State, county population numbers decline slightly

*Appeared in the Laurel Leader Call newspaper 

According to recent Census Bureau data, Mississippi is one of just three states that lost population, seeing a slight decrease from 2010 to 2020 of -0.2 percent.  (The other states that lost population are Illinois and West Virginia.)   

But, there are some pockets of Mississippi that are growing. Over the last ten years, approximately 18 counties saw population gains, even though some gains were only slight.  It appears that at least 12 counties had growth of at least three percent, including Desoto (14.9%), Harrison (11.5%), Rankin (10.9%), Madison (14.6%), Lamar (15.4%), Lafayette (17.9%), Forrest (4.3%), Hancock (4.8%), Oktibbeha (8.6%), Pontotoc (4.1%), George (7.8%), and Stone (3.1%). 

 

Here in the Free State, growth was slightly negative, at -0.8 percent. In 2010, the total population for Jones County was 67,761; in 2020, that figure dropped to 67,246. 

 

As was noted by an Empower Mississippi analysis of population, the state’s growth was primarily limited to areas including the Gulf Coast; Jackson, Miss. suburbs of Rankin and Madison; the Tupelo/Lee County region; the Pine Belt; SEC towns (such as Oxford in Lafayette and Starkville in Oktibbeha); and Desoto County, which they characterize as a suburb of Memphis. 

 

As I write this column, the Census Bureau is holding a news conference to release the first local level results from the 2020 Census, which will be used by states to draw the boundaries of congressional districts and state legislative districts. The news conference will also provide analysis of the population change, race, ethnicity, the age 18 and over population, and housing occupancy status. (Data nerds rejoice!) 

 

Growth in the Pine Belt region is a net positive for citizens in this area.  New Census numbers mean a redistricting effort is around the corner, and areas which experience growth tend to receive more legislative love than those where population losses are sustained.  

 

In fact, citizens will have an opportunity to voice their input into redistricting efforts during one of nine scheduled public hearings held on behalf of the joint legislative committee which oversees redrawing legislative lines. 

 

The hearings will be live-streamed on the Mississippi Legislature website (www.legislature.ms.gov and click on “webcast”).  The meetings are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. and are scheduled in places like Meridian, Tupelo, Senatobia, Itta Bena, Starkville, Natchez, Gulfport, and Jackson. The closest hearing for Pine Belt residents will be held August 19 in Hattiesburg at the University of Southern Mississippi’s Joe Paul Theater in the Thad Cochran Center.

 

If you’re concerned about representation at the federal or state level, I encourage you to attend and/or watch these hearings to better understand how redistricting is handled from the Mississippi legislative perspective. After all, it will be another ten years or so before you get this type of opportunity again. 

Overdose rates soaring in the pandemic

 *Appeared in the Laurel Leader-Call newspaper 

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recently released a report showing overdose deaths rose to a record 93,000 for 2020, right in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to calculations done by the Associated Press, that translates into roughly 11 deaths every hour or more than 250 deaths each day. It’s an approximate 30 percent year-over-year increase. 

 

The New York Times noted several “grim records were set” during the last year: the most drug overdose deaths in a year; the most deaths from opioid overdoses; the most overdose deaths from stimulants like methamphetamine; the most deaths from the deadly class of synthetic opioids known as fentanyls. 

 

According to CDC data, fentanyl was involved in more than 60 percent of the overdose deaths. (Fetanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that is similar to morphine but, according to www.drugabuse.gov, approximately 50 to 100 times more potent.) 

 

In Mississippi, overdose deaths rose by a whopping 34.9 percent, from an estimated 387 deaths to an estimated 522 deaths. This is a public policy crisis, but it’s felt most at the personal levels. 

 

According to Shannon Monnat, an associated professor who researches geographic patterns in overdoses, there is no evidence to suggest that more Americans started using drugs last year, but rather the increased deaths were likely people who had already been struggling with addiction, she told the Washington Post. 

 

Some contributing factors were related to the pandemic, such as suspension of evictions and extended unemployment benefits, leaving more money in the pocket of addicts. This, along with the added pressure of lockdowns and other pandemic restrictions, contributed to a sense of isolation and led to many stocking up on their drug supplies, according to Monnat. 

 

I’ve written before about the stressors of life during the pandemic, and how our collective mental health has suffered.  But these numbers tell a dire story, not just about the impact of COVID-19 but about the more prevalent issue facing Americans today: addiction. 

 

My late Irish grandfather (Tom) was an alcoholic, and his legacy of “doing the next right thing” is something I’ll never forget. He embodied the spirit of what addiction can – and cannot – do to a person. Tom’s struggle with alcohol was a challenge, but he got help through Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and became a sponsor for tens of people in the Laurel-Jones County area.  Even in his 90s, Tom still attended meetings and spoke to fellow addicts who were struggling with their drug of choice. 

 

And yet, Tom’s story could have been much different.  Tom could have ended up an overdose death in CDC data, lost to history as a meaningless statistic with little to show for his life.  I’m so grateful to the good Lord that Tom’s story turned out differently. 

 

Addiction is real, and it comes in all forms.  Addiction doesn’t walk through the door and announce itself; more often, it comes in slow waves over a long period of time and is hard to recognize, even amongst the initiated.  Addiction doesn’t look or act any certain way; it can happen to any one of us for any reason. 

 

That’s why it’s so important to reach out to friends and family members right now, particularly with the Delta variant of COVID-19 emerging on the scene.  Isolation breeds addiction, and without a strong support group, addicts are likely to succumb to their disease.

