Nettleton – Last week, Brandon Presley released the second plank of his “Cutting Taxes, Creating Jobs” plan. During his press conference in Jackson, Brandon discussed his plans to strengthen Mississippi’s workforce by:

• Collaborating with educational institutions and businesses to provide training and scholarships for high-demand fields such as computer programming, plumbing, electricians, and robotics.

• Ensuring that Mississippi families have access to affordable childcare programs and early childhood education.

• Investing in infrastructure to improve roads, water, and sewage systems, and high-speed internet access.

• Expanding Medicaid to provide healthcare to 220,000 working Mississippians because a healthy workforce is a productive workforce.

• Creating a public-private task force on economic diversity housed under the Mississippi Development Authority that will improve outreach and reduce barriers for Black and minority-owned and women-owned businesses.

• Strengthening Mississippi’s Equal Pay law to include part-time jobs.

Earlier this month, Brandon unveiled the first plank to slash taxes so that working families can have more breathing room as they face higher prices across the board. This will eliminate the grocery tax and cut the car tag fee in half. Both of these taxes hit working families hard, especially the grocery tax, which is highest in the nation in Mississippi.

Read more below:

Mississippi Today: Democrat Presley urges Gov. Reeves to call special session on cutting grocery tax 

Taylor Vance

June 23, 2023

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Brandon Presley on Thursday said Republican Gov. Tate Reeves should call lawmakers back to the state Capitol for a special legislative session to abolish Mississippi’s sales tax on groceries, the highest such tax in the nation.

Presley, north Mississippi’s utility commissioner, believes the 7% tax on food should be eliminated because it’s a harsh policy that forces people on all ends of the economic spectrum to pay extra for a basic necessity like food.

“At a time in which Mississippians are struggling, we know that this cost is hurting folks, and particularly working families who are out there trying to make ends meet and meet that family budget,” Presley said.

Both of Mississippi’s leading candidates for governor want to reduce state taxes. Reeves continues to advocate for abolishing the state income tax, and Presley wants to eliminate the state’s tax on food and cut fees on car tags in half.

Lawmakers are typically in the capital city for their regular session from early January to April. After lawmakers adjourn their session, they cannot reconvene at any point during the year to pass new laws unless the governor calls them back to Jackson for a special session.

The state Constitution grants the governor power to set the terms of a special session. Reeves did not respond to a request for comment about Presley’s Thursday comments. Reeves in his first term has only called one special legislative session, to approve $247 million in state incentives for an aluminum mill.

Lawmakers last year significantly reduced the individual income tax, and once it’s fully implemented, Mississippi will have a flat 4% tax on all earned income over $10,000. But Reeves believes that tax should be gone entirely.

“I pushed to eliminate our state income tax, and we’ve achieved the largest tax cut in state history,” Reeves said in Gulfport earlier this month. “And we can do more because this is Mississippi’s time.”

The Republican candidate’s campaign, however, has said Reeves would be open to any type of tax cut the Legislature passes, including reducing the grocery tax.

But Presley said that the governor’s willingness wasn’t enough and excoriated him for not openly advocating on abolishing the tax.

“Where have you been for 12 years?” Presley asked. “Have you been that busy at fundraisers that you didn’t know that people wanted their grocery tax eliminated?”

The different tax cut policies come at a time when Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey signed a bill into law in the state that lowers its grocery tax from 4% to 3%. The legislation calls for the tax to decrease even further if specific growth metrics are met to offset the tax reduction, according to the Associated Press.

Clarion Ledger: MS has highest nation's grocery tax. Hear what candidates for governor say about cutting it

Wicker Perlis

June 22, 2023

Mississippi is one of just a handful of states to not at least partially exempt grocery items from its sales tax, and with one of the highest sales taxes in the nation at 7%, the state tops the list of highest grocery taxes.

Mississippi's eastern neighbor cut its tax on groceries last week to be less than half of Mississippi's nation leading rate, leading to renewed calls for the Magnolia State to either eliminate or reduce the taxes people pay on food.

Alabama's grocery tax will drop from 4% to 3% starting Sept. 1, and then if economic markers meet certain projections, it will drop by another percentage point the following year. During a speech he made to a group of Mississippi newspaper reporters, editors and publishers last week, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Brandon Presley said. Republican Gov. Tate Reeves should take note of his fellow Republican governor, Kay Ivey of Alabama, signing the cut.

