Targeted Tax Incentives: Perverse and Ineffective

By Peter Calcagno | January 21st, 2019 at 4:16 pm

BY: Peter Calcagno / Professor of Economics

Dr. Peter T. Calcagno is a professor of economics and Director of the Center for Public Choice & Market Process at the College of Charleston.

Filed Under: Business, Commentary, Contributor, Economic Development, Economy, Ethics, Feature Stories, Governor, Job Growth, MDA, Mississippi, Mississippi Municipalities, MS State Government, Opinion, Phil Bryant, Politics, Principles of Freedom, Property rights, Spending, Taxes

State governments need to reform their economic development policies to be market-friendly and attempt to attract all firms by offering greater overall economic freedom. By eliminating targeted tax incentives, states can reduce rent-seeking opportunities and potential political corruption while competing based on real market conditions that firms actually use to make their decisions. A state with a competitive tax system that attracts businesses and protects property across the board as opposed to being targeted or discriminatory will do more to reduce unemployment and generate economic growth than any targeted incentive.

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Partial Medicaid Expansion Would Increase Federal Costs

By James Capretta | January 16th, 2019 at 11:46 pm

BY: James Capretta / Real Clear Policy — Contributor

James C. Capretta is a RealClearPolicy Contributor and a resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute.

Filed Under: Commentary, Contributor, Federal Government, health, Insurance, Medicaid, Mississippi PEP, MS State Government, National, Obamacare, Opinion, Politics, Spending, US Congress

It would be better if partial Medicaid expansion were pursued as a legislative change rather than an allowable state waiver because, in legislation, Congress could offset the added federal expense with cost-reducing reforms. Among other things, Congress could cut costs by limiting the use of tax schemes intended to circumvent the states’ matching payment requirements.

The Supreme Court’s decision in 2012 disrupted the plan to establish a national standard of Medicaid eligibility. The result is vastly different Medicaid eligibility rules across the country, which probably isn’t sustainable over the long term.

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Extending Green Energy Subsidies Is Six Times The Costs Of A Border Wall

By MississippI PEP Staff | January 14th, 2019 at 5:00 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: Budget, Democrats, Economic Development, Economy, Ethics, Federal Government, Immigration, National, News, Republican, Spending, Taxes, US Congress

Based on committee estimates, continuing solar and wind tax subsidies is nearly six times the $5.7 billion Trump is asking from Congress for a border wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.

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Report: Mississippi Exceeded $10,000 Per Student Spending In 2017-2018

By Brett Kittredge | January 12th, 2019 at 1:11 am

BY: Brett Kittredge / MS Center for Public Policy

Brett Kittredge is the Director of Marketing and Communications for Mississippi Center for Public Policy.

Filed Under: Brett Kittredge, Commentary, Contributor, Education, Mississippi, Mississippi PEP, MS State Government, Spending

Eighty-six districts in Mississippi spent more than $10,000 per student, and 24 spent more than $12,000 per student.

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New Federal Standards Being Used Means More Bridge Closures Likely

By MississippI PEP Staff | December 11th, 2018 at 9:02 am

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: County Government, Federal Government, Governor, Mississippi, MS State Government, News, Phil Bryant, Spending

About 600 of the 1,600 bridges currently under examination are receiving their first look under a new set of Federal Highway Administration recommended standards. “There have been quite a number closed during this cycle, but that was to be expected. We’re looking at 600 or so that have not been looked at in-depth,” said Harry […]

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Partly True, and Only Partly True. So. Help Us. God

By Keith Plunkett | November 16th, 2018 at 9:05 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: Budget, Business, Commentary, Contributor, County Government, Economic Development, Economy, Feature Stories, Federal Government, Governor, Keith Plunkett, Leadership, Legislature, Mississippi, Mississippi Economic Council, Mississippi PEP, MS State Government, Opinion, Phil Bryant, Politics, Principles of Freedom, Republican, Spending, State Bonds, US Congress

‘MS still has the lowest per capita personal income, just as it has for nearly 90-years, and an abysmally low labor force participation rate (LFPR). It’s lower today, in fact, than in 1976, which was during one of the worst economic depressions in US history.’

What? This isn’t news?

It is to Governor Phil Bryant.

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As The U.S. Gets Deeper In Debt, Members Of Congress Are Getting Richer, Faster

By MississippI PEP Staff | October 28th, 2018 at 1:11 am

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: Feature Stories, Federal Government, Mississippi PEP, National, Politics, Spending, US Congress

How do so many members manage to accumulate millions on $174-thousand dollar a year public salaries?

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Legislators Spent $30 Million On New Crime Lab Building, But Still No Funds To Fully Operate It.

By MississippI PEP Staff | October 25th, 2018 at 8:12 am

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: Budget, Legislature, Mississippi, MS State Government, News, Opinion, Public Safety, Spending

Mississippi spent more than $30 million just a couple of years ago building a modern, well-equipped facility, but it hasn’t put up the money to adequately operate it. The Crime Lab is running a third below full staffing.

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This Mississippi University Just Got $1.5 Million From The Feds To Try Providing Students With A More Valued Education

By MississippI PEP Staff | October 25th, 2018 at 6:16 am

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: Federal Government, Institutes of Higher Learning, Mississippi, News, Spending

Mississippians might expect it to be the job of the state’s public university administrations to always look for ways to provide services that students value and can use. Apparently the ‘W’ needed a financial incentive from the federal government.

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Much Of How Planned Parenthood Uses Federal Funds Is “Morally Reprehensible”

By Keith Plunkett | October 25th, 2018 at 12:42 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: Abortion, Chris McDaniel, Cindy Hyde-Smith, Commentary, Contributor, Elections, Feature Stories, Federal Government, Immorality, Keith Plunkett, Mississippi PEP, Opinion, Politics, Pro-life, Progressivism, Spending, US Congress

Regardless of the position one holds on abortion, funding at least warrants concern over the fiscal irresponsibility of such a decision. Of course, the fact that a large number of taxpayers take exception with abortion being defined in a list of services as “reproductive health” should be the primary focus. A sting of several of Planned Parenthood’s providers in 2015 showed how the organization profits from the sale of discarded embryos. Moral concerns are only heightened by the cavalier attitude and lack of respect Planned Parenthood shows towards the most innocent of human lives.

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