Speaker Jason White published a new poll this week. It is worth reading closely.
Cygnal surveyed 501 likely Mississippi voters and found that inflation is the top concern (22%), followed by crime (19%), healthcare (15%) and taxes (14%).
Seventy-two percent want the ballot initiative restored. Just 8% oppose it. No other question in the poll unites voters like that. Republicans back it 78 to 5, and Democrats 66 to 11.
Most voters want to end property tax on their homes: 57% for, 25% against. For homeowners aged 65 and over, support rises to 70%. Asked whether they would rather scrap homestead property tax or car tag fees, voters chose property tax, 51 to 35.
And school choice? This is where it gets interesting.
When first asked about Magnolia Student Accounts, the program in House Bill 2, voters were in favor, 41 to 39.
Then they were told that in other states with school choice, test scores have improved in both public and private schools. Support jumped to 50%. Opposition fell to 27%. A two-point lead became a 23-point lead. One voter in ten moved straight from oppose to support.
Given that Mississippi is now surrounded by states with school choice – and the positive effect of parent power is becoming clearer by the day – expect an upswing in support for reform in our state.
Public opinion is not fixed. It moves when someone makes the argument.
Look at who moved. Women over 55 shifted 41 points. Rural voters shifted 34 points, and so did white voters without a college degree. These are not the people the critics of school choice claim to speak for. They are key voters in our state.
By 42 to 24, voters also say they are more likely to back a candidate who supports school choice.
HB2 passed the House in January. It was killed by a Senate committee without much discussion. The numbers show which chamber is closer to the voters.
On property tax, the message is equally clear. Voters want relief. But asked how to replace the revenue, they split three ways: 35% favor a local sales tax, 29% would raise the state sales tax, and 36% don’t know.
The opportunity for anyone offering to channel data center revenue into offsetting property tax bills is there for the taking.
Then there is that 72% for the ballot initiative. Voters want a way to act when the Legislature won’t. Read the school choice numbers and the initiative numbers side by side, and it is hard not to see a connection.
Speaker White and the House now have the data. The voters have made their view plain. What is needed is the argument, made clearly, often and everywhere. That is precisely what we intend to keep doing.
Douglas Carswell, President & CEO, Mississippi Center for Public Policy.
