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Articles by Patrick Sullivan
The deeper argument at the heart of the federal budget debate
The federal budget debate is filtered through claims about spending and revenue levels, but the debate is really about whether the size of the federal budget should be allowed to change with changing circumstances. The real argument is more about a fundamental view of the world.
The New U.S. Tariffs on Canada: Background, Tariffed items, and Canada’s Response
Written by Patrick Sullivan, Strategic Business Advisor. In February 2025, the U.S. imposed 25% tariffs on most Canadian goods, and Canada quickly retaliated. This was followed by a CUSMA-compliant exemption for most Canadian goods. There was significant back and forth between Canada and the U.S., with the U.S. implementing 50% tariffs on steel and aluminum in June 2025 (a full timeline of the key changes from 2025 to 2026 is attached in Appendix A).
New Federal Focus Could Reinvigorate Community Banks’ Role in the Mortgage Market
By Patrick Sullivan, Executive Vice President, Mortgage Partnership Finance® Program Over the past two decades, the structure of the mortgage market has shifted in response to legislative and regulatory changes stemming from the 2008 financial crisis. One unintended result is that depository lenders today play a significantly smaller role in mortgage originations than they have historically.
Data Centers: Power-hungry but price-friendly
Patrick Sullivan says Mississippi looks well positioned to maintain or increase its competitive advantage as a low-cost energy state, largely due to growth from data centers. AI and the data economy have intensified the role of energy in economic growth, perhaps unlike anything since the Industrial Revolution.
Watts, Bytes and Widgets: Engines for growth in Mississippi
Patrick Sullivan says energy is the foundation and infrastructure of today’s economy and the future, and the best kind of energy is local energy. These days, the best indicator of a growing economy may be electricity sector expansion. Electricity is the foundation of the modern economy, and after virtually no growth over 15 years, U.S. electricity demand is climbing. Here’s how this can be good for all of us in Mississippi.
Is an American nuclear energy renaissance coming?
Patrick Sullivan says more and more, electricity is the currency for economic growth, and nuclear is one of the few ways to produce it today on a large scale. For the first time in more than a generation, the United States could be on the verge of adding nuclear-powered electricity to its energy portfolio.
In education spending, Mississippi should prioritize work outcomes and ROI
Lawmakers and appropriators should dive into the data to better understand student outcomes, writes State Workforce Investment Board chairman Patrick Sullivan. What do a bachelor’s degree in psychology, an associate degree in general studies, and a high school graduate going straight to work have in common? On average, these students end up in the same job making below average pay.
Energy, speed, and foresight won the Amazon data project
The AWS project is evidence of a well-planned, competitive system for development in Mississippi. While there have been some wins in places through the years, Mississippi hasn’t always excelled in the high stakes game of industrial recruitment. That changed in January, and the reasons why could be an indication of more wins to come. In terms of good jobs and economic growth, the recently-announced data complex by Amazon Web Services (AWS) in Madison County is first rate.
Community colleges in CT are being dismantled
United States Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona recently called for “a culture change in higher education.” Cardona urged us to pay less attention to so-called “elite” institutions and focus, instead, on strengthening “institutions that serve the most students with the most to gain from a college degree” — but “have the fewest resources to invest in student success.” These institutions include community colleges, HBCUs, Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), tribal colleges, and...
An Open Letter to State and Business Leaders, Educators and Policymakers from the Chairman of the State Workforce Investment Board
by: Patrick Sullivan, Chairman of the State Workforce Investment Board Dear State and Community Leaders: Significant progress has been made in our state’s workforce development efforts in the last three years. Improved collaboration among policymakers, educators, agencies and the business community has resulted in a more coordinated and focused effort than the disjointedness of years past, but much work remains.
Magnolia Mornings: February 9, 2024
Important state and national stories, market and business news, sports and entertainment, delivered in quick-hit fashion to start your day informed. Ole Miss football legend Patrick Willis will be inducted into the NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2024. Willis is just the third Rebel to ever enter the Hall of Fame, joining Bruiser Kinard (1970) and Gene Hickerson (2007).
An Open Letter to State and Business Leaders, Educators and Policymakers from the Chairman of the State Workforce Investment Board
The state should consider policy initiatives that emphasize workforce success with academic success and prioritize programs most needed by the industry sectors that provide the best jobs and highest quality growth opportunities. Dear State and Community Leaders: Significant progress has been made in our state’s workforce development efforts in the last three years.
Mississippi’s Gaining a Competitive Edge, While Others Falter
In 2008, then-Governor Haley Barbour in speaking on his ‘More Energy’ policy, said, “ten or fifteen years from now, companies looking to site facilities will not only ask about energy ‘What does it cost?’ but ‘Can we get it?’.” No one knew then how right he would be.
Patrick Sullivan
Below is an opinion column by Patrick Sullivan: The state should consider policy initiatives that emphasize workforce success with academic success and prioritize programs most needed by the industry sectors that provide the best jobs and highest quality growth opportunities.
