A study released this week of all 50 governors that balances their health care and economic responses to the coronavirus pandemic gave Mississippi’s Tate Reeves a B. That grade from the conservative Committee to Unleash Prosperity seems about right to me.
The study included health factors like number of deaths per million, weighed against how susceptible each state was to an outbreak based on its population density and other factors, as well as economic measures like the unemployment increase and plans for how soon to reopen businesses.
We’re facing record unemployment, soaring government debt and industry after industry in crisis because of more than a month of government ordering companies not to do business for health reasons. The point the study is making is that we can’t continue like this much longer. Any delays made by governors in reopening their states will cause the recession to be exponentially worse. The pain caused by an economic crash is just as real as that from a medical pandemic, and it most likely lasts longer.
In this regard of balancing health and fiscal concerns, Reeves has provided solid leadership for Mississippi. The Republican, who is in his first year as the state’s chief executive, has successfully encouraged the state’s people to follow public health warnings, while at the same time not implementing the harshest measures that would have completely killed Mississippi’s economy.
His shelter-in-place order lasted from April 3 to April 27. Mississippi’s hospitals weren’t overwhelmed, showing that the effort to “flatten the curve” worked here. But at the same time, most businesses were able to continue operating, even if at reduced levels. Since then Reeves has implemented a plan to gradually reopen businesses, including restaurants bringing back dining room service at reduced levels on Thursday.
It’s true that Mississippi has a high death rate at 61.5 deaths per 1 million population, according to the study, ranking 18th worst in the country, but that probably has more to do with an unhealthy population that anything related to the state’s COVID-19 response. People already sick with obesity, heart disease and diabetes are more susceptible to die from the virus, and Mississippi has more of those at-risk people per capita than anywhere. That’s a long-term health problem that while deadly serious is not something that can quickly be turned around during this crisis when a large percentage of the population was going to get the virus, no matter what anyone did.
While Reeves deserves credit for generally steering the state’s ship as best as he could during a difficult time, his notable weaknesses prevent him from earning an A. Reeves doesn’t possess the common touch or charisma to command an audience like, for example, his predecessors Phil Bryant and Haley Barbour. That puts him a notch below some of the governors who have emerged as national stars during this crisis.
Also, Reeves’ penchant for power grabs has led to an unnecessary and ugly dispute with legislative leaders within his own party over how to spend federal virus stimulus funds. Clearly it makes more since from a legal and practical perspective to have elected legislators representing every nook and cranny of this rural state deciding how spending decisions are made. While not perfect, the system of elected representatives collectively making decisions about how to spend tax dollars has served America and its states well for more than 200 years. It’s certainly a better way than one man holding the power of the purse, especially one like Reeves who tends to favor his wealthy donors and holds grudges against anyone who crosses him.
It’s been both tacky and politically foolish for Reeves to go on national television and bash the elected officials within his own party who should be his allies. If he doesn’t let this fight go soon, Reeves may find himself as a one-term governor, no matter how well he does in the coronavirus battle. n
Charlie Smith is editor and publisher of The C-P. Reach him at (601) 736-2611 or csmith@columbianprogress.com.
