Reeves said he intentionally avoided hot-button issues and political conflict in his State of the State address.
JACKSON, Miss — Republican Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves said he intentionally avoided hot-button issues and political conflict in his State of the State speech Monday, instead calling for legislators to support economic development by funding roads, ports and bridges.
Reeves never mentioned one of the most-discussed issues so far this legislative session — the possibility that Mississippi, one of the poorest states in the U.S., could extend Medicaid benefits to hundreds of thousands more of its residents
He urged lawmakers to establish 12 magnet schools that concentrate on mathematics and engineering, and to create apprenticeship programs so high school students could develop career skills.
Reeves, who was inaugurated for his second term in January, said government should interfere in people's lives as little as possible.
"We must be prudent and cautious," he said. "We must demand lower taxes and regulations. Their money circulating in their towns will do more than any additional government program ever could."
Mississippi is among 10 states that haven't expanded Medicaid eligibility to include people earning up to 138% of the federal poverty level, or $20,120 annually for a single person. Expansion is allowed under the federal health overhaul that then-President Barack Obama signed into law in 2010.
Reeves has long opposed Medicaid expansion, saying he does not want more people dependent on government programs. But Republican legislative leaders are saying this year that they are open to discuss the issue, possibly tied to a work requirement.
In the Democratic response to the governor's speech, Rep. Robert Johnson III, of Natchez, criticized Reeves for ignoring health care and poverty. Johnson said Reeves has failed to push for economic development in parts of the state that are struggling.
"He'll tell you that it's the strongest our economy has ever been. And we ask: For who, governor?" Johnson said. "Who are you going to believe, Mississippi? The governor, or your lying eyes?"
In January, legislators met in special sessions and approved state incentives for two large economic development projects — a plan by four companies for a factory to manufacture batteries for electric vehicles in Marshall County, near the Tennessee state line, and a plan by Amazon Web Services to develop two data centers in Madison County, north of Jackson.
Reeves said Monday that Mississippi must become "masters of all energy."
"We must and will do it all — from oil derricks on our Coast to solar panels in the Delta," Reeves said. "I don't care if it's green wind power or black crude oil or anything in between. It's going to be made in Mississippi. All of the above and as much as we can do. As long as it is reliable, it is resilient, and it is affordable."
Tonight, I delivered Mississippi’s annual State of the State address. I reflected on all the progress that we’ve made and the bright future that is ahead for our state.Together, over the last four years, we’ve accomplished mission after mission for our state. And I have no doubt that by continuing to work together, Mississippi’s best days are in front of us.
Our state has many challenges. We also have many opportunities. In fact, we have more opportunities than we have ever had before. The task in front of us is whether we can roll up our sleeves and meet these challenges before these opportunities pass us by. All across our state, there are children in elementary school and middle school and high school whose future rides on our ability to get this done.
We have attracted more private investment in the first month of this term than we had in the 120 months before I became Governor. And believe me when I tell you that all this movement toward Mississippi has gotten noticed. The people who decide where to locate or expand companies in America see the activity and they are checking us out. Success creates more success and momentum breeds even more momentum.
We all have pride in the Mississippi spirit, and we all know what that means. Sure, it means that we’re hospitable, God-glorifying, and resilient. But it also means that we have discipline and work ethic. This is a state whose economy does not rest on the wizardry of finance or the volatile next-big-thing. This is a state that is based on timeless economies. Agriculture and Forestry. Manufacturing and Industry. Tradesmen, craftsmen, cultivators, and workers dominate our land.
We make things – real things. We make fridges and fighter jets. We make cars and sow cotton. We make bullets and grow soybeans. You can touch our work, and know that highly-trained, capable, proud Mississippi hands made those products.
As long as I have been alive, our country and the western world have been steadily drifting away from this work. We’ve been happy to outsource that labor to others in far-off places. And what has it brought us? What has the bizarre combination of globalization and inflation given us that is better than the work of the hands?
We have a crisis of purpose and abundant despair in America. Anxiety, isolation, and addiction are on the rise. Everyone recognizes that our culture of outsourcing, apathy, and idleness is slowly killing us. The West is recognizing what we’ve lost, and Mississippi is poised to be the big winner in the realignment of our coming time.
In every C-suite in America, they know the need to reshore key industries. They know that we need to bring the work of making things home. For our economy and more importantly our national spirit, we cannot only be a nation of importers.
In all that time, Mississippi never stopped making real things. And now, as our national culture catches up to where we’ve been – we can say with our chest poked out that this is Mississippi’s time.
Ultimately, if we handle the fundamentals, I know that the people of Mississippi will have cause to say we’ve done our jobs well. We are at our best when we focus on achieving those basic tasks that have been given to us. And then as we achieve those, we can lift our eyes to see what private industry can achieve when we remove roadblocks. We are at our worst when we obsess over divisions. Disagreement and pointed debate is necessary. Then we move forward into our bold, ambitious future. We embrace Mississippi’s momentum. We carry ourselves with pride and make America’s goods here.
I am proud to be a Mississippian, and proud to work with each of you. I look forward to what we can accomplish over the next four years working together.
God bless Mississippi.
Posted by Tate Reeves on Monday, February 26, 2024
