Bill Text: MS SC622 | 2010 | Regular Session | Introduced

Mississippi Senate Concurrent Resolution 622 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Acknowledge the state of poverty in Mississippi and need for improved economic viability.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)

Status: (Failed) 2010-04-23 - Died In Committee [SC622 Detail]

Download: Mississippi-2010-SC622-Introduced.html

MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2010 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Senator(s) Jones

Senate Concurrent Resolution 622

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ACKNOWLEDGING THE STATE OF POVERTY IN THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, RECOGNIZING THE STATE'S 20 POOREST COUNTIES AND THEIR IMPACT ON THE OVERALL STATUS OF OUR STATE, AND ENCOURAGING THE IMPROVEMENT OF THEIR ECONOMIC VIABILITY THROUGH INCREASED AWARENESS AND CREATION OF OPPORTUNITY BY EMPHASIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF THE INTER-RELATIONSHIP WITH ALL 82 COUNTIES AS IT RELATES TO THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC RANKINGS IN THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI.

WHEREAS, the Mississippi Legislature acknowledges the state of poverty in the State of Mississippi and recognizes that improving the economic and social rankings will require a focused, coordinated effort to improve its rankings; and

WHEREAS, this coordinated effort to improve this overall status of our state will focus on the state's 20 poorest counties and strive to encourage the improvement of their economic viability through increased awareness and creation of opportunity by emphasizing the importance of the inter-relationship with all 82 counties as it relates to the social and economic rankings in this state; and

WHEREAS, Mississippi ranks 1st nationally in the percentage of the states' population in poverty; and

WHEREAS, the state ranks 1st nationally in the percentage of workforce which is unemployed; and

WHEREAS, the state ranks 1st nationally in the percentage of children in poverty; and

WHEREAS, the state ranks 2nd nationally in the percentage of the population in the Supplemental Security Income program; and

WHEREAS, the state ranks 47th nationally in the average annual pay in manufacturing jobs; and

WHEREAS, the state ranks 48th nationally in the average annual pay; and

WHEREAS, the state ranks 49th nationally in the percentage of the working-age population participating in the workforce; and

WHEREAS, the state ranks 49th nationally in the New Economy Index; and

WHEREAS, the state ranks 50th nationally in per capita personal income; and

WHEREAS, the state ranks 50th nationally in gross state product per capita; and

WHEREAS, the state ranks 50th nationally in the number of government employees; and

WHEREAS, the 20 poorest counties in Mississippi reflect an unemployment rate ranging from 27.7% to 46.4% and the relative magnitude of poverty varies between counties and has a significant impact on the entire social and economic rankings of the state, poverty reduction, job and industry losses and the well-being of their citizenry; and

WHEREAS, these 20 counties constitute the highest percentages of poverty level which has a direct and adverse effect on various lifestyle components, including a direct correlation to: low levels of educated population per capita, high incidences of teen pregnancy and health-related issues, high rates of unemployment, increased job loss and lack of potential, high rates of high school dropouts and reduced economic potential by virtue of social, economic and educational demographical history; and

WHEREAS, these counties contribute substantially to the gulf of disparity and poverty levels in the state as they relate to economic viability and sustainability by exhausting state and federal resources for continued funding for health and social services; and

WHEREAS, it is imperative that these counties are provided an increase in adequate housing, quality childcare and work opportunities, as well as additional training and opportunities in educational attainment; and

WHEREAS, the State of Mississippi recognizes that improving the economic and social rankings will require a focused, coordinated effort to improve its rankings:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That the State of Mississippi supports greater, coordinated, collaborative efforts to improve the state's economic and social rankings, and it declares that reducing the number of people in poverty is the most important effort in the quest to improve its economic and social rankings, and the state calls for and encourages agencies, public and private entities to take critical fundamental action, to provide guidance and assistance and to enhance public infrastructure for the enhancement of social and economic growth.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the heads of all state agencies, to major public and private entities, to the boards of supervisors of the 20 poorest counties in Mississippi, and made available to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.