 

Governments can play a part in the solution of shoring up the scourge of addiction in our country, but my experience tells me that the personal solution – one of the individual’s journey – is more effective than a government-led approach. 

 

Alcoholics Anonymous is a great organization for anyone who deals with addiction, and more information can be found at www.aa.org.  There’s even a mobile app for the more tech-savvy folks who may need additional help; download “In the Rooms” to find a list of virtual and physical meetings in your area. 

 

Remember, the pandemic’s toll goes well beyond the sickness of COVID-19 and has implications for loved ones, particularly those struggling with addiction.  The best thing you can do for friends and family members is to show mercy and love, and direct them to resources such as AA that are professionally equipped to help. 

 

Let us all ask for wisdom in dealing with those closest to us, requesting serenity “to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” 

 

A few thoughts on income taxes

*Appeared in the Laurel Leader-Call newspaper 

I recently spoke at the Mississippi Economic Development Conference about income taxes.  Never one to shy away from giving my opinion, I thought I’d share with readers some thoughts I have about how Mississippi lawmakers should move forward – or not – in reforming the state’s income tax structure. 

First things first, let’s be honest.  Changing the state’s income tax structure isn’t a magic solution to all of Mississippi’s problems.  For what it’s worth, most lawmakers (from leadership to the so-called “rank and file”) recognize this.  Leaders like Speaker Gunn and Gov. Reeves have said eliminating the income tax would do more to promote our economic growth than other proposals, and I think they’re right.  But we must remember, and our leadership does, that improving our state isn’t a one-and-done project.  

 

With that caveat in mind, let me say that I think eliminating the income tax – a penalty on work – is a completely worthwhile goal.  Not only does it get rid of a tax policy that punishes you for working, it also signals to the nation that Mississippi is open for business.  It enhances our ability as a state to attract new industries and improves our business climate, which aids in job creation.  These are good things.

 

But some not so good things can come from misguided tax reform efforts. The initial version of the tax reform bill, dubbed the “Mississippi Tax Freedom Act,” included increased taxes on business inputs. 

 

(Business inputs, as defined by the Council on State Taxation, are intermediate goods and services that are resold to produce other goods or services that are then sold to households. Clear as mud, right?) 

 

What does this mean?  In a nutshell, it means increasing the cost of doing business in Mississippi, which puts us at a competitive disadvantage when competing against surrounding states for jobs.  It means increases in the cost of goods to consumers and reduced purchasing power.  

 

(Side note: House leadership removed these taxes on inputs from a revised version of the bill during the 2021 legislative session. And rumor has it that next year’s “Tax Freedom” bill won’t include these components, either.) 

 

Something else to consider when reforming the state’s income tax structure is the de-coupling of personal and corporate income taxes.  Right now, corporate and personal income taxes are tied together – “coupled,” if you will – in state law.  The House bill proposed to separate these two taxes by eliminating the individual income tax while leaving the corporate income tax on the books.

 

The former staffer in me worries what this might mean for the future of legislative revenue-raisers, i.e., future tax increases.  Lawmakers might look to the corporate tax rate to raise revenue to “pay for” the cost of eliminating the personal income tax, or they might look to this tax as a way to pay for costs of government, such as education, public safety, and mental health. 

 

Said another way, the corporate tax will have a big ole target on its back when lawmakers need additional revenue in the future.  Raising the corporate tax rate will put us at an competitivedisadvantage and will have the practical impact of increasing the costs of goods, since most companies will likely pass along any new costs to consumers.

 

For these reasons, I don’t think lawmakers should decouple the personal and corporate income tax. 

 

Finally, let’s talk tax increases and whether they’re necessary. The House bill would have eliminated the personal income tax, reduced the grocery tax, and raised the general sales tax rate.  To quote Meat Loaf, “two out of three ain’t bad.”

 

I’ve never seen a tax reduction I didn’t like, but I do question the necessity of including a reduction in the grocery tax if it means we must increase the sales tax rate at a higher level.  I’m not opposed to raising the sales tax, because I tend to believe consumption taxes are among the fairest taxes, but lawmakers must ask themselves a couple of questions.

 

First, is a tax increase absolutely necessary?  Answers here are complicated. The answer may be yes from a political negotiating standpoint; I am not part of those conversations. Lawmakers may also see no other way to provide funding for government services if they carve out some $1.8 billion of personal income tax revenue without an offsetting tax increase.

 

Second, if a tax increase is concluded to be necessary, what’s the lowest rate increase possible? This question depends on several factors, including how much revenue lawmakers are trying to find.  The more taxes are cut on one hand, the higher the sales tax rate increase must be on the other.  It’s a difficult balance, but with enough thoughtfulness, I believe lawmakers can find the right approach to simplifying the tax structure without going too deeply in citizens’ pocketbooks. 

 

I’ll end my tax diatribe by saying this: I commend lawmakers for wanting to eliminate the tax-on-work.  It’s a worthy goal.  But in the midst of their negotiations, I hope they will keep in mind the unintended consequences of certain tax policies that may impact the fiscal health of our state and our residents.

BIPEC grades released - here's how Jones County lawmakers fared

*Appeared in the Laurel Leader-Call newspaper 

The Mississippi Business and Industry Political Education Committee (BIPEC) “Business & Jobs” scorecard was recently released.  The scorecard assigns “grades” to legislators based on their pro-business and job creation votes.

As is the case with any grading system, the scorecard can sometimes cause a bit of a kerfuffle among legislators who disagree with the scoring process.  This year was no different, as no member of the Mississippi House of Representatives earned an “A” rating.