Higher prices at pump no surprise in political environment hostile to fossil fuels
Just when inflation seemed to be slowing, prices at the gas pump have started to rise. Unfortunately, higher gas prices impact the price of products Americans need, from food to clothing and nearly everything in between. Recently, Saudi Arabia and Russia announced sustained production cuts, sending oil prices to their highest levels of 2023. As pump prices rise, Republicans will likely blame Biden for policies that have hindered U.S. energy production.
Irony in Democrats’ Energy Agenda
For those who would like to see a silver lining in the morass of DC politics, there just may be the slightest ray of hope in recent energy policy negotiations. To be clear, there is much to be concerned about over the direction of current U.S. energy policy. It’s wrongheaded, reckless, and will lead to higher cost energy and lower reliability. However, Democrats are finding the same policy barriers that have long hindered development are now obstructing their energy agenda.
Honoring Mississippi's Fallen Officers
In 1962, President John F. Kennedy declared this week ‘National Police Week,’ in honor of those officers who paid the ultimate price in the line of duty. There are many who deserve that honor in Mississippi. As a state, we have experienced 331 law enforcement deaths in the line of duty since records have been collected. There are likely more that evaded historians. Behind each of these numbers is the name of a fallen officer.
Journalist, activist and State Dept. spokesman Hodding Carter III participated in history
The scion of one of the first families of Deep South print journalism during the civil rights movement, Hodding Carter III cast an impactful shadow during his long and impactful life. Carter died May 11 in Chapel Hill, N.C. at age 88 following a series of strokes.
Durham Report: Ex-DOJ Official & Wife Had Big Roles in Pushing Russian Dossier
While it’s bad enough the debunked dossier the FBI used to spy on the Trump campaign was paid for by the Clinton campaign and authored by a foreign FBI informant and his carousing researcher, the newly released report of Special Counsel John Durham strongly suggests a top Justice Department official and his wife had an early hand in shaping the political rumor sheet.
Foolish Policies Causing Energy Poverty
“Nobody is taking away your gas stove.” These words were tweeted by US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer in February. His rant was aimed at his Republican counterparts for making a ruckus over a Biden Administration official calling for nationwide gas stove bans. Last week, Schumer’s home New York became the first state to ban hookups of natural gas appliances for new construction. Technically, Schumer was right. The State of New York is not taking away anyone’s gas stove.
Was Brett Favre used as a celebrity "trapdoor" by Mississippi Today?
FILE - Former NFL quarterback Brett Favre speaks to the media in Jackson, Miss., Oct. 17, 2018. Favre is dismissing his lawsuit against sportscaster Pat McAfee after McAfee publicly apologized for his previous on-air statements that Favre had been “stealing from poor people in Mississippi” in a welfare misspending case. Favre and McAfee both announced the settlement Thursday, May 11, 2023. (AP Photo/Rogelio V.
A CT bill reduces reliance on college adjuncts. Here's how.
I am writing in support S.B. 1105,– An Act Concerning The Percentage of Courses Taught by Part-Time Faculty At the Regional, Community-Technical Colleges — a bill that has the potential to become historic legislation. S.B. 1105 would dramatically improve teaching and learning on our college campuses. It would also address the longstanding, dishonorable overreliance on exploited part-time labor to teach the vast majority of students on community college campuses.
CT community colleges need intervention, oversight
As the consolidation of Connecticut’s community colleges continues, a number of troubling developments suggest the need for immediate legislative intervention and permanent ongoing oversight. The current structure of political appointees serving on the Board of Regents is not working. The BOR has not provided legitimate oversight, and has rubber-stamped everything the system office has proposed.
CT delays public hearing on Sharon Hospital birthing unit closure
A crowd of more than 300 people, including U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, came to the Sharon town Green Sunday afternoon to protest the plan to close Sharon Hospital’s labor and delivery unit and reconfigure the intensive care unit. The rally was originally intended to serve as a lead-in to an online public hearing before the state Office of Health Strategy on Tuesday.
Leadership by lawsuit and 'Students First'
Dr. Nicole Esposito, CEO of Manchester Community College, recently received a national award for her leadership and her work as a community college president. The American Association for Women in Community Colleges (AAWCC) awarded Dr. Esposito its Woman of the Year Award for 2022 on May 1st in New York at their annual convention. This is a prestigious national award, so please join me in congratulating Dr. Esposito on this landmark achievement.
Racialized austerity and CSCU's 'Students First'
There is evidence emerging that suggests that “racialized austerity” measures are being used to “save money” in some state higher education systems. Join in the work of CT Mirror You may not be on staff, but you can produce the journalism. One-time $120 $180 $300 Other Donation amount $ Monthly $10 $15 $25 Other Donation amount $ Annually $120 $180 $300 Other Donation amount $ Your contribution is appreciated.
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