BIPEC Updates

31 May
2023

2023 “BUSINESS & JOBS” LEGISLATOR REPORT CARD

BIPEC (Business and Industry Political Education Committee) has released its Legislator “Business & Jobs” Report Card for the 2023 legislative session. The BIPEC Report Card recognizes pro-business legislators for their work supporting economic growth, job development, and business-related issues for the legislative session. 

“BIPEC recognizes and appreciates the efforts of these legislators,” said Derek Easley, BIPEC President & CEO. “For the members and supporters of BIPEC, the Report Card is a resource for the business community. It is a tool to see our legislators’ measured performance and their support for the growth of jobs and economic development in Mississippi.”

BIPEC is a 501c6 membership organization founded in 1980 by Mississippi’s business and professional leaders. BIPEC is a nonprofit association comprised of individuals, trade associations, and companies who unite to protect and advance free enterprise through research, education, and member action. BIPEC’s purpose is to learn backgrounds, voting records, and key positions of members and candidates for the Mississippi Legislature, Supreme Court, and Court of Appeals. BIPEC disseminates credible research findings to BIPEC members, educates BIPEC’s membership network on the impact that legislator and judge-made decisions have on Mississippi’s economic growth, business attractiveness and general prosperity of the State’s employers. 

View the Senate scores

View the House scores

View the list of Bill Descriptions Included in the Report Card

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15 Sep
2022

2022 “BUSINESS & JOBS” LEGISLATOR REPORT CARD

BIPEC (Business and Industry Political Education Committee) has released its Legislator “Business & Jobs” Report Card for the 2022 legislative session. The BIPEC Report Card recognizes “Business & Jobs Champions” for their work supporting economic growth, job development, and business-related issues for the legislative session.

For over 40 years, BIPEC has been the organization that provides you with information to assess the legislature’s performance on business issues. The BIPEC “Business & Jobs” Legislator Report Card is THE resource for employers to gauge their legislator’s pro-business acumen.

We will continue to protect your interests by supporting candidates, promoting “Business and Jobs” champions, and educating our members and the public about important legislation and elections.

View the Senate scores | View the House scores

View the list of Bill Descriptions Included in the Report Card

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07 Jun
2021

2021 “BUSINESS & JOBS” LEGISLATOR REPORT CARD

BIPEC (Business and Industry Political Education Committee) has released its Legislator “Business & Jobs” Report Card for the 2021 legislative session. The BIPEC Report Card recognizes “Business & Jobs Champions” for their work supporting economic growth, job development, and business-related issues for the legislative session.

For over 40 years, BIPEC has been the organization that provides you with information to assess the legislature’s performance on business issues. The BIPEC “Business & Jobs” Legislator Report Card is THE resource for employers to gauge their legislator’s pro-business acumen.

The past two years have brought unprecedented challenges for businesses. It highlighted the importance of an organization like BIPEC that brings awareness to legislation that might bolster or harm Mississippi’s economy.

Included in the scorecard this year are votes on two bills in the House of Representatives to phase out the individual income tax. While exploring the elimination of the income tax has merit, their proposal would have imposed significant increases in sales taxes on certain business inputs.

House Bill 1439 would have increased taxes on the following industries: manufacturing, farming, timber, dairy, and automobile dealers. Electric power associations would have also faced increased costs that would likely be passed on to consumers, including business customers, in the form of higher rates. All businesses and industries would have paid 2.5% more in sales tax on purchases of business-related goods, services, telecommunications services, and utilities currently subject to the 7% rate.

Senate Bill 2971 was amended in the House to include a version of HB 1439. While the amendment removed tax increases on some industries, many still faced significant tax increases on business inputs. However, all businesses and industries would still have paid more in sales tax. The regular retail sales tax rate applicable to ordinary purchases of business-related goods, services, telecommunications services, and utilities would have increased from 7% to 9.5%.

Since the pro-business vote was in opposition to the legislation, many in the House of Representatives were negatively affected in their BIPEC grade.

We will continue to protect your interests by supporting candidates, promoting “Business and Jobs” champions, and educating our members and the public about important legislation and elections.