"Wherever he is, he ought to be ashamed right now that Kay Ivey, across the state line in Alabama, just cut grocery taxes, yesterday, in half," Presley said.

With Alabama joining the fold, each of Mississippi's neighbors will at least partially exempt groceries from state sales tax rates. In most states, those exemptions do not include prepared meals, personal hygiene or cleaning items or alcoholic beverages. In some states candy and soda are not included in the exemption.

In his earlier speech to the same Mississippi Press Association group last week, Reeves did not mention cutting the grocery tax, instead focusing on his plans to eliminate the state's income tax. In a text message Thursday, Reeves' campaign manager, Elliott Husbands, said the governor would sign any tax cut that reaches his desk.

"The governor would certainly be thrilled to cut the grocery tax — he is in favor of any tax cut we can achieve," Husbands said. "He is primarily focused on eliminating the income tax, because it can unleash the greatest economic growth, but happy to work with legislators on all options."

At an event at a business in West Jackson later Thursday, Presley said Reeves has not made eliminating the grocery tax a priority during his four years as governor or eight as lieutenant governor.

"If he would support it, why has he not opened his mouth about it for 12 years?" Presley said. "He could call a special session today to eliminate the grocery tax, but it's a copout. The legislature's not in session, he's going to be beat in November, so he's not going to have to face this come January, and so they say 'Oh, if he'd been presented this,' well, look, you know, where have you been for 12 years? Have you been that busy at fundraisers that you didn't know that people want the grocery tax eliminated?"

Presley, who said he would call a special session on the grocery tax if he were governor, connected Reeves' endorsement of elimination to his course reversal when the governor endorsed postpartum Medicaid extension.

"Once this campaign raises eliminating grocery tax, 'Oh well know we would support that if it was there,'" Presley said. "The other issue, and that is what you saw this year with postpartum care. The minute I came out saying that we should expand postpartum care for 12 months for mothers, that'd been on the table for years, he hadn't done anything about it."

Presley added that if the state could find the money to give to questionable recipients wrapped up in the state's welfare scandal, it could easily find the money to eliminate the grocery tax.

On the state income tax, which Reeves has said he is running for "a mandate" to eliminate, Presley said Thursday that he would not rule out axing it.

"I want to make sure that we are eliminating taxes that help the most Mississippians, period. Look, I'm a tax cutter. I passed, the first time in my city's history, two (cuts to) property taxes" Presley said. "Tate Reeves' plan for eliminating the income tax was such a scheme that it couldn't even pass in a (Republican) supermajority House and Senate. I'm open to cutting taxes of any nature that are fiscally responsible for the state, but I do not want us to get in the situation where you make promises and then you rob Peter to pay Paul. At some point you run out of disciples."

In addition to grocery tax elimination, Presley has proposed cutting car tag fees in half by providing state funds to prevent a loss in local revenue.

WXXV: Democratic Gubernatorial candidate Brandon Presley reveals campaign plan

Spencer Pullen

June 14, 2023

The Democratic candidate running for Governor was in Gulfport today, pledging to cut taxes for Mississippians if elected.

Public Service Commissioner Brandon Presley unveiled the first plank of his ‘cutting taxes, creating jobs’ campaign, vowing to put money back into taxpayers’ wallets.

Presley says by eliminating grocery tax and slashing car tag registration fees in half, Mississippians would see an almost instant boost in its economy.

Right now, Mississippi has the highest grocery tax in the nation. According to a study from U.S. News and World Report, Mississippi is the fifth most expensive state to own a car. Presley said, “Only seven states in America tax food. Mississippi being one of them and under Tate Reeves’ leadership, we’ve got the highest taxes on food of any state in the United States of America. He’s done nothing to get it eliminated in over 12 years.”

Presley said he also plans to address the corruption in Jackson that produced a welfare scandal.

DeSoto County News: Presley pledges to slash taxes for Mississippi families

Bob Bakken

June 14, 2023

In Gulfport Wednesday, June 14, Democratic candidate for governor Brandon Presley released the first plank of his “Cutting Taxes, Creating Jobs” plan to cut taxes so that working families can have a little more breathing room as they face higher prices at the grocery store and at the gas pump.

“Our state can do so much better if we have new leadership that serves the people, so I’m here today to share my plan to unleash Mississippi’s economic potential and put more money back in your pocket,” said Presley. “I’m here to talk about something that you almost never hear national Democrats talk about: cutting taxes.”

