By Christopher Young,
Contributing Writer,
Perhaps it’s expected when a governor delivers an inaugural address that the focus is upbeat and positive, after all, he is at that podium as a direct result of the will of the people. The ceremonial induction into office comes with so much fanfare and in this case, so much hyperbole.
Reading from the full transcript of Governor Reeves’ final inaugural address, published by Mississippi Today, there was no exception on January 9, 2024 –on the south steps of the Mississippi Capitol. After thanking the Chief Justice of the Mississippi Supreme Court who administered the oath of office, First Lady Elee Reeves, his three daughters, his parents, and other family members, he went on to thank Mississippians.
“And whether you voted for me or not, this time or ever, I want you to know it matters not. As I did four years ago, I want to once again, make this promise to all of you – that I will be a governor for all Mississippi.” He went on – “The longer I have served, the more I have come to appreciate that the defining characteristic about Mississippi is that sense that we are all in it together. It is not our food, our football, or even our music that makes us unique; it is our commitment to each other.”
It’s important to remember that when this Governor says things like this – all Mississippi and commitment to each other – there is a caveat attached. Even though we should reasonably expect the chief executive of Mississippi to be an authority figure and a fountain of reliability, it just isn’t that way. Reality is not his strong suit. Here’s a couple of things that fly in the face of his governing for all Mississippi and being committed to each other:
He curtailed the federally funded rental assistance program, administered by Mississippi Home Corporation in August 2022, despite the Census telling us that 44% of Mississippians are struggling to pay their rent/mortgage.
The day after this inauguration he opted Mississippi out of the federally funded Summer EBT program, which helps families with school age children when school is out for the Summer, $40 per child up to a maximum of $120 per month. His office was quoted as saying he rejects “attempts to expand the welfare state.” Thirty-five states accept the federal funds, but not Mississippi.
It is easy to be confused by what the governor says, until you grasp that his war against poor people in the poorest state in the nation and against people of color is no accident. Yet he gladly accepts welfare from the federal government each year – in the billions of dollars. Most recently, 47.31% of Mississippi’s revenue comes directly from the feds – without it, our state would be bankrupt. We are the second highest debtor state in the nation. For every $1 paid by Mississippians in federal income tax, Mississippi gets $2.53 in return, per www.smartasset.com.
Shifting back to his inaugural speech, here’s a good one: “Through every moment of despair, Mississippians showed the strength of our character and chose to be a light amidst the darkness.” Does that include the TANF fraud? Republican governors and their appointees taking money – up to $97 million per many sources – specifically provided for the poorest families in Mississippi by the federal government and spending it on things that they wanted to spend it on, as opposed to what the federal government intended it for; things like building a state-of-the-art volleyball stadium at University of Mississippi at the bequest of Brett Farve, and using Temporary Assistance for Needy Families funds for 12-week fitness bootcamps – all documented by numerous sources, including https://www.mdhs.ms.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/tanf-forensic-findings.pdf. Good character and shining a light into the darkness, really?
In his speech he said, “Mississippians are never bashful about our reliance on the Lord.” I’m crystal clear on what the Lord would think of stealing from the poorest among us.
He also bemoaned Mississippi’s children and grandchildren leaving our state and helping other places prosper. His plan to address that – “Our goal must be what I call Mississippi Forever…we can give our sons and daughters pride… we need to be bold in our goals and carry our Mississippi pride into our actions.”
“The fact is that everything we do, we do together. There is no black Mississippi or white Mississippi. There is no red Mississippi or blue Mississippi. There is only one Mississippi – and it is Mississippi Forever,” the newly reelected governor said.
When black men – contractors in Mississippi received just 4.04% of contracts for goods and services with the state in FY-22, I would say that equates with being just about invisible. White people though, he’s way off – in the same Minority Participation Report white people received well north of 95% of state contracts. How many poor people and people of color in Mississippi will see additional suffering under his Mississippi Forever goal?
He mentioned in his speech that he seeks God’s guidance, “and I ask that you ask God to guide me when you pray as well.” Mr. Governor, I do ask God to guide you. I pray daily that the Lord will guide you toward correction, toward repentance, toward loving all Mississippians. And Mr. Governor, love is an action, not hollow words – that’s as clear as fourth grade reading scores.
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