 

In its scorecard release, BIPEC explained that “many in the House of Representatives were negatively affected in their BIPEC grade” due to two key votes taken on tax issues during the legislative session.

 

House Bill 1439 and Senate Bill 2971 both contained tax cuts – but they also contained tax increases that would negatively impact business, BIPEC leadership concluded.  These two votes managed to keep any representative – no matter how pro-business – from earning a top score on this year’s report card.

 

With that context, let’s examine how Jones County legislators fared in the pro-jobs scorecard.  In the Senate, both Sens. Chris McDaniel (a Republican from Ellisville) and Juan Barnett (a Democrat from Heidelberg) earned a rating of “B.”  That’s pretty good… or is it?

 

For Sen. McDaniel, a Republican, it’s a mixed bag.  Sen. McDaniel was one of just 8 Republicans to earn a “B,” while the rest of the Republican members scored the top ranking of “A.”  Sen. McDaniel was marked among those “absent and those not voting” for two pro-business pieces of legislation: Senate Bill 2024, which provides certain procurement relief for many entities, and the so-called “mFLEX” proposal, an economic development bill that would have combined some of the most commonly used tax credits into one easy-to-use incentive.  

 

Sen. McDaniel’s score also suffered from his no vote on changing the state flag design.  According to BIPEC, “the old flag put us at a disadvantage” because of its negative impact on the state’s perception.  Voters in the Free State of Jones must agree with that mindset, as they voted some 58.8 percent to adopt the new Mississippi flag design in 2020.  (Statewide, nearly 73 percent of Mississippians voted in favor of the new flag.)

 

As a Democrat, however, Sen. Juan Barnett’s score of “B” is pretty high.  He was among the top-rated Democrats in the Senate, and his Democrat counterpart in the House of Representatives, Omeria Scott, earned a score of “D.”  Sen. Barnett voted mostly in favor of the pro-jobs bills, with the exception of legislation that would have raised the weight limit for harvest permits (an important bill for the poultry industry in Jones County that Sen. Barnett voted against) and legislation that would have prevented employers from requiring job applicants to disclose if they have been convicted of a felony crime (that Sen. Barnett voted for). 

 

Jones County House members Donnie Scoggin and Robin Robinson both scored a rating of “B,” in large part due to their votes on the aforementioned tax bills that would have resulted in some tax increases on businesses.

 

The BIPEC scorecard isn’t flawless, but it’s a good way to monitor whether your legislators are prioritizing economic growth or voting with the status quo.  In my opinion, legislators should embrace policies that promote economic development and job creation in order to move our state forward – and their votes ought to reflect this as a priority.  

Small town museum, big time impact

*Appeared in the Laurel Leader-Call newspaper

Last Friday night, I enjoyed what my sister-in-law dubbed the most “quintessential summertime Southern event” on the lawn of the Lauren Rogers Museum of Art: 2021’s Blues Bash.  Filled with bluesy tunes, messy barbeque, and the picturesque backdrop of LRMA’s front porch at twilight, my Friday night could not have been more pleasant. 

It made me grateful to be from a town like Laurel, where the convergence of small-town charm and big city amenities is on full display.  You won’t be surprised to know, however, that it also got me to thinking about the cultural and economic impacts of venues like our own Lauren Rogers Museum of Art.  

 

If you’ve read my columns before, you probably recognize I’m a bit of a policy wonk who loves any sort of economic analysis.  Turns out, the American Alliance of Museums conducted one a few years ago regarding the so-called “museum effect.”  Let’s dive in, shall we?

 

One observation from the report is that museums “play an essential role in cultural and social life across the US.  They tell our stories, preserve our heritage, interpret the past, and explore the future.” 

 

I couldn’t have said it better myself.  The Museum is home to many of my favorite childhood memories.  As a kid, I stared with wonder at the miniature Choctaw woven basket that was so tiny it had to be viewed through a microscope (or that’s what I recall).  When I was a senior in high school, I visited the Museum and fell in love with William Dunlap’s works (one of his mixed media collections was on display at the time).  

 

Today I am the proud owner of Mr. Dunlap’s “Green Hills of Africa” (an artist proof pigment print with hand coloring), which resides over my fireplace…all because of an art exhibit I saw when I was eighteen years old.

 

In my professional life, I’ve used the Museum as a venue for work (for example, I coordinated an event at LRMA when former Gov. Haley Barbour released his memoirs on Katrina, “America’s Great Storm”).  From childhood to my professional career, the Museum has certainly made an impact on me. 

 

But the beauty lies in this:  My experience isn’t isolated.  So many individuals in Laurel have been introduced to artists, culture, and other educational activities through the work of the Museum.  It’s a jewel not only for the City Beautiful, but for the entire state of Mississippi.

 

Beyond the cultural impact of museums, they also positively impact bottom lines.  From the report: “…the museum sector is also essential to the national economy – generating GDP, stimulating jobs, and contributing taxes.”  Oxford Economics, which conducted the analysis on behalf of the American Alliance for Museums, found that more than 850 million visits are made to U.S. museums annually, resulting in a total economic contribution of more than $50 billion in GDP (gross domestic product), 726,200 jobs, and $12 billion in taxes to local, state, and federal governments. 

 

My own personal observation is that the Lauren Rogers Museum of Art outpunches its weight in comparison to other museums across the state.  (What can I say? I’m admittedly a bit biased.) That’s why I suggest you visit the Museum “early and often,” as they say, and consider signing up for museum membership.  It’s simple – go to www.lrma.org and click on “support.”