The first plank of Presley’s plan includes:

• Eliminating the grocery tax

• Cutting the car tag fee in half

Presley said that Mississippi has the highest grocery tax in the nation while neighboring states like Alabama are set to cut the grocery tax in half in the midst of higher costs at the grocery store.

A 2021 study from U.S. News and World Report found that Mississippi is the fifth-most expensive state to own a car.

“The first plank of my ‘Cutting Taxes, Creating Jobs’ plan would eliminate the grocery tax, which is the highest in the country, and cut car tag fees in half,” said Presley. “These are taxes that hit Mississippi families in the teeth.”

WJTV: Gov. Race: Presley “Second Plank” of Economic Plan in Jackson

June 22, 2023

• [TRANSCRIPT] The presumptive democratic nominee for governor talked about his economic plan today in Jackson. Public service commissioner Brandon Presley calls it the "Cutting Taxes, Creating Jobs'' plan.

• He pledges to eliminate the grocery tax and cut the car tag fee in half.

• Presley says cutting out and lowering these taxes will specifically help working families in Mississippi.

• "We have the highest tax on food of any state in the United States of America and we've got to get that eliminated. At a time in which Mississippians are struggling, we know that this cost is hurting folks and particularly working families. Mississippi has the seventh highest fees on car tags of any state in this country, and that hurts working families in their family budget extremely hard in Mississippi."

• The republican incumbent, Governor Reeves, has vowed to eliminate the state income tax.

• Presley says he is open to cutting taxes that would help the most mississippians.

WLOX: Push To Get Rid Of Mississippi's Grocery Tax

June 14, 2023

• [TRANSCRIPT] Democratic Gubernatorial candidate Brandon Presley making a stop in Gulfport today.

• He said, if elected, he plans to not just lower the grocery tax but to get rid of it completely.

• Presley says he wants to cut taxes so that families have a little more breathing room with everyone facing higher prices now. His plan to cut taxes goes beyond the grocery store.

• “It's the highest tax overall on groceries of any state in the United States of America, in the poorest state in the United States of America. We also have some of the highest and most expensive car tag fees throughout the country and that's a fee that hits working families every year very, very hard.”

• Presley is the only democratic candidate for governor that qualified to be on the ballot. The primary election for the republican candidates will be on August 8th.

WTOK: Presley Plans Tax Cuts

June 14, 2023

• [TRANSCRIPT] Democratic gubernatorial candidate Brandon Presley made a stop in Gulfport today.

• He said, if elected, he plans to not just lower the grocery tax but to get rid of it completely.

• Presley says he wants to cut taxes so that families have a little more breathing room with everyone facing higher prices now. His plan to cut taxes goes beyond the grocery store.

• “It's the highest tax overall on groceries of any state in the United States of America, in the poorest state in the United States of America. We also have some of the highest and most expensive car tag fees throughout the country and that's a fee that hits working families every year very, very hard.”

• His plan to cut taxes also includes cutting the price of car tags in half.

• Presley is the only democratic candidate for governor that qualified to be on the ballot.

WDAM: Presley Pushes To Get Rid Of Mississippi's Grocery Tax

June 14, 2023

• [TRANSCRIPT] Now inside the world of politics, democratic gubernatorial candidate Brandon Presley made a stop in Gulfport yesterday. He said if elected he plans to not just lower the grocery tax but to get rid of it entirely.

• Presley says he wants to cut taxes so that families have a little more breathing room with everyone facing higher prices.

• His plan to cut taxes goes beyond the grocery story.

• “It's the highest tax overall on groceries of any state in the United States of America, in the poorest state in the United States of America. We also have some of the highest and most expensive car tag fees throughout the country and that's a fee that hits working families every year very, very hard.”

• Presley is the only democratic candidate for governor that qualified to be on the ballot. The primary election for the republican candidates will be August 8th.

Brandon Presley is a fighter who keeps his promises, stands up for the little guy, and isn't afraid to ruffle more than a few feathers to deliver results for hardworking Mississippi families. Brandon served as Mayor of Nettleton from 2001 to 2007, where he got the town moving again, then balanced the budget every year and cut taxes twice. As Public Service Commissioner, Brandon opened up meetings that had been closed to the public for decades, brought high-speed internet to some of the most remote and forgotten parts of Mississippi, put people back to work with the Hire Mississippi program, and saved taxpayers over 6 billion dollars.

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