Jobs
The people of Mississippi have seen a remarkable thing happen in the past decade. As regulations were brought under control and the state capital gains and marriage penalty taxes were eliminated, the economic machine that is always ready to produce for our people was unleashed. Economic opportunity and job creation was never as great in Mississippi as it was during the Fordice Administration. That growth slowed during the Musgrove Administration, and our state lost jobs due to increased regulation, higher taxes, and government expenditures. With a new Republican Administration, we believe our best days are still ahead.

Lawsuit abuse in Mississippi threatens our ability to create new jobs and to keep existing jobs, since every small business in Mississippi is one lawsuit away from bankruptcy. The Republican Party is dedicated to the implementation of comprehensive tort reform.

The Republican Party believes our working people deserve more skills training in order to be successful. We must reform our job training programs so our workers can climb the career ladder, so Mississippi can create more jobs for our citizens, and so our businesses will have the skilled workforce they need to grow and to compete globally.

The advent of a technology and information-based economy has made more imperative than ever the notion that government must become a partner rather than an obstacle to free enterprise. Regardless of whether the federal government acts on the issue, Mississippi Republicans will oppose efforts at the state level to impose burdensome taxes on Internet access and electronic commerce activities. The miracle of growth that can be realized from electronic trade innovations should not be forced to drag a yoke of new taxes along the way.

The expansion of existing businesses and industries is a vital part of our state’s economic growth, and Mississippi Republicans believe that our homegrown businesses should be supported and encouraged in their efforts by policies designed to treat them at least as favorably as newly located businesses. Most jobs created in any state’s economy are generated in businesses employing fewer than 50 people. Although the demands of big businesses often garner the lion’s share of attention in the public marketplace, we must not lose sight of the role small businesses play in our state’s economic growth. The tourism industry, in particular, is dependent upon the success of small businesses – restaurateurs, motor coach owners, merchants and hoteliers – whose economic impact provides livelihoods for thousands of our people.

As state government reviews the economic development incentive programs with a view toward modernizing those programs, Mississippi Republicans will be vigilant to protect the interests of local businessmen and women.

An adequate transportation system is key to our future economic development. We encourage the completion of construction of four-lane highways throughout the state. This project will not only aid in the movement of goods within our state, but will also provide safer avenues of transportation for the people of Mississippi.

In developing new industries in our state, we must not ignore the importance of a healthy and vibrant farm economy. Technology has met the tractor – and the field, fertilizer, and farm office. The next few years can bring great opportunity to our state’s farm community if we wisely meld our agri-business expertise with the tools of the 21st century.

Mississippi is blessed with abundant natural resources. We should capitalize on this asset by encouraging the establishment of industries that process raw materials into finished products in the state for export, thus creating thousands of additional highly compensated new jobs.

The Mississippi Republican Party is dedicated to freedom of choice for all working people. We therefore reiterate our strong support for the Right to Work law.