MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1997 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Senator(s) Horhn

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO URGE THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS, GOVERNORS OF OTHER STATES, AND OTHER STATE LEGISLATURES TO SUPPORT H.R. 1842 AND OTHER LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVES TO MITIGATE THE ECONOMIC WARFARE AMONG THE STATES THAT HAS RESULTED FROM THE ADOPTION OF TARGETED BUSINESS INCENTIVE PROGRAMS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 

WHEREAS, targeted business incentive programs have proliferated into a counterproductive economic war between the states and now form the cornerstone of state-sponsored "economic development" policies; and

WHEREAS, these programs fail to promote healthy and equitable statewide economic growth and, in reality, result in states engaging in economic warfare by moving businesses from one location to another both within and between states, with no significant economic benefit in the aggregate; and

WHEREAS, America's future in the global economy lies within its educational, industrial, technological and research capabilities throughout the entire fifty states; and

WHEREAS, disarmament of wasteful programs can be achieved through a combination of new state and federal policies; and

WHEREAS, states would be better off providing a less burdensome tax climate for all businesses and a quality educational system geared to providing an adequately trained and ready work force, support for research and development, and a quality transportation system, along with other high-quality traditional government services; and

WHEREAS, efforts are currently underway in the United States Congress to identify and eliminate federally funded programs that are used by the states to escalate this economic warfare:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MISSISSIPPI STATE SENATE, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That the Legislature strongly urges the Mississippi congressional delegation to embrace and support efforts in the United States Congress such as H.R. 1842 and other legislative initiatives that will begin to mitigate this economic warfare.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Legislature strongly urges the governors and other legislatures in the respective states to promulgate this message.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit duly authenticated copies of this resolution to the members of the Mississippi congressional delegation, to the Speaker and Clerk of the United States House of Representatives, to the President Pro Tempore and Secretary of the United States Senate, and to the governors and the appropriate officers of the legislatures of all the other states.