 

There are so many reasons to love Laurel – the live oak trees, the history, the people… but few city attributes are quite as meaningful to the culture of place as the Museum.

This Memorial Day, let's examine voter participation rates

*Appeared in the Laurel Leader-Call newspaper.

A few months back, a friend of mine suggested I look into voter participation rates. As we approach Memorial Day weekend, I thought now was the appropriate time to dive into voting patterns to see just how much we, as a society, take for granted the right to vote. 

 

I’ll give you a hint: We take it for granted – by a wide margin. 

 

In 2020, 66.7 percent of the eligible voting population in the United States voted during the presidential election.  That means of the people eligible to vote, just two-thirds actually exercised their right to choose the nation’s chief executive.  The highest voter turnout by state was 80 percent in Minnesota.  Compare that to Mississippi’s turnout of 60.2 percent and you’ll start getting an idea about how much voters care – or, perhaps, do not care – about elections. 

 

These numbers are estimates based on information from the Mississippi Secretary of State’s office as well as the United States Election Project. To determine the voting eligible population (VEP) in a state, the Census Bureau first identifies the voting-age population (VAP), which is essentially all residents 18 years and older, and then subtracts ineligible persons from that number, such as non-citizens or felons (depending on state laws). 

 

During the last presidential election, an estimated 1.325 million voters out of a possible 2.2 million voters went to the polls (hence the 60.2 percent turnout rate).  Said differently, more than 876,000 Mississippians who were eligible to vote in 2020 chose not to exercise that right. 

 

That’s inexcusable, but it isn’t just a Mississippi problem.  The M.I.T Election Data and Science Lab suggests that states with higher turnout rates in presidential elections tend to be in the north while states with lower turnout rates tend to be in the south. 

 

Factors influencing voter behavior include electoral competitiveness (that is, just how close is the political race?); the type of election (whether it’s a general or primary election, for example); and demographics such as age, race, gender, and income levels. 

 

So, yes, I understand there are reasons more complicated than “just not caring” about the electoral process that individuals have for not voting.  (My millennial experience tells me that folks my age and younger feel their votes don’t matter, but of course one need not look much further than the recent election of District 2 Justice Court Judge Sonny Saul…he won by one vote!)

 

As we celebrate this Memorial Day, I hope each of us will give more than a passing thought to our responsibility to those fallen soldiers who died to protect our rights, including the right to vote. Laurel residents and other city-dwellers can start by participating in municipal elections, which are right around the corner (June 8^th).  

 

In state where labor force participation is low, Reeves & Gunn are right on unemployment

*Appeared in the Laurel Leader Call newspaper  

Gov. Reeves recently announced he would be ending the state’s participation in extra federal unemployment benefits, saying that Mississippi no longer has a need to opt into programs like the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance which Congress passed last year to alleviate the impact of job losses due to COVID-19.  

 

In a letter, Speaker Philip Gunn had urged the Governor to end the program, stating that “small businesspeople…inform us their businesses are at risk.  They report that they cannot get employees to return to work because they can earn more from combined federal and state unemployment benefits than their normal wages.”

 

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), which measures wages, the mean hourly wage in Mississippi as of May 2020 was $20.00.  This means an individual working 40 hours per week will earn, on average, about $800.  Compare that to what an individual can currently earn by claiming unemployment – a maximum of $235.00 per week plus another $300.00 in the extra federal pandemic stipend for a total of $535.00 per week.  While this amount is roughly 33 percent less than what an individual can earn from working, it does represent a significant increase over “normal” unemployment benefits – an increase of more than 128 percent.

 

That means unemployment benefits, when including the federal supplement, have more than doubled for recipients.  Economics teaches us that this type of increase has an impact on human behavior.

 

It reminds me of what my old economics professor at Vanderbilt used to say…a lot. He’d always talk about “incentive alignment,” and while his examples were not usually unemployment-related, the same concept remains true here.  If individuals can earn nearly as much by filing unemployment as they can by working a job, then some (not all) will be incentivized to choose the former approach.

 

That’s particularly troubling in a state like Mississippi, where the labor force participation rate has lagged behind the nation for decades.  As of March 2021, the state’s labor force participation rate (meaning the number of people in the workforce, including those with jobs and those actively looking for jobs) was 56.1 percent, according to the BLS.  The U.S. rate stood at 61.5 percent for the same time period. 

 

When I was worked for former Gov. Haley Barbour, I led a project on the state’s labor force participation rate.  We commissioned a study from the W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research to delve into why Mississippi’s workforce lagged behind our neighbors and the nation.  While the study is now about a decade old, many observations remain poignant today. 

 

“Labor force participation is a key social indicator because the economic performance of a state and the well-being of its residents are closely tied to labor force outcomes. Together, the labor force participation rate (LFPR) and the unemployment rate are of paramount concern to state governments because living standards and consumption are so closely tied to work and earnings from employment,” the paper began. 

 

It studied many reasons why individuals dropped out of the workforce and ultimately concluded that contributing factors were Mississippians living in non-metropolitan areas, Mississippi having a higher percentage of residents who had not completed high school and having a lower percentage of residents who had a college degree, and – you guessed it – the incidence of government income transfers, such as Social Security benefits and unemployment benefits. 

 

I am not an opponent of the state’s unemployment insurance program.  I believe it can and does serve an important societal purpose as a temporary stop-gap for those individuals who lost jobs through no fault of their own and are actively seeking other employment.  However, this program was never designed to be a permanent income solution and, with misaligned incentives, can do more harm than good to the state’s economy.

