Cindy Hyde-Smith’s Vote Against Balanced Budget Clearly Defines Mississippi’s US Senate Race

By Brad Patano | May 19th, 2018 at 4:10 am

BY: Brad Patano / Contributor

Brad Patano is a Principal Partner in an architectural and engineering firm in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. He is active in political advocacy and also volunteer organizations including Coast Young Professionals, Ocean Springs Education Foundation and Ocean Springs Baseball Organization.

Filed Under: Brad Patano, Budget, Cindy Hyde-Smith, Contributor, Feature Stories, Federal Government, Mississippi PEP, Opinion, Politics, Spending, US Congress

The campaigns for US Senate in Mississippi just defined itself. This primary in November isn’t about who is sweeter, cuter, or more likable. It is about our future and real issues. Government only gets as out of control as its financial means allows it. Do you support more federal spending or do you support fiscal responsibility? It really is that clear.

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Trump Has No Obligation To Honor A Subpoena

By Bryan Fischer | May 3rd, 2018 at 4:32 pm

BY: Bryan Fischer / Contributor

Bryan Fischer is the host of the daily 'Focal Point' radio talk program on AFR Talk, a division of the American Family Association. 'Focal Point' airs live from 1-3 pm.

Filed Under: Bryan Fischer, Contributor, Feature Stories, Federal Government, Justice, Law Enforcement, Mississippi PEP, National, Opinion, Politics, Principles of Freedom, US Congress

There is no reason for the president to respond to a subpoena from Mr. Mueller, and plenty of reasons not to. The biggest of those reasons, thanks to the wisdom of the Founders, is found in the Constitution itself.

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Governor Phil Bryant Turns Up The Fear-Factor Over Bridge Closures: “People are going to die!”

By Keith Plunkett | May 2nd, 2018 at 1:52 pm

BY: Keith Plunkett / Editor

Keith Plunkett is a Policy Consultant, Editor, Writer, Founder and Publisher of MississippiPEP.com. http://mississippipep.com/profilegrid_blogs/keith-plunkett/

Filed Under: Contributor, County Government, Ethics, Feature Stories, Federal Government, Governor, Keith Plunkett, Mississippi, Mississippi PEP, MS State Government, Opinion, Phil Bryant, Politics, Public Safety, Spending, Transportation

That the governor could so easily blame county officials on national television without a hint of shame over his own earlier lack of concern (until there was a danger of losing federal susbsidies) speaks volumes about Governor Bryant’s sense of responsibility.

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Shine Your Light Into The World.

By MississippI PEP Staff | May 1st, 2018 at 5:23 pm

BY: MississippI PEP Staff /

The MS PEP Staff consists of a number of volunteers across the state dedicated to sharing news and commentary important to conservatives.

Filed Under: Christianity, Civil Rights, Contributor, Culture, Faith, Feature Stories, Inspirational, Justice, Keith Plunkett, Law Enforcement, Liberty, Principles of Freedom, Religion, Virtue

Sunny Jacobs is an activist who uses her gentle yet powerful voice to help those who have been convicted of a crime they didn’t commit. In her speeches, she shares her own unthinkable story with grace, wisdom, and even a little humor.

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Increasing the Cigarette Tax to Fund Road Maintenance in Mississippi? Not So Fast.

By Katherine Loughead | May 1st, 2018 at 12:49 pm

BY: Katherine Loughead / Policy Analyst — Tax Foundation

Katherine Loughead is a Policy Analyst with the Center for State Tax Policy at the Tax Foundation.

Filed Under: Budget, Contributor, Legislature, Mississippi, MS State Government, Opinion, Philip Gunn, Revenue, Spending, Taxes, Transportation

When linked to inflation, transportation-related taxes and infrastructure user fees generally help ensure that as long as infrastructure networks have reliable users, they have reliable funding. On the other hand, not only are cigarette taxes unrelated to infrastructure, but they also represent a declining revenue stream.

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Their Girl: Cindy Hyde-Smith and the US Chamber of Commerce

By Ryan Walters | April 30th, 2018 at 3:46 am

BY: Ryan Walters / Mississippi PEP Contributor

Ryan Walters is a life-long Mississippian from Jones County. He is a professor of history holding a bachelor and master’s degree in American history from the University of Southern Mississippi. He is the author of "The Last Jeffersonian: Grover Cleveland and the Path to Restoring the Republic." Find more of his writing at MississippiConservativeDaily.com

Filed Under: Campaign Finance, Chris McDaniel, Cindy Hyde-Smith, Contributor, Elections, Endorsement, Feature Stories, Federal Government, Mississippi, Mississippi PEP, Opinion, Politics, Republican, Ryan Walters, US Congress

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce endorsement of Cindy Hyde-Smith should tell Mississippians all they need to know.

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Why We Must Be Bold on Welfare Reform

By Kay Coles James | April 30th, 2018 at 3:32 am

BY: Kay Coles James / President/Heritage Foundation

Kay Coles James is president of The Heritage Foundation. James formerly served as director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management and as Virginia’s secretary of health and human resources. She is also the founder and president of The Gloucester Institute.

Filed Under: Contributor, Culture, Federal Government, Mississippi PEP, National, Opinion, Principles of Freedom, Spending

Being black and the daughter of a former welfare recipient, I know firsthand the unintended harm welfare has caused. These dysfunctions are the result of policy choices this nation has made, not the people on whom they’ve been inflicted.

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Responsibility Is The Antidote To The Poverty Mindset

By Barry Brownstein | April 26th, 2018 at 6:24 pm

BY: Barry Brownstein / Professor of Economics - University of Baltimore

Barry Brownstein is professor emeritus of economics and leadership at the University of Baltimore. He is the author of The Inner-Work of Leadership.

Filed Under: Civil Rights, Contributor, Ethics, Justice, Liberty, Opinion, Politics, Progressivism, Property rights, Race, Social Justice, Unemployment, Virtue

What is essential is for the poor to experience a mindset shift towards taking more responsibility for their lives. Is it not time to approach the poverty problem believing that the poor are able to make this essential change?

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Drafting Error: Hyde-Smith’s Campaign Needs Repairs After Failure To Launch

By Keith Plunkett | April 25th, 2018 at 8:51 am

BY: Keith Plunkett / Editor

Keith Plunkett is a Policy Consultant, Editor, Writer, Founder and Publisher of MississippiPEP.com. http://mississippipep.com/profilegrid_blogs/keith-plunkett/

Filed Under: Cindy Hyde-Smith, Contributor, Elections, Feature Stories, Federal Government, Keith Plunkett, Mississippi, Mississippi PEP, Opinion, Politics, Republican, US Congress

Cindy Hyde-Smith’s campaign hasn’t hit the ground running, it’s just hit the ground.

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Welfare Reform Is Happening Fast

By Kristina Rasmussen | April 25th, 2018 at 1:12 am

BY: Kristina Rasmussen / Contributor

Kristina Rasmussen is vice president of federal affairs at the Foundation for Government Accountability.

Filed Under: Contributor, Economy, Feature Stories, Federal Government, Medicaid, Opinion, Spending, Unemployment

Last week, President Trump signed an executive order on welfare reform, laying the groundwork for federal and state agencies to promote economic mobility and opportunity through work. Just two days later, the House Committee on Agriculture released a draft proposal of the 2018 Farm Bill, calling for an expansion of work requirements for able-bodied adults receiving food stamps and committing to initiatives that will reduce fraud and abuse across the food stamp program.

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