April 4, 2013 •
Mississippi Ends 2013 Regular Session
Special session on Medicaid expected
The Mississippi Legislature adjourned sine die on April 4, 2013.
Despite approving a budget for fiscal year 2014, lawmakers will need to return for a special session to reauthorize the Medicaid program. Reauthorization efforts stalled due to a dispute over whether to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act.
A special session will be needed prior to the start of the fiscal year on July 1 to keep the program funded.
April 4, 2013 •
Mississippi House District 95 Special Election May 14
Runoff scheduled June 4 if needed
The seat for House District 95 will be filled by special election on May 14, 2013.
A runoff, if needed, will be held on June 4.
The seat was left vacant by the death of Representative Jessica Upshaw in March.
Photo of the Mississippi State House by Shawn Lea on Wikipedia.
February 19, 2013 •
Mississippi Governor Schedules Special Election for Vacant House Seat
House District 11 election set March 26
Governor Phil Bryant has set the special election to fill the seat of the late Representative Joe Gardner.
The House District 11 election will be held March 26, 2013.
The candidate qualifying deadline is February 25.
January 29, 2013 •
Mississippi Special Election Set for March 12
Election will fill House District 36 seat
Governor Phil Bryant has set a special election to fill the House District 36 seat on March 12, 2013.
A runoff will be held April 2, 2013, if no candidate receives a majority of the votes.
The seat was held by Representative David Gibbs until his death from cancer on January 13.
December 19, 2012 •
Mississippi Senate District 28 Election Scheduled
Special election will take place February 5
A special election for Senate District 28 has been scheduled for February 5, 2013.
The seat was left vacant by the death of Sen. Alice Harden on December 6.
December 11, 2012 •
Mississippi Special Election Scheduled
Election will fill Senate District 16 seat
Governor Bryant has set the date of a special election to fill Senate District 16.
The election is scheduled for January 15, 2013.
The seat was held by Senator Bennie Turner, who passed away November 27.
November 29, 2012 •
January Special Election Date Set for Mississippi House District 59
Seat vacated by Rep. Kevin McGee
Governor Phil Bryant has scheduled the special election for Mississippi House District 59 for January 8, 2013.
The seat was vacated on November 19 by Representative Kevin McGee, who resigned after paying a $10,000 fine to resolve an ethics case involving public contracts that went to his family’s printing company.
November 7, 2012 •
Runoff Election for Mississippi House District 52
Top two candidates to face off November 27
A runoff election will be held for Mississippi House District 52 on November 27, 2012.
The top two candidates in the special election held November 6 are Bill Kinkade and Jeremy Bryan.
They are vying for the seat vacated by Representative Tommy Woods, who resigned on the advice of his doctors after suffering a mild stroke after the last election.
July 18, 2012 •
Mississippi Special Election Set for November 6
Election coincides with general election for other races
Governor Phil Bryant has set November 6, 2012 as the date of a special election to fill the District 19 senate seat.
The seat was previously held by retired Senator Merle Flowers, who resigned effective July 11, citing a need to spend more time with his family.
Photo of Governor Bryant courtesy of the U.S. Department of Agriculture hosted on Wikipedia.
May 4, 2012 •
Legislative Sessions Adjourn in Three States
Arizona, Hawaii, and Mississippi
Arizona: The Arizona Legislature adjourned its session sine die on May 3. Governor Jan Brewer has 10 days to sign or veto legislation transmitted to her, or the legislation becomes law automatically.
Hawaii: The Hawaii Legislature adjourned sine die yesterday, May 3, 2012.
Mississippi: The Mississippi Legislature adjourned ahead of schedule on May 3, 2012.
Thank you to Research Associates George Ticoras, Shamus Williams, and Jen Zona for providing us with this legislative session information.
May 2, 2012 •
Here is the Latest Redistricting News
Today we have items from eight states:
Alaska: “Redistricting map solutions elusive as court battle looms” by Richard Mauer in the Anchorage Daily News.
Kansas: “Kansas Senate OKs redistricting plan” by Brad Cooper in the Kansas City Star.
Kentucky: “Kentucky Supreme Court cites redistricting law as unconstitutional” by Franklin Clark in the Cadiz Record.
Mississippi: “Mississippi Senate unveils its redistricting map” by The Associated Press in the Clarion Ledger.
New Hampshire: “House redistricting plan faces more legal challenges” by Garry Rayno in the Union Leader.
Pennsylvania: “Redistricting panel to receive input on new Pa. maps” by Ali Lanyon (Associated Press) on WHTM.
South Carolina: “Supreme Court considering fate of primary candidates” by Gina Smith in The State.
South Carolina: “SC justices consider fate of dozens of candidates” by Jeffrey Collins (Associated Press) in the Spartanburg Herald Journal.
Vermont: “Vt. lawmakers finish redistricting” on NECN.com.
April 24, 2012 •
Keep Up with the Latest Redistricting News
Today we have items from seven states:
“Redistricting takes some of the ‘swing’ out of House fights” by Susan Davis in USA Today.
Alaska: “It may be too late for another legislative redistricting plan” by Becky Bohrer in the Anchorage Daily News.
Arizona: “State Supreme Court reaffirms that governor shouldn’t have fired redistricting chair” by Howard Fischer in the East Valley Tribune.
Kansas: “Kobach warns of redistricting crisis” by John Hanna (Associated Press) in the Lawrence Journal-World.
Mississippi: “Mississippi lawmakers tackle redistricting” by Phil West in The Commercial Appeal.
Pennsylvania: “Pennsylvania’s new map pits incumbent Democrats in primary” by Sean Lengell in The Washington Times.
Vermont: “Vermont Senate endorses redistricting plans” by Nancy Remsen in the Burlington Free Press.
Wyoming: “State: Redistricting plaintiffs have no standing to file suit” by Trevor Brown in the Wyoming Tribune Eagle.
October 24, 2011 •
Free Speech at Core of Mississippi Campaign Finance Suit
Mississippi Citizens Believe Reporting Requirement Stifles Political Participation
A federal lawsuit has been filed claiming a burden upon First Amendment free speech rights due to a state of Mississippi requirement that people or groups must file a campaign finance report upon spending at least $200 to support or oppose ballot initiatives.
The group of five citizens filing the suit claims the reporting requirement could scare people away from political participation. The group supports Mississippi Initiative 31, which limits the government’s use of eminent domain to take private land.
The citizens are represented by the Institute for Justice, a group that has also filed similar lawsuits concerning disclosure requirements in Colorado and Florida in recent years.
August 30, 2011 •
Mississippi to Hold Special Session
Governor called it for Friday, September 2
The Mississippi State Legislature will convene in special session at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, September 2, 2011.
Governor Haley Barbour called the special session on Monday in order to consider a state bond issue. Other projects may be undertaken as well, but details about these projects have not yet been released.
The session is expected to last one day.
Photo of the Mississippi State Capitol by Shawn Lea (Szlea) on Wikipedia.
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