Recently sworn in Mississippi Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann addressed cited three issues the state must address to prosper.
The issues:
*Improving Mississippi’s workforce participation rate, which at 53.8% is the worst in the county.
*Ensuring the state’s public pension plan is financially viable.
*Addressing the state’s health care crisis.
During a joint session of the Mississippi Legislature on Jan. 4, seven statewide elected officials other than the governor were sworn in for new four-year terms.
It's tradition for the lieutenant governor to offer comments to the joint session after being sworn in.
Hosemann challenged legislators to tackle those problem areas cited.
Mississippi’s low workforce participation rate - people able to work but don't - is not economically sustainable. The key, he said, is educating people and imposing workforce skills.
“Economic development will wilt without an educated work force to sustain it,” Hosemann said. Education must be adequately funded from pre-K up.
He proposed “the last dollar tuition program” for students that meet requirements to be able to attend community college tuition free.
Hosemann addressed education and health care but made no direct comment on some big issues that could be debated during the legislative session – like providing vouchers for students to attend private school or expanding Medicaid for the working poor.
But Hosemann said the responsibility will fall to the Legislature to ensure the Public Employees Retirement System remains viable. PERS provides retirement benefits for most state and local government employees, including schoolteachers. (Mississippi Today 01/04/24) Hosemann: Lawmakers must focus on workforce participation (mailchi.mp)
Gov Reeves addresses the Mississippi Economic Council’s annual Capital Day event. Governor Reeves talks workforce, site development at MEC Capital Day - Magnolia Tribune
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