 

Like our state itself, Mississippi’s labor force market is complicated.  There are many reasons for low workforce participation, and it would be overly simplistic to say people aren’t searching for jobs just because they’re getting bloated benefit checks.  But policymakers must not ignore proven economic theories about the impact of government income transfers on labor force participation.

 

And…that’s a long, wonky way of me saying that I ultimately agree with both Gov. Reeves and Speaker Gunn in their opposition to extra federal benefit checks for the unemployed. 

 

Tourism as an economic driver

*Appeared in the Laurel Leader Call newspaper 

Let’s talk about tourism as an economic driver.  The Mississippi Development Authority, the state agency tasked with promoting Mississippi, recently released a set of data points related to the impact tourism has on the state’s economy – from tax revenues to private sector job creation.  It’s a fascinating picture of just how important this oft-underrated industry is to the Hospitality State.

Before I get into the details of the report, I want to come clean.  I used to roll my eyes at the thought of tourism being an economic boost for the state.  Sure, visitors are important, and maybe they have more discretionary income to spend than Mississippians, but just how many people visit our state?  

 

Turns out, it’s a lot.  These days, my eyes no longer roll; instead, they’re open wide at the numbers of visitors Mississippi receives from all around the country and even the world. 

 

According to the comprehensive MDA report, in Fiscal Year 2020 the state had an estimated 21 million total visitors (including overnight, day leisure, business, domestic, and international).  To be clear, that means that we had 21 million visitors – even during part of the pandemic!  Forty-four percent of visitors are out-of-state, coming from places like Louisiana, Alabama, Texas, Florida, Tennessee, Georgia, and Arkansas.  The top international countries of origin were Canada, the United Kingdom, Japan, China, and Germany.   

 

Tourism and travel accounted for 80,740 direct jobs in Mississippi, with 98 percent of these jobs in the private sector.  The industry also comprised 7.1 percent of total establishment-based nonfarm employment – or one of every 14 jobs.  This puts travel and tourism as fourth in the state in terms of employment, behind private manufacturing, educational and health services, and retail trade.

 

Fourth in job creation!  That’s significant, y’all. Total jobs in this industry are 106,740, once you include the additional 26,000 indirect and/or induced jobs.

 

In terms of revenue, travel and tourism provided 6.5 percent of the state’s $5.6 billion general fund, or roughly $362 million in money spent via visitor expenditures, tourism capital investment, and travel and tourism personal income, sales taxes, and other taxes.  

 

What does this mean?  Think about it this way.  If travel and tourism were taken away yet all other sectors of Mississippi’s economy stayed constant, the state would see its unemployment rate skyrocket from an annual rate of 7.9 percent to 14.3 percent, and individuals would see their annual taxes increase by $525 to make up for the lost revenue.  

 

Not too shabby. 

 

For its part, Laurel was listed in the report as being a tourism place of interest.  That’s no surprise, given the huge success of the HGTV show, “Hometown,” which has attracted visitors from across the globe.  I would be remiss not to mention other factors contributing to Laurel’s tourism success, such as the presence of a regional airport (Hattiesburg-Laurel had 7,933 passenger boardings scheduled for Calendar Year 2020) and the Amtrak station, which is one of 11 stations across the state.  Total ridership in Mississippi was 56,586 in FY 2020, with revenues reaching about $4.55 million. (Side note: I’ve always thought it would be fun to take the train from Laurel to New Orleans.) 

 

Tourism is a critical part of the state’s economy, but we’ve also seen just how dramatically it can change the face of a small town like Laurel.  Anecdotally, I’ve experienced the growing pains associated with tourism boosts – such as being unable to find parking in downtown or having to wait in line for a table at a local restaurant.  But these are growing pains I heartily welcome, because the more people who visit our state and city, the more likely we are to continue seeing economic growth and prosperity.

 

And what’s that they say about a rising tide lifts all boats?  I certainly believe that.  So, tourists, welcome to the Hospitality State.  Come visit us, spend some money, and – most importantly – tell your friends about your wonderful experience in Mississippi! 

 

Social media and the social fabric

*Appeared in the Laurel Leader Call newspaper in Jones County

It’s mid-morning on a Friday.  Already, I’ve checked my Instagram messages; scrolled through my Twitter feed; and perused snaps on SnapChat. I even googled a music video on Youtube.

This snapshot provides support for the Pew Research Center’s survey on social media usage, which found that seven in ten Americans “use social media to connect with one another, engage with news content, share information and entertain themselves.”  

 

Compare that to 2005, when the Research Center began tracking social media adoption (think: Youtube, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok, Twitter, etc.).  Just five percent of Americans used one of these platforms 16 years ago, yet today about 72 percent of the public uses some type of social media.  To say the least, this rise in social media adoption has been astronomical. 

 

In the early days of social media, younger Americans were more likely to utilize these technologies. But as more Americans have joined these platforms, “the social media user base has also grown more representative of the broader population.”  For example, half of Americans aged 65 or older say they use Facebook.  That’s a lot of grandmas and grandpas, y’all.

If you follow national news, you know social media and big tech is a hot political topic these days.  Despite recent outrage against social media platforms like Facebook for “censoring” political and other news, its users have actually remained quite active on the platform.  About 70 percent of users say they check the site daily, with half of those saying they use the site multiple times daily. 

There’s some irony in widespread adoption of social media compared to Americans’ views on these platforms.  According to a study conducted last year, about two-thirds of Americans believe social media has a “mostly negative effect on the way things are going in the country today.” These individuals cited misinformation and harassment they see on social media; concerns about users “believing everything they see or read – or not being sure about what to believe;” and social media’s role in contributing to further polarization by creating echo chambers (only following news and other outlets that reaffirm one’s beliefs). 

