CQ ranks Miss. 'least livable'
Kyle Wrather
Issue date: 4/4/08 Section: News
Mississippi has been declared America's least livable state by congressional article "State Rankings 2008," published by Congressional Quarterly Press.
In the rankings, New Hampshire topped the list for the fifth consecutive year, while Mississippi has held last place for nine years. Mississippi was preceded consecutively by South Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee and Arkansas.
CQ Press spokesperson Ben Krasney said that the publisher is a division of Congressional Quarterly located in Washington D.C., which publishes resource texts.
"People that make public policy can look at the rankings and see where improvements can be made [in specific states]," Krasney said.
The rankings were compiled by various sources and combine 44 factors, including state and income, government and tax statistics, as well as factors such as annual mean temperatures and annual number of sunny days, he said.
"[The rankings are] like when a consumer researches company rates cars," Krasney said. "They serve the role of informing customers about what they're looking for. We try to put together the big picture by using the 44 factors."
Mississippi ranked worst in categories including the percentage of population living in poverty, household income and per capita personal income. It also ranked worst in infant mortality, teenage pregnancy and low birth weight.
State Rep. Gary Chism (R-Columbus) said the state's perennially low rankings do not reflect well on Mississippi, but the state does well despite its lack of wealth.
"I hate that we are seen in a negative light, but Mississippi is one of the poorest states," Chism said. "I don't know what we can do but create more better paying, environmental jobs to improve our situation; we have a long road ahead of us to change it."
Chism said improvements are being made, including the creation of jobs by bringing companies like Toyota and Nissan to the state with the help of Gov. Haley Barbour.
In the rankings, New Hampshire topped the list for the fifth consecutive year, while Mississippi has held last place for nine years. Mississippi was preceded consecutively by South Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee and Arkansas.
CQ Press spokesperson Ben Krasney said that the publisher is a division of Congressional Quarterly located in Washington D.C., which publishes resource texts.
"People that make public policy can look at the rankings and see where improvements can be made [in specific states]," Krasney said.
The rankings were compiled by various sources and combine 44 factors, including state and income, government and tax statistics, as well as factors such as annual mean temperatures and annual number of sunny days, he said.
"[The rankings are] like when a consumer researches company rates cars," Krasney said. "They serve the role of informing customers about what they're looking for. We try to put together the big picture by using the 44 factors."
Mississippi ranked worst in categories including the percentage of population living in poverty, household income and per capita personal income. It also ranked worst in infant mortality, teenage pregnancy and low birth weight.
State Rep. Gary Chism (R-Columbus) said the state's perennially low rankings do not reflect well on Mississippi, but the state does well despite its lack of wealth.
"I hate that we are seen in a negative light, but Mississippi is one of the poorest states," Chism said. "I don't know what we can do but create more better paying, environmental jobs to improve our situation; we have a long road ahead of us to change it."
Chism said improvements are being made, including the creation of jobs by bringing companies like Toyota and Nissan to the state with the help of Gov. Haley Barbour.
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