Mississippi high court hears legislative speed-reading fight
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) – The Mississippi Supreme Court is hearing arguments in a legislative dispute that started this spring when Democrats tried to filibuster and the Republican House speaker used a superfast computer voice to read bills out loud.
Some legislators said the voice sounded like a demon chipmunk.
First-year Democratic Rep. Jay Hughes of Oxford contends that Speaker Philip Gunn of Clinton violated the state constitution, which allows any lawmaker to have a bill read aloud.
Gunn says legislators have instant access to bills online.
House Democrats forced readings in March because they thought their ideas were being ignored by the Republican supermajority. Hughes sued Gunn over the speedy voice, and the dispute is being heard Tuesday by the state Supreme Court.
Justices will not listen to recordings of the bill readings.
