Mississippi Freedom Caucus - Freedom Corner Podcast

In this episode Rep. Steve Hopkins talks with host Steven Utroska about the birth of the Mississippi Freedom Caucus and the 2022 legislative session.

Join host Steven Utroska and Rep. Chris Brown as they discuss education in Mississippi and how to move forward improving our educational system.

Host Steven Utroska is joined by Mississippi Freedom Caucus Vice-Chairman Rep. Dana Criswell to discuss Senate Bill 2716.

Everyone believes in the basic principle of holding those we elect accountable for their actions. In a representative democracy elected men and women are empowered to make decisions, if they make bad decisions we end their political career by voting for someone else. Being re-elected is the holy grail of most elected officials and often the only thing that keeps them in line.

But what would happen if the politicians could figure out a way to be insulated from their decisions, what if they could give their power to someone else who could be blamed for all bad decisions but would allow the politician to take credit for all popular decisions? 

That scheme would undermine the entire fabric of our political system.

Mississippi Senate Bill 2716 – is attempting to do just that, by creating a “quasi-governmental” entity that assumes the powers usually reserved for government.

This form of quasi-government is call “Regionalism”. 

Regionalism is the practice of separate political subdivisions banding together to accomplish a cooperative goal. 

It sounds benign and harmless until we dive deeper into how this concept is put into practice. On www.renewamerica.com writer Tom Deweese says, 

“Regionalism is the means to complete the final stage of taking our private property rights from us and firmly embed us in Communitarianism.”

Currently politicians in Mississippi, Tennessee and Arkansas have proposed a compact between certain counties and cities in their states. This compact would be managed by a private organization called the RegionSmart Development District and Agency of the Greater Memphis Region (RegionSmart).

This quasi-governmental agency will operate virtually autonomously. Because this organization is a privately held company local citizens will lose oversight and control of the tax dollars sent and collected by RegionSmart.  Since RegionSmart is located in Tennessee the people of Mississippi lose access to decisions that are made. RegionSmart would not be bound by Mississippi open records laws or open meetings laws and could not be held accountable by the State Auditor.

This means Mississippi tax dollars will flow into a Memphis, TN based company that does not answer to the people of Mississippi.

Local officials who support this scheme claim their citizens will be protected because each mayor gets to appoint a member to the Board of Commissioners. This board will consist of 15 members, all unelected by the people of their city or county. 

The current proposal under consideration in Mississippi, Tennessee and Arkansas would give the RegionSmart Development District the power to:

* Purchase or construct roads, airports, wharves, docks, harbors, and industrial parks, bridges, tunnels, warehouses, grain elevators, commodity and other storage facilities, sewage disposal plants, passenger transportation facilities, and air, water, rail, motor vehicle and other terminal or parking facilities.* Use Eminent Domain to condemn property it wants.* Lease facilities and structures they choose.* Charge fees and collect fees for use of the facilities owned and operated by the RegionSmart Development District.* Issue bonds and borrow money.

Mississippians felt so strongly about controlling eminent domain that the citizens amended the state constitution to ensure that eminent domain cannot be used to take property that is later given to an individual or private company. But RegionSmart would not be held to that standard.

The citizens of Mississippi have spoken and I am happy to report to you that the Mississippi House of Representatives has listened. Today, Rep. Dan Eubanks presented and passed House Concurrent Resolution 23 out of the House Rules Committee. 

This resolution declares Mississippi a Sanctuary State for the Bill of Rights. 

By passing this resolution we are sending a message across this country that the God Given rights of our citizens will not be violated and in Mississippi, we will fight for our right of free speech, our right to worship God, and our right to keep and bear arms. 

The Mississippi Freedom Caucus would like to thank each one of you who sent emails and made phone calls to legislators encouraging them to take a stand. We also want to thank Rep. Rob Roberson, chairman of the Rules Committee for allowing this bill through his committee.

Now it is time to push this resolution the rest of the way through the House of Representatives and the Senate. If you have sent an email please send another, if you have made phone calls, make some more. 

The people of Mississippi must demand our elected officials take a stand.

Go to www.FreedomCaucus.ms to complete the form and send your email supporting House Concurrent Resolution 23, today!

In this weeks episode Rep. Dan Eubanks explains why the Fairness Act is so important to Mississippi.

Rep. Brady Williamson explains why everyone should support the elimination of the state income tax.

Join with the Mississippi Freedom Caucus and send an email to Gov. Reeves, Lt. Gov. Hosemann, Speaker Gunn, and every Senator and Representative, asking them to support HB1439 and repeal the state income tax.

Click Here to Send Your Email

Today the Mississippi House of Representatives passed the Mississippi Tax Freedom Act of 2021. This act will eliminate the income tax on Mississippi’s Hard-Working Families.

In this weeks episode Rep. Brady Williamson discusses House Bill 1327 and how it proposes to limit the governors executive orders and ensure your voice is heard.

In this weeks episode Rep. Steve Hopkins discusses House Bill 1263. Occupational license reciprocity with others states.