View the Senate scores | View the House scores

View the list of Bill Descriptions Included in the Report Card

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25 Nov
2020

Special Election: Joseph Tubb Declared Winner in HD 87

Joseph Tubb has won a special election runoff for House District 87. According to WDAM, Tubb received 58% of the vote to defeat Matthew Conoly for the House of Representatives’ seat. House District 87 represents parts of Forrest and Lamar counties. This seat was previously held by Billy Andrews.

Tubb was named back in October as “Best for Business & Jobs” by BIPEC.

BIPEC reviews backgrounds of candidates running for the Legislature. BIPEC disseminates research findings to members and educates its membership on the impact that elected officials could have on economic growth and MS employers. It is an independent, autonomous organization and is not affiliated with any political party or candidate. BIPEC actions are limited to advocacy, candidate research and candidate recommendations. BIPEC evaluates many factors while considering recommendations including potential election unity within the business/employer community.

Derek Easley
President & CEO, BIPEC

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10 Sep
2020

2020 LEGISLATOR “BUSINESS & JOBS” REPORT CARD

BIPEC has released its Legislator “Business & Jobs” Report Card for the 2020 legislative session. The BIPEC Report Card recognizes “Business & Jobs Champions” for their work supporting economic growth, job development, and business-related issues for the legislative session.

View the Senate scores
View the House scores

View an explanation of each bill here

We will be mailing a printed version of the report card to all BIPEC members in the coming days. If you would like additional copies of the report card, please let us know.

At BIPEC.org you can view the interactive version of the report card. Click the heading links to switch between Representatives and Senators. The report card is sortable by grade, legislator name, party, and district. You can hover over the bill names to see a description of each bill. When you click on a legislator’s name, you will see a list of bills with links to the bill and to the individual votes recorded at the Mississippi Legislative Website.

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02 Jul
2020

MS Back-to-Business Liability Assurance Act going to the Governor

Legislation that will help protect businesses and healthcare providers against frivolous COVID-19-related claims is on its way to Governor Reeves for his signature. BIPEC led a coalition of business groups to pass what is known as the “Mississippi Back-to-Business Liability Assurance Act.” This important act will preserve both justice and economic recovery in Mississippi by enacting reasonable safeguards against a potential surge of coronavirus lawsuits. We believe that this legislation is one of the strongest, if not the strongest, COVID-19 liability bills in the country. You can view it HERE.
 
There are a growing number of COVID-19 related lawsuits across the United States. Some personal injury lawyers view individuals exposed to COVID-19 as a vast new pool of plaintiffs, and healthcare providers, businesses, non-profits, charitable, and religious organizations that aid in the response effort or provide essential services as defendants to cast blame. The first lawsuits targeting healthcare providers, employers, retailers, and other businesses have been filed. Many more are to come.
 
It is good public policy to give our courts clear direction and to distinguish valid claims from meritless lawsuits in this unprecedented time. Many of Mississippi’s employers are concerned that they may not survive the pandemic and are dealing with a crisis through no fault of their own. They are doing everything possible to remain open to serve their customers. We commend legislative leaders for taking this action. Below is a quick synopsis of what the legislation does.
 

  • Who is covered?
    person is defined as someone who attempts, in good faith, to follow applicable public health guidance.
     
  • What is the definition of a person?
    Person means an individual, state, political subdivision, association, educational entity, for-profit or non-profit entity, religious organization, or charitable organization.  
     
  • What is the definition of public health guidance?
    Public health guidance means any written guidance related to the COVID-19 State of Emergency, issued by an executive agency or regulatory agency of the federal government or an executive agency of the State of Mississippi.
     
  • Who is not covered?
    Any defendant shown by clear and convincing evidence to have acted with actual malice or willful or intentional misconduct is not covered.
     
  • Who has liability protection?
    Premises: This means any physical place serving a commercial, residential, educational, religious, governmental, cultural, charitable, or health care purpose.
    Businesses: The bill protects businesses (essential and non-essential) through the definition of “person.”  
    Product liability: The legislation provides protections to anyone that designs, manufactures, labels, sells, distributes, or donates personal protective equipment in response to COVID-19.


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28 Jun
2020

Mississippi Will Adopt a New State Flag

Last week the BIPEC Board of Directors moved quickly and decisively to take a position on the issue of the state flag. On Sunday evening, legislation to remove and adopt a new state flag passed the House and Senate. It is now on its way to the Governor. Governor Tate Reeves has said publicly that he will sign the bill. The legislation will also create a commission to design a new flag that voters will have a chance to vote on during the November elections.

