2019 MS Governor's race: on Technology

Bill Waller: More funds to take care of our crumbling roads and bridges

We can't stick our head in the sand and hope these problems will go away. We've got to address this issue in a long-term, sustainable way that protects taxpayers, whether it be through a tax swap or some other mechanism that generates adequate funds so we can take care of our crumbling roads and bridges.

Robert Foster: Resist flashy projects, but must do critical infrastructure

As a result, a special session was needed this summer to address these deferments in maintenance, a painful mistake that has put our economy and safety at risk. We cannot do that again.

While investing in our future infrastructure is a must, we need to resist adding flashy projects, and turn our focus to our most critical needs. It's a hard decision at times, but, as with any business, you must be able to manage your vital assets so you are prepared when the times inevitably get tough.

That's why infrastructure funding must be a focal point of our future budget talks. If we do not look into restructuring how we fund infrastructure, we're destined to find ourselves in the same predicament again.

Bill Waller: Fixing roads and bridges so far? A raindrop in a puddle

Waller, meanwhile, has long avoided partisan politics because of his time on the Mississippi Supreme Court. He left the court in January. He's sought to portray himself as a steady, more traditional Republican candidate. He's said he's not interested in courting Trump and has a better chance of beating Democrat Jim Hood, the current attorney general, in the November election. Waller's late father served as governor from 1972 to 1976.

Despite their contrasting backgrounds, Foster and Waller came together on a number of issues. Both agreed not enough has been done to fix the state's roads and bridges, with Waller saying a special legislative session to address the problem last summer had only been a "raindrop" in a problem the size of a "puddle."

Robert Foster: Gas tax instead of income tax, for infrastructure

"We have got to get away from a personal income tax," said Foster. We are a state with a lot of people living in poverty that are not paying a personal income tax. If we ever want to catch up on our infrastructure needs we are going to have to move to a flat tax system that everybody that uses it helps to pitch in. The people that are driving through as tourists, the people that are getting paid cash for their business on the side, the people that are selling drugs on the street corner are even going to have to help pitch in to maintain the infrastructure that they are using."

Bill Waller: Tax swap to fund infrastructure

Jim Hood: We need to get back to swinging hammers and building bridges

• Stop the Legislature from running up our debt
• Create high-paying jobs
• Put money in Mississippian's hands, not out-of-state corporations
• Support our main street merchants
• Put working people back to work by building highways and bridges
• Support workforce development programs

Jim Hood: Put some money where your mouth is on infrastructure

Hood also took a direct swipe Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves, the front-runner for the Republican nomination for governor, saying, "we need to pave public roads, and not someone's private driveway." The comment was a reference to a road project, now halted by transportation officials, that would have primarily served Reeves' gated neighborhood.

Gov. Phil Bryant [responded at the same event that] the state was spending roughly $200 million per year improving roads and infrastructure.

Jim Hood: Focused Attorney General's office on cybercrime

Hood has focused on cybercrimes during his tenure as attorney general. His use of outside legal counsel, particularly to pursue lawsuits against large corporations, has been controversial at times--particularly among Republicans.

Tate Reeves: Diverting $600M to Strategic Infrastructure Investment Fund

Jim Hood: Sued Google for data mining & marketing student information