Mississippi House restores its own revoked power of speech
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) – The Mississippi House has voted to restore a type of speech that a majority of members previously voted to remove.
House Republicans voted Feb. 25 to take away representatives’ right to take a point of personal privilege, a type of speech members can make if they think their integrity has been challenged or they question how legislative business is conducted. Personal privileges are used a few times each year, without a time limit.
The change came in response to House Democrats having bills read aloud as a tactic to delay proceedings. Democrats were protesting what they said was unfair treatment by Republican House Speaker Philp Gunn after the GOP gained a three-fifths supermajority.
The House voted unanimously Tuesday to reinstate personal privileges, but speeches will be limited to 10 minutes.