More Republicans than Democrats felt social media was negative, but a majority of both parties felt the impact of these platforms was more negative than positive. 

 

So, what does it all mean?  For starters, we have a complicated, “love/hate” relationship with social media.  We use it on a mostly-daily basis, yet believe it is contributing to society in negative ways.  Why then, if we believe that social media is damaging to society, do we continue to use it so frequently?

 

One thing that social media does well is keep you engaged. After all, these are companies seeking to make profits so they can grow and employ hundreds of people. But this leads to platforms catering their content to keep users coming back and staying there. This can be convenient at times – we get to see more of what we like! But ultimately, the content that humans can never get enough of is that of crisis, urgency, and negativity. Think of the train wreck from which you simply can’t look away. That’s what we get with social media: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

 

This constant access to negativity can cause many to believe that things are much worse than reality. The phrase “Twitter is not real life” is repeated over and over by various pundits to remind people that things are not nearly as bad as our social media feeds may lead us to believe. I’d encourage everyone, when encountering a negative article on Facebook or Twitter, to take a deep breath and think about the positives that are happening in your life.

 

Social media also presents unique opportunities for hostile engagement with and negative perceptions of peers. Consider your personal experiences using social media. Chances are you’ve seen your friends or family members post links or provide comments that you absolutely disagree with.  I bet it made you mad – or at least made you roll your eyes.  And I bet it made you think differently about that friend or family member, didn’t it?

 

This raises an important point.  While social media can be positive for sharing views and information, it also creates an isolated method for discourse (whether political or not).  It’s far easier to defend one’s viewpoints from behind a computer screen than have a face-to-face interaction about the same topic.  The vitriol that may be acceptable (well, not really) on Facebook, for example, would likely not be tolerated in an actual human conversation.  

 

We know that humans act differently online than they do when physically present with others.  We tend to be more empathic, respectful, and open to hearing others’ ideas.  Are those traits that you associate with social media?  I didn’t think so.

 

I fully believe in an individual’s right to his or her own opinion, and if someone wants to share that opinion online, then so be it. But consider the fact that just 17 percent of adult Americans say their views have been changed because of something they saw on social media.  My point is this:  It may feel good to rant on Facebook or retweet an incendiary article on Twitter, but you’re probably not changing anyone’s views on the actual issue – just their views on you.

 

I’ve written before about the need for empathy, and I believe social media has eroded our society’s understanding and practice of this trait.  So next time you’re logging onto a social media platform, consider the impact it has on your relationships.

 

Remember, social media is a great tool. But with all things in life, moderation is key. Be kind to others, focus on life’s many positives, and consider spending a little less time scrolling through feeds on your phone or computer. 

Legislative session a wrap

*Appeared in the Laurel Leader Call newspaper in Jones County

Last week, the Mississippi legislature wrapped up its regular session.  Lawmakers passed a balanced budget with a full savings account (or “rainy day fund”), along with modest, up-to-three percent salary increases for state employees and a $1,000 teacher pay raise – all without raising your taxes. But what else did they do? 

I would be remiss not to mention (what seemed to be) the biggest fight of the session – Speaker Gunn’s proposal to eliminate the income tax and reduce the grocery tax, while raising the sales and other tax rates. Despite garnering bipartisan support from the House, this bill died in the Senate due to lack of support from senate members. 

 

For now, Mississippians will see no reduction in their income taxes – but also, no increases, either. I say that’s a mixed bag result.  High-growth states like Texas, Florida, and Tennessee levy no income tax, and I agree with leaders like Speaker Gunn and Gov. Reeves that eliminating this tax-on-work would do more to promote our economic growth than most other legislative proposals. I don’t love the tax increases included in the Speaker’s proposal, and I’m not convinced they are necessary for passage of major tax reform…but I’d much rather pay a sales tax than an income tax.  After all, we should be encouraging more employment – not monetarily penalizing people for working.  

 

I had the chance to speak with Jones County Rep. Donnie Scoggin (Republican – District 89) about some of their accomplishments during the session. He noted passage of a transportation bill to increase weight limits on harvest loads from 84,000 to 88,000 pounds, which will ease the process of transporting commodities such as sand, gravel, dirt, and agricultural products.  This bill is particularly important to the Free State due to our large presence of poultry producers. 

 

Readers may recall Initiative 65, which paves the way for a state medical marijuana program, passed during the last general election.  However, I-65 is currently being challenged in court, so lawmakers “tried to put in place a contingency program in case the Supreme Court strikes the law down,” explained Rep. Scoggin. He said there was much confusion about legislation designed to make the medical marijuana program constitutional, and ultimately this bill died. 

 

While Rep. Scoggin is pleased with the state’s budget increasing state employee pay raises by up to three percent, he says we must do more for the state’s working poor, citing low salaries for nurses aides at Ellisville State School as an example.  

 

Occupational licensing was a big issue, and lawmakers made progress by passing legislation that allows Mississippi to reciprocate certain professional licenses from other states.  For example, if a nurse in Alabama wants to practice in Mississippi, his or her license will be recognized by Mississippi licensing authorities – so long as the state of origin has similar standards. 

 

According to Rep. Scoggin, Jones County fared well in the state’s budget and bond bill, receiving some $1.2 million for resurfacing at Howard Technology Park; $200,000 for the City of Laurel for parks and recreation; and a new fire truck for the City of Ellisville. 