Last week, BIPEC issued the following statement. “The Business and Industry Political Education Committee’s (BIPEC) mission statement emphasizes that Mississippi businesses should ‘unite, protect, and advance free enterprise.’ Our current flag divides us, hurts our economy, and hinders free enterprise. BIPEC supports legislative efforts to change the current state flag. Mississippi is always competing for economic development opportunities. The current flag puts us at a disadvantage. Mississippi should have a flag that will cast our state in a positive light.”

BIPEC and many of its members played a pivotal role in the passage of this historic legislation.

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23 Jun
2020

Statement Regarding the State Flag of Mississippi

The Business and Industry Political Education Committee’s (BIPEC) mission statement says that Mississippi businesses should “unite, protect, and advance free enterprise.” It is our opinion that the current flag divides us, hurts our economy, and hinders free enterprise.

Mississippi is always competing for economic development opportunities. The current flag puts us at a disadvantage and stands in the way of the growth and opportunities available to us. Mississippi should have a flag that will cast our state in a positive light.

BIPEC supports legislative efforts to change the current state flag.

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10 Jun
2020

Robin Robinson “Best for Business & Jobs”

Robin Robinson

“Best for Business & Jobs”

Friends of Robin Robinson
1179 Township Road
Laurel, MS 39443
https://www.robinjrobinson.com/
robin@robinjrobinson.com

The Business and Industry Political Education Committee (BIPEC) has named Robin Robinson as “Best for Business & Jobs” in an upcoming special election for the Mississippi House of Representatives. The special election in House District 88 (Jones County) is on June 23.

Robin is a retired executive at Sanderson Farms where served as a Cost Accountant, Chief Accountant, Chief Internal Auditor, Manager of Human Resources, Manager of Organization Development, and a member of the company’s Executive Committee. She also served as Chair of the Mississippi Economic Council.

Robinson stated, “I am truly honored to be recognized as the “Best for Business & Jobs” candidate in this election. I want to be a champion for policies that promote economic development and jobs for the residents of House District 88 so that Jones County and Mississippi continue to be an amazing place to work and live.”

BIPEC reviews backgrounds of candidates running for the Legislature. BIPEC disseminates research findings to members and educates its members on the impact elected officials could have on economic growth and MS employers. It is an independent, autonomous organization and is not affiliated with any political party or candidate. BIPEC actions are limited to advocacy, candidate research, and candidate recommendations. BIPEC evaluates many factors while considering recommendations, including potential election unity within the business/employer community.

Derek Easley
President & CEO, BIPEC

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15 Apr
2020

Governor Reeves’ Commission For Economic Recovery

Governor Tate Reeves announced that he has asked leaders of Mississippi’s business community to chart a course for economic recovery and re-opening Mississippi’s economy.

During this COVID-19 pandemic, Mississippi has seen a nearly 9,000% increase in unemployment claims. Small businesses and their employees are struggling to stay afloat. The Governor’s Commission for Economic Recovery will look at the impact on every industry, geographical region, and community and help the Governor transform our state’s economy under these new conditions through tailored solutions.

“We need Mississippians helping Mississippians. I have asked a trusted group of our state’s top business minds to do just that. Under the ‘Restart Mississippi’ umbrella, they are going to develop a series of recommendations and goals for our new economy. They will study the impact of COVID-19 on our workforce and small businesses. And they will help us recover—day by day,” said Governor Tate Reeves.

The Governor has asked Joe Sanderson of Sanderson Farms, a longtime business leader in our state, to serve as the chairman of the effort. Joining Joe Sanderson, this commission will be comprised of leaders representing Mississippi’s different regions and industries.

Bringing together large economic drivers and small business leaders, this private sector group will develop recommendations for state leaders on economic recovery to help Mississippi businesses and employees navigate our new economy. The commission will study the economic impact of COVID-19 on different industries, communities, and regions with one goal: develop a path forward to Restart Mississippi. 

The full list of members with biographies can be found at restartms.ms.

EXECUTIVE TEAM

IMPACT COMMITTEES

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