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5 days ago | 
desotocountynews.com | David McRae |Bob Bakken
By Treasurer David McRaeIt’s hard to believe, but this year will mark the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. Many don’t know this, but my wife Katie spent six years working on post-Katrina recovery projects for the Mississippi Development Authority. Through that, our family was able to see up close just how resilient Mississippians are. Since then, hurricanes have continued to hit our coastline, leaving tornadoes and floods to tear through communities to the north.
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1 week ago | 
desotocountynews.com | David McRae |Bob Bakken
By Treasurer David McRaePresident Trump recently celebrated his 100th day in office. In three short months, President Trump has arguably delivered more than any executive in American history. He’s secured the border, broken through the federal bureaucracy, and demanded that the globe respect America once again. To accomplish this, he had to sign more than 140 executive orders, a feat no other president has accomplished.
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2 weeks ago | 
desotocountynews.com | David McRae |Bob Bakken
By Treasurer David McRaeLet’s go back to your high school American History class. What affected the Revolutionary War’s outcome most? A strong militia? A desire for independence? Taxation? Perhaps not. I’d argue that it was Britain’s national debt. Let me explain. Prior to the American Revolution, the British monarchy had gone on a spending spree, accruing a national debt of about 75 million pounds.
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3 weeks ago | 
desotocountynews.com | David McRae |Bob Bakken
By Treasurer David McRaeAmerica’s national security has never been a given, which is why President Reagan consistently preached “peace through strength.” Often, that strength is thought of through the lens of military prowess – the bigger the fleet, the harder we are to defeat. While true, that doesn’t tell the entire story. Unable to compete with America’s powerful military, foreign adversaries have increasingly seized upon economic weaknesses.
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1 month ago | 
desotocountynews.com | David McRae |Bob Bakken
By Treasurer David McRaeApr 12, 2025- In recent years, Mississippi has made tremendous strides in helping job creators invest and expand throughout our communities. The results are proof that what we’re doing is working. In fact, we were just ranked number two in the nation for real gross domestic product (GDP) growth by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis. What’s more: incomes have grown alongside the GDP.
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1 month ago | 
desotocountynews.com | David McRae |Bob Bakken
By Treasurer David McRaeApril is Financial Wellness Month at the Mississippi Treasury – a time to highlight the small things families and individuals can do to achieve greater financial freedom in the years ahead. It is, of course, not lost on me that the last few years have been tough for many financially. Inflation, out-of-control government spending, and a lack of affordable housing have made meeting even basic financial goals more difficult.
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1 month ago | 
desotocountynews.com | David McRae |Bob Bakken
By Treasurer David McRaeIt’s a surreal experience to walk into the White House with a meeting on the books with our nation’s leaders. As I wandered through the historic arched doors this spring as part of a small group of state financial officers, I couldn’t help but be humbled by the fact that it wasn’t just me walking through those doors, but every family, business, and individual I represent in Mississippi.
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2 months ago | 
desotocountynews.com | David McRae |Bob Bakken
By Treasurer David McRaeMississippians work hard for their retirements. We put in long weeks – and sometimes nights and weekends too. We treat that money with respect and think carefully about how to spend it wisely. Shouldn’t the financial industry that is often trusted to protect (and grow) those same dollars for our retirements do the same? Sadly, some Wall Street elites have put your financial needs to the side in favor of their own environmental and social agendas.
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2 months ago | 
desotocountynews.com | David McRae |Bob Bakken
By Treasurer David McRae“The arts and humanities teach us who we are and what we can be.” – President Ronald ReaganEvery year, our team asks Mississippi students to imagine what they could be and then articulate that vision in a piece of art – and every year, I am amazed by the ambition, the drive, and the hope. This year’s College and Career Savings Art Contest is open, and we will be accepting applications until Feb. 28.
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Feb 7, 2025 | 
desotocountynews.com | David McRae |Bob Bakken
By Treasurer David McRaeThe Golden Years. Retirement. The reward for a lifetime of hard work. It’s what so many Mississippians look forward to, what so many plan for, hope for, save for. But in recent years, Wall Street bankers have taken a little polish off those Golden Years, sacrificing investment returns in exchange for feel-good talking points.