 

Lawmakers’ budget work isn’t over quite yet, though.  The American Rescue Plan passed by Congress and signed into law by President Biden will provide hundreds of millions of dollars in funding to Mississippi.  Jones County and its cities are slated to collectively receive about $20 million in federal dollars under the Act, which Rep. Scoggin hopes will be used in part to fund a new law enforcement complex near the existing jail. 

 

The legislature is expected to come back later this summer to deal with these federal dollars.  Until then, Mississippians can breathe a collective sigh of relief. 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

Changing demographics, changing politics

*Appeared in the Laurel Leader Call newspaper in Jones County 

About a year and a half ago, I went with my family to eat at The Loft in the downtown district. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw a line out the door and down the street.  

 

“But this is Laurel – sweet, sleepy, Laurel,” I thought.  As it turns out, my hometown isn’t quite so sleepy anymore. 

 

I was naïve not to understand the changing demographics of the area or just how much the City Beautiful had grown in terms of tourism and economic development.  It was a naivety I could afford, since my name isn’t on a ballot.  But politicians, take note. The changing demographics of the city, if continued, can have lasting repercussions for elected leaders in this area.  

 

Consider the following anecdotal comments from a local architect, who has seen an influx in retirees in his work.  He says the cost of living here compared to where the retirees come from makes a comfortable retirement possible for a lot of new Laurel residents.  In addition to retirees, another influence are the people growing a family. 

 

According to U.S. Census “QuickFacts,” Jones County’s population is comprised of 17.4 percent of people over 65 (as of 2019 estimates).  About five percent of the population are veterans, at roughly 3,500 citizens.  Residents drive an average of 21.7 minutes to work, and the average household size is 2.68. 

 

These are simply estimates from the Census Bureau, but it gives us a good snapshot into demographics of the Free State area.

 

Nearly one in five Jones Countians are over 65, which means retirees are – or should be – a strong voting bloc in this area.  Topics such as healthcare and pensions often take the forefront of this population’s mind, and, correspondingly, often become a platform for local leaders. 

 

Many of these particular topics resonate strongest at the federal level. The Affordable Care Act is federal, as is social security and Medicare. Seniors living in the Free State may have a renewed interest in our federal congressional elections, which happen next year. 

 

The state plays a role, albeit a smaller one, in regulating healthcare and pension plans. Mississippi is a tax-free state for retirement income, so seniors might pay increased attention to tax proposals being pushed at both the state and federal levels.

 

Young and growing families can also impact the politics of an area, with their focus on affordable housing prices, quality schools, and jobs availability.  This group is likely to be more concerned about the school rating of the Laurel or Jones County school districts than they are whether lawmakers in Jackson tax pension funding.

 

Locating in the city versus the county is a big decision for these families, and speaks to the nearly 22-minute average drive-to-work time captured by the U.S. Census data. Another bright spot on the horizon for Jones County is the impact these young families have on the local music scene. (320 Fifth Street, anyone?!) I’m pleased to say one can find live music again in Laurel, Miss.

 

One last point about Laurel’s ever-changing demographics.  “Geographic mobility” as measured by the U.S. Census tracks whether individuals live in a different house than one year ago; live in a different county than a year ago; live in a different state; and/or live in a different country. The rate for Jones County is 6.5 percent, or about half of the statewide rate.  With an influx of new residents, expect this figure to change significantly if population growth continues. 

 

On a more personal note, these days I am proud to split time between Jackson and Jones County (I bought a house in the Free State about 1.5 years ago). It’s exciting to witness the renaissance of the downtown area, as well as the economic growth outside the city limits. From newly paved streets to road construction, from live music to BBQ nachos, I welcome this Laurel transformation. 

 

What’s that sign say that welcomes you into the county on Highway 84? Laurel, Mississippi… “now this is livin’.” 

Mental health bill a no brainer

*Appeared in the Laurel Leader Call newspaper in Jones County

It’s finally March, and lawmakers are about halfway through the 2021 legislative session.  From budget to taxes, from teacher pay raises to healthcare, legislators are tasked with figuring out which of these bills to pass, which bills to kill, and which bills need further deliberation.   

But I want to take a few paragraphs to discuss a bill that hasn’t received much attention: Senate Bill 2420, which would allow a temporary license for mental health counselors and other social workers to practice in nonprofit facilities and family counseling centers.  Eliminating bureaucratic red tape is a no-brainer, particularly during COVID-19 – which is exactly what this bill will do.

 

According to a recent report from the World Health Organization (WHO), mental health services have been disrupted by COVID-19 in 93 percent of countries worldwide – despite the demand for these services increasing.  The pandemic has triggered feelings of “bereavement, isolation, loss of income, and fear” while the virus itself can lead to “neurological and mental complications, such as delirium, agitation, and stroke.” 

 

Kaiser Family Foundation data echo WHO data, showing that about four in 10 adults in the U.S. have reported anxiety or depressive disorder symptoms, up from just one in 10 adults who reported such symptoms pre-COVID.  Many adults are reporting difficulty sleeping or eating, increases in alcohol consumption or substance abuse, and worsening chronic conditions due to worry and stress over the coronavirus.  These actions are directly linked to poor mental health outcomes. 

 

Sen. Brice Wiggins, a Republican from Jackson County, authored SB 2420 because he saw a need for Mississippi government to boost access to mental health services and get rid of bureaucratic red tape.  The bill would give mental health counselors from other states a temporary reciprocal license to provide counseling services in our state. 

