DAILY JOURNAL: Bryant touts tax cuts, school choice to start second term

Republican Gov. Phil Bryant delivers his State of the State address before a joint legislative session in House chambers at the Capitol in Jackson, Miss., Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016. Bryant unveiled his budget ideas, calling for tax cuts and proposing education policy changes during his annual State of the State address. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

By Bobby Harrison

Daily Journal Jackson Bureau

JACKSON – Gov. Phil Bryant, giving his first State of the State speech of his second term, said progress had been made in Mississippi during the past four years and advocated for tax cuts and additional school choice options during the 2016 legislative session.

The Republican Bryant spoke for nearly 30 minutes Tuesday evening in the House chamber to a joint session of the Mississippi Legislature.

“We now face a new year where I am able to inform the people and the duly elected members of the House and Senate – the state of state in Mississippi is sound,” said Bryant, acknowledging that just this past week he was forced to make about $40 million in budget cuts and take $35 million from the state’s rainy day fund to offset sluggish revenue collections.

Speaking to legislators, various statewide elected officials and Mississippians watching on live television, the governor said despite the sluggish revenue collections he still supported a tax cut. He conceded, though, the cuts might not go into effect this year.

Read more at The Daily Journal’s website…

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *