MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2019 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Tollison, Kirby, Blackmon, Barnett, Blackwell, Branning, Browning, Burton, Butler, Carmichael, Carter, Caughman, Clarke, Dearing, Doty, Fillingane, Frazier, Gollott, Harkins, Hill, Hopson, Hudson, Jackson (15th), Jackson (32nd), Massey, McDaniel, McMahan, Michel, Moran, Polk, Seymour, Simmons (13th), Simmons (12th), Turner-Ford, Wilemon, Witherspoon, Younger, Parker, Jordan, Jackson (11th), Whaley
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO COMMEND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR TATE REEVES FOR HIS DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AS PRESIDENT OF THE MISSISSIPPI SENATE.
WHEREAS, known for strong integrity, Tate Reeves was elected Mississippi's 38th Lieutenant Governor in 2011; and
WHEREAS, reelected in 2015 as Mississippi's Lieutenant Governor, Tate Reeves has led the 52-member Senate with a focus on keeping government spending under control, reforming education and making Mississippi a better place to raise a family. Under his leadership, Mississippi has a balanced budget that spends more on education and adequately funds other priorities while reducing taxpayers' overall debt burden; and
WHEREAS, Lieutenant Governor Tate Reeves will complete his second term as President of the Mississippi Senate; and
WHEREAS, previously Lieutenant Governor Tate Reeves was elected as Mississippi's 53rd Treasurer in 2003 and reelected to a second term four years later with 61% of the vote, the highest percentage of any candidate running for statewide office. He was the first Republican and youngest Treasurer in the state's history; and
WHEREAS, under Lieutenant Governor Reeves' leadership, the Legislature approved several measures to make Mississippi an even better place to do business. Reeves believes government should create an environment to encourage the private sector to create more jobs. In an effort to make the state's tax policy flatter and fairer, he proposed the largest tax cut in state history through the Taxpayer Pay Raise Act, which lowers the personal income tax; allows for self-employed Mississippians to increase deductions; and eliminates the corporate franchise tax. Under the plan adopted by the Legislature, every taxpayer saw a tax cut. He supported helping job creators increase investment in their businesses by reducing the unemployment tax rate and boosting investment in workforce training at community and junior colleges. Under his leadership, the Legislature also made the state more competitive in a global marketplace by allowing businesses to claim a tax credit on inventory held in the state, which will encourage companies to invest more capital in creating jobs. Legislators also reformed the state's Workers' Compensation Law to ensure a fairer and impartial relationship between the worker and employer with provisions to better define the employee's choice of physician, implement stronger measures against workplace drug and alcohol use and increase certain benefits. These changes boosted Mississippi's reputation as a place to do business; and
WHEREAS, Reeves successfully advocated for more transparent school district ratings, which led to a new grading system for schools based on A, B, C, D and F. The first steps toward choice were taken with the creation of public charter schools and scholarships for students with special needs. Reeves fought to boost the state's literacy rate with legislation to end social promotion of students who cannot read at grade level. After decades of legislators talking about school district consolidation, Reeves took action by pushing for administrative consolidation, significantly reducing the number of districts in Mississippi. The Education Commission of the States awarded Mississippi the 2016 Frank Newman Award for State Innovation for these transformational reforms to improve student learning. Mississippi has made record investments in education spending and enacted reforms to save money, strengthen achievement, and clearly communicate school performance; and
WHEREAS, Tate Reeves fought for transparency on how agencies spend taxpayers' dollars. Agencies are now required to post budget requests on the legislative budget website and disclose each source of revenue. Stronger reporting requirements were placed on taxpayer-funded incentive programs. Reeves secured a commitment from the Department of Finance and Administration and the State Personnel Board to develop statewide contracts for services, not just commodities, which will help state agencies take advantage of bulk purchasing power and reduce costs. He pushed passage of the Attorney General's "Sunshine Act," which requires an open and transparent process for awarding legal contracts. Reeves pushed several measures to strengthen public safety and make Mississippi a safe place to raise a family. The Legislature has passed laws to allow for the prosecution of attempted murder and to closely monitor sex offenders using CPS devices. He is committed to protecting Mississippians' Second Amendment Rights by supporting laws to reduce the cost of concealed carry permits and clarify the limits on the ability of cities and counties to restrict the carrying of firearms. Reeves' initiative to help school districts hire law enforcement for campus protection will place more officers in schools; and
WHEREAS, Lieutenant Governor Reeves is past Chairman of the Republican Lieutenant Governors Association. He was named one of the Top 40 Politicians Under 40 by The Washington Post. He is a member of the Inaugural Hunt-Kean Leadership Fellows Program focused on education issues. Reeves was named a 2013 Charter Champion by the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools. Reeves received the 2012 State Legislative Achievement Award from the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform for passage of the Attorney General's "Sunshine Act." He was named Legislator of the Year by the Mississippi Municipal League in 2012. Reeves has been named a "Rising Star(s) in the Republican Party" by Rising Tide magazine - the publication of the Republican National Committee. He also was selected by the Aspen Institute's Rodel Fellowships in Public Leadership as one of the "Top Young Elected Officials" to its Fourth Class of Aspen-Rodel Fellows. Reeves was recognized by his National Association of State Treasurers' (NAST) peers as the recipient of the Jesse M. Unruh Award which recognized his outstanding service to the association, the profession and to his state; and
WHEREAS, Reeves is a Rankin County native and a graduate of Florence High School. He is an Honors Graduate of Millsaps College and holds a Bachelor's Degree in Economics. Reeves holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation (CFA) and is a member of the CFA Society of Mississippi and the CFA Institute, an organization that leads the investment industry by setting the highest standards of ethics and professional excellence. In 1996, he was the recipient of the Mississippi Society of Financial Analysts Award. Reeves and his wife, Elee Williams Reeves, a Tylertown native, are the proud parents of three daughters, Sarah Tyler, Elizabeth Magee and Madeline Tate. The Reeves' family attends Galloway Memorial United Methodist Church; and
WHEREAS, Tate Reeves' service has been marked by his commitment to success and recognized leadership, sound judgment and fairness. He has set the highest standard in all of his many roles, as a father, husband, citizen, statesman and leader in the Mississippi Senate and as a true friend:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend and recognize Lieutenant Governor Tate Reeves, whose outstanding service enriched everyone with whom he was associated, and we wish Tate and his family much success in their future endeavors.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Tate Reeves and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.