 

“Bureaucracy is killing our state’s ability to compete nationally, not to mention get the needed services to our citizens.  We lack mental health and social work providers as it is and the pandemic has made it worse,” explained Sen. Wiggins. 

 

According to the Mississippi Department of Mental Health, one in five citizens experience mental illness in any given year.  As such, mental health counselors are in high demand, and getting appointments can be challenging for many people – especially lower income families and other vulnerable populations.  That’s why this bill focuses on issuing reciprocal licenses for providers in nonprofit facilities and family counseling centers, which tend to provide services to these populations. 

 

The legislation makes sense.  Not only does it pave the way for increased access to mental health care services, it also highlights a growing need for lawmakers to review licensing laws and eliminate unnecessary red tape.  

 

“I saw this bill as a way to both continue the march towards ending government inefficiency and get our citizens the services they need, all without raising taxes or spending any extra money,” said Sen. Wiggins. 

 

For anyone suffering from mental health challenges during the pandemic, there are resources available.  Pine Belt residents can check out our local community mental health center and its services at www.pbmhr.org.  

Record number of women serving in legislatures across nation

*Appeared in the Laurel Leader-Call newspaper 

“Anything you can do, I can do better; I can do anything better than you.”  Some of you may recall these playful lyrics from the musical, Annie Get Your Gun.  In the show, sharpshooters Annie Oakley and Frank Butler croon about who can sing softer, higher, sweeter; they each boast of their personal abilities and accomplishments, with Annie going toe-to-toe with Frank at each musical interval. 

I was reminded of this male-female bantering upon reading recent data from the Center for American Women and Politics, which shows a record number of women holding office in state legislatures across the United States.  In 2021, 2,279 state legislators – roughly 31 percent – are female.  This represents a quintupling of the number of women serving in state legislatures since 1971, the first year data from CAWP was available. 

The National Conference of State Legislatures compiled data beyond raw numbers; in fact, according to the NCSL, 87 women nationwide held a leadership position in either the House or Senate at the start of the 2021 legislative session.  

Nevada tops the list of states with the most females serving at the statehouse, with an overwhelming majority – 60.3 percent – of legislators being female.  Mississippi, on the other hand, falls in the bottom 10 states, where just 16.1 percent of state legislators are women. 

But that’s not to say Mississippi is complacent when it comes to women in leadership.  In 2018 and for the first time in state history, the Hospitality State elected a woman to the U.S. Senate, Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith. A former state senator, Hyde-Smith also broke the mold by serving as the state’s first female Agriculture and Commerce Commissioner from 2012 to 2018.  

Other notable females in Mississippi leadership include Republican Attorney General Lynn Fitch, who previously served as State Treasurer.  Amy Tuck, who was elected as a Democrat but later changed allegiances to the Republican Party, served as the state’s Lieutenant Governor after having served in the Mississippi State Senate. 

Free Staters are perhaps most familiar with Hattiesburg-native and Democrat Evelyn Gandy (and no, I’m not talking about the parkway).  Ms. Gandy served in three statewide offices: first as Treasurer, then Commissioner of Insurance, and finally as Lieutenant Governor. But the title of first woman elected statewide goes to Democrat Nellah Massey Bailey, who was elected State Tax Collector in 1947. (Fun fact: Ms. Bailey also served as First Lady of Mississippi from 1944 to 1946 after her husband, Thomas Lowry Bailey, was elected Governor.)

But, let’s get back to women in the state legislature.  CAWP data shows that Mississippi had 44 women candidates in 2019, with 28 ultimately capturing seats (17 in the House of Representatives and 11 in the State Senate).  Interestingly, Jones County has two women voices representing its citizens at the Capitol in Jackson: Republican Rep. Robin Robinson and Democrat Rep. Omeria Scott. 

“Each person, man or woman, has a valuable perspective based on life experiences”, stated Representative Robinson.  “As a woman in politics, it is my goal to use my perspective and experiences to represent the people of our great State.”

 

I’m not surprised that women are starting to engage more politically. Indeed, Bloomberg reports that “in every U.S. presidential election since 1964, more women than men have turned out to vote.”  Women are an important voting bloc and their increasing numbers in political races have caused the political parties to take notice – and action. 

For example, the Mississippi Republican Party has recognized the importance of targeting women through programs like its Women Initiative Network (WIN-R), which provides specialized training in politics and public service to women across the state. 

Tate Lewis, executive director of the Mississippi Republican Party, says the party “has benefited from the help of many amazing women who have stepped up to be leaders in our state and party.”  He cites the work of the Mississippi Federation of Republican Women and two past chairwomen of the GOP, Evelyn McPhail and Ebbie Spivey, in the 80s and 90s. He points out that a working mom chairs the Republican National Committee and says women “provide an invaluable voice in the shaping and management of politics and public policy.” 

This is a smart move for Republicans, considering the fact that the two genders have “differed markedly in their preferences at the ballot box,” according to Bloomberg, with women preferring Democrat candidates more than men.  While this isn’t necessarily true in a red state like Mississippi, Republicans are wise to recruit women to their ranks.  (As it stands, female legislators in Mississippi are just about evenly split between the two parties.)

From increased voter turnout among women to increased numbers of female candidates and officeholders, the demographic trends are encouraging from this Republican woman’s perspective.  After all, who better to tackle important policy issues like childcare, abortion, and even “pink taxes” on feminine products, than politically-conservative females? 

So men, this is your notice. Women are continuing to make our voices heard in larger numbers.  Pretty soon we’ll be able to truthfully answer Beyoncé’s timeless question of “who runs the world?” Girls, that’s who.