Ballot initiative reform dies in Mississippi Senate Monday

Parker says he plans to try for ballot initiative bill next year

A push to bring back ballot initiatives, albeit in a more restrictive and cumbersome way than its original process, died in the Senate on Monday when Accountability, Efficiency and Transparency Committee Chair Sen. David Parker, R-Olive Branch, allowed it to fall on a motion to reconsider.

The ballot bills, Senate Bill 2770 and Senate Concurrent Resolution 527, passed through the Senate on a slight majority Thursday afternoon, but were pushed back onto the Senate calendar. Over the weekend, Parker was informed that the Republican support he garnered for the bill, coupled with opposition from Democrats, had been lost, Parker told the Clarion Ledger.

Without the necessary two-thirds of votes to pass onto the House, Parker said he will simply try again next year.

Parker added that without the necessary support from GOP members in the Senate, he has no plans to move forward House Resolution 11.

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This is a developing story, and it will be updated.

Grant McLaughlin covers state government for the Clarion Ledger. He can be reached at gmclaughlin@gannett.com or 972-571-2335.