Jackson paper profiles Better South ideas

In a profile of the Center for a Better South's Doing Better book and ideas today, the Jackson (MS) Clarion-Ledger's Sid Salter noted that progressive tax reform proposals are key issues for Southern states:

Derrick Johnson, state president of the Mississippi chapter of the NAACP, hailed the [Center's] report's proposals for state tax system reforms as "long overdue."

"Mississippi has one of the most regressive tax structures in the nation," said Johnson. "The current system overwhelmingly burdens the poor while providing loopholes for the more affluent. Regressive taxation also hampers the state from providing quality public education and other public services that benefit the most needy, so it's a double tragedy."

"This new study is valuable in that I think not only Mississippi needs to look at substantial tax reforms, but most other Southern states as well are looking for ways to shift the burden from the poorest to those more able to pay," said [Dr. Marty] Wiseman, [director of the Stennis Institute of Government at Mississippi State University.]

In a related op-ed column, freelance writer Lynn Evans said the kind of reforms outlined by the Center could make Mississippi more competitive in the global economy:

Their findings echo those of other tax reform studies: Not only do Southern states have more people living in poverty than other areas of the country, but the tax burden in these states also falls disproportionately on the poorest citizens.