there is likely to be a desire among some to expand government power. But as we’ve seen with this pandemic, it is the overburdensome government rules and regulations that tended to get in the way. Yet, this happens every day of the year. Now is the time to roll back regulations that prevent people from earning a living, accessing the healthcare they need, or using technology to make all of our lives easier and better. 

For more on our vision for Mississippi’s future, read the High Road to Freedom. 

The REAL ID deadline of October 1, 2020 has been delayed a year because of the spread of the coronavirus in the United States. Now, Americans won’t need to update their ID until October 1, 2021 to travel domestically or visit federal facilities.

The delay was announced on March 23 by President Donald Trump and the Department of Homeland Security. 

“We are postponing the deadline for compliance with REAL ID requirement at a time when we are asking Americans to maintain social distancing,” Trump said.

Many DMVs nationwide, include those in Mississippi, are currently closed. 

What is REAL ID?

Passed by Congress in 2005, the REAL ID Act enacted the 9/11 Commission's recommendation that the Federal Government “set standards for the issuance of sources of identification, such as driver's licenses.” The Act established minimum security standards for state-issued driver's licenses and identification cards and prohibits Federal agencies from accepting for official purposes licenses and identification cards from states that do not meet these standards. These purposes are:

• Accessing Federal facilities
• Boarding federally regulated commercial aircraft
• Entering nuclear power plants

What happens when REAL ID enforcement begins?

Federal agencies, including DHS and TSA, may only accept state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards as identification for purposes of accessing federal facilities - including TSA airport security checkpoints - if the license or card was issued by a REAL ID compliant state in accordance with the REAL ID security standards (meaning the license or card must include the REAL ID compliant star marking). Most EDLs do not contain the star marking and this is acceptable.

How do I know if my license is REAL ID compliant?

In Mississippi, the REAL ID card has a gold star on it. 

The legislature will not reconvene on April 1 as initially planned when the session was suspended last Wednesday. 

HCR 65 halted the session and allowed legislative leaders to further delay the return, as they have chosen to do.

“Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann, Speaker Philip Gunn, and members of the legislature continue to analyze the impact of COVID-19 and the new federal stimulus legislation on the state’s emergency response efforts, healthcare facilities, and the wider state budget. Budget analysts and agencies have advised legislative leadership that all agencies currently have the funds needed to meet the needs of our citizens,” the release said.

An official return date has not been announced, but public schools in the state are closed through at least April 17.