State Auditor Shad White speaks about report on fatherlessness

Today, State Auditor Shad White spoke to the Kiwanis Club in Gulfport about a recent report he released.

The highlight of the event was a report on the cost of a family without a father figure to the tax payers in Mississippi.

Mississippi taxpayers pay $180 million per year just to house the male inmates who grew up in a home without an engaged father.

White says in January he hopes to capture the legislators’ attention with his data that shows children who grow up without a father is a serious issue and to make Mississippi stronger by coming up with programs that can address the issue and encourage dads to stay in their kids’ lives. “I have two kids, two little girls, a three and one year old. I see every single day the benefit of having two engaged parents and a dad in front of them every single day. So, for me when I’m talking about these issues, I’m hoping folks will be informed as tax payers, but will also realize collectively as a society we need to be sending the message that if you’re man enough to father a child, you ought to be man enough to step up and help raise that child.”

News 25 also asked White about the investigation involving Harrison County District 4 Supervisor and Board President Kent Jones. White said, “Our standard practice in my office is to not comment on any potential or ongoing investigation.”