Polling Shows Republican Voters Support Criminal Justice Improvements

Mississippi’s incarceration rate leads the world, and a majority of Mississippi Republicans support reducing the state’s prison population, according to recent polling of likely Republican primary election voters.    Earlier this year, award-winning polling firm Cygnal conducted a poll for Empower Mississippi to gauge Republican opinion on criminal justice issues in the state.   The results show…

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National Education Scores Fall; Mississippi Improves in 4th-Grade Reading

Newly released benchmarks show that American educational achievement is falling.    According to long-term trend scores from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) released last Wednesday, math and reading scores for American 13-year-olds plunged to historically low levels. Reading scores are now lower than at any point in the last 40 years, while math scores…

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Education Freedom Movement Continues National Momentum

Efforts to give parents more control over their children’s education continue to gain momentum across the country. Education freedom is a concept that recognizes that all children are unique, with varying strengths and learning styles, and should have access to an educational setting that best suits their individual needs. It empowers parents with more options…

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No, Conservative Criminal Justice Reforms Have Not Led to Violent Crime Increases

Contrary to some recent assertions, conservative criminal justice reforms have not led to increases in violent crime. We agree with fellow conservatives that criminals should be held accountable for their actions. “Swift and sure” consequences are effective at both prevention and punishment; “catch-and-release” policies are not. We need more police who are well-paid and well-trained,…

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Three Pillars: One Opportunity

I routinely get asked how we at Empower Mississippi selected our three pillars of focus: education, work, and justice. The truth is pretty simple: the Empower board of directors understands that these three challenges are so interconnected that they represent one significant, life-changing opportunity for prosperity, if lawmakers have the courage to act with boldness.…

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