May 13, 2020

Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith Senator Roger Wicker 702 Hart Senate Office Building 555 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Washington, D.C. 20510

Representative Representative 1005 Longworth House Office Building 2466 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Washington, D.C. 20515

Representative Michael Guest Representative 230 Cannon House Office Building 2349 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear Congressional Delegation,

I write to urge you to reject any legislation designed to bailout state lawmakers for the misguided spending and irresponsible decisions they made prior to the COVID-19 crisis.

The federal government is already providing $150 billion to states. Additional funds would be a blatant example of federal lawmakers using a crisis to provide a fiscal benefit to bailout special interests for their past mistakes.

Many states had chronic fiscal problems prior to the current crisis. States that have spent lavishly, borrowed excessively, and ignored looming pension debt should not use the current crisis to shift the cost of those irresponsible policy decisions onto taxpayers in other states. Giving states federal bailout money allows them to escape accountability for their poor decisions and encourages them to continue their irresponsible spending behavior in the future.

Because of strong fiscal leadership, our state has prioritized spending on the necessary roles of government, such as putting money in our rainy-day funds to be prepared for a fiscal downturn, and other steps in order to limit our debt. Our citizens should not be held responsible for the poor decisions that were made by spendthrift legislators in other states like Illinois. In fact, a bailout of this nature would only entice the leadership in other states to continue enacting failing policies, delay needed reforms, and ensure their state is just as unprepared for the next crisis.

Our system of government reserves certain authority and accountability to each of the states. Bailouts are a clear example of the federal government overstepping its authority, and state lawmakers abdicating their responsibilities. It is incumbent on states to govern wisely and independently, both reaping the rewards of smart policy, and addressing the consequences of bad.

AFP-MS wants to work with our state legislators to find and implement policy solutions that will set up our state’s entrepreneurs, businesses, and residents for success when we can finally get back to work. However, a one-size-fits-all approach from Washington, D.C. is precisely the wrong approach for our state’s recovery after this crisis.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Steven Utroska State Director Americans for Prosperity - Mississippi