WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE: Part 2
The batture lands along the river are a harbinger of a changing river that is less and less under control of the Army Corps of Engineers.
Read MoreWATER, WATER EVERYWHERE: Part 1
In 2020, it’s the Pearl River flooding the Jackson Metro area and downstream. The Big Black is flooding as well as lower stretches of the Mississippi River. In 2019, it was the Yazoo River flooding the Lower Mississippi Delta, as well as flooding along the Missouri and Lower Mississippi Rivers.
Photo Credit: Clarion Ledger
What’s Wrong With Government Regulated Monopolies?
Regulated monopolies are largely protected from competition and are great for their shareholders. Not so great for their customers though. Especially if the regulator (the Public Service Commission) has its thumb on the scale for the monopoly.
Read MoreMississippi River Flooding Lawsuit Against Corps of Engineers Moves Forward
The Mississippi River flooding lawsuit against the Corps of Engineers will move forward after the Honorable Elaine Kaplan ruled against their Motion to Dismiss directly from the bench the day of the hearing in Natchez.
Read MorePERS Management Fees Could Be Capped With Senate Bill 2115
A much-needed bill in the Mississippi Legislature could reduce the amount that the state’s defined benefit pension system pays to outside money managers.
Read MoreWhat’s Wrong With How Mississippi Regulates Electricity Bills?
What’s wrong with how Mississippi regulates electricity rates? The short answer: No one in the process represents only the customers – the everyday Mississippians who pay their electric bill.
Read MoreMississippi’s Legislative Session 2020
Mississippi’s legislative session began Tuesday, January 7th. With the “conservative party” dominance from top to bottom, 2020 is a great opportunity to enact pro-growth policies that would accelerate Mississippi’s economic growth.
Read MoreTime for Reform of Mississippi’s Defined Benefit Pension System
A cost of living adjustment should be related to the real world inflation rate. Mississippi PERS’ COLA at 3 percent is not. In 2005, the plan’s COLA payout to retirees was $211 million or about 18.9 percent of total benefits paid out. This year, it grew to almost $700 million, an increase of 7.6 percent from 2018 ($650 million). The COLA payouts are now 25.4 percent of all benefits paid to retirees.
Read MoreMississippi’s Population Decline Continues
Mississippi suffered its fourth population decline over the past five years in 2019. In the face of Mississippi’s continuing population decline, what can we do to break the cycle?
Read MorePERS Part 3: Is PERS Slip SLRPing Away?
Mississippi is the only state with a supplemental pension fund for its legislators (SLRP), seven states provide no pension benefits for legislators, most notably Alabama and Louisiana. The SLRP chug-a-lugs along with a funding ratio of 84.7%, while PERS and the pension fund for state troopers languish with funding ratios of 62.5% and 67.2% respectively.
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