Mississippi's Congressional Delegation has mixed reactions to President Obama's sixth State of the Union Address. Some members of the delegation believe the President's proposals may not be good for the Magnolia state.
The president's speech last night touched on a wide-range of issues, but the president focused most heavily on economic growth. Something in which Mississippi's third district Congressman, Republican Gregg Harper believes the president has handled poorly. He says the administration has been concentrating too hard on creating low wage jobs, and raising the minimum wage won't help.
"We've lost the whole concept of minimum wage," says Harper. "Minimum wage is an entry level position designed to help you move up and get that first job. Get the job experience and move into something you can do."
However, Second District Congressman Bennie Thompson -- the delegation's sole Democrat -- says Mississippi has and will continue to benefit from the president's economic plans.
"We have the lowest unemployment rate that we've had in quite some time," Thompson says. "The economy is doing better. By all indications things are looking up for this country."
The speech also marked the first time President Obama addressed a Republican-controlled Congress. It remains unclear whether the president's calls for bipartisanship will be heeded, but Mississippi Junior Senator Roger Wicker believes there is something in which he can reach across the aisle to work with the administration.
"I was pleased to see him sort of embrace returning again to manned space flights," says Wicker. "Anything that's blasted off, anything that NASA lifts into space must first tested at the Stennis Space Center in Mississippi. That would affect us in Mississippi and I'd be happy to sit down and work with the administration on enhancing that if we can."
Senator Wicker as well as Congressmen Harper and Thompson say they hope that Congress will be able to work together to do what's best for both Mississippi and the nation.
