Property battle could be renewed

The Clarion-Ledger, 3/27/9

A battle over whether to strengthen Mississippians’ property rights could be renewed, even after the state Senate decided Thursday to uphold Gov. Haley Barbour’s veto of the legislation.

Senators fell six votes short of overturning the veto. Afterward, state Sen. Joey Fillingane advanced a similar bill that he said could address some of the governor’s concerns about limiting the state’s ability to take private property.

Barbour said he vetoed House Bill 803 “because it puts Mississippi at a catastrophic disadvantage in creating jobs and expanding our economy.”

It’s unclear whether the House will agree to negotiate the surviving legislation. Lawmakers there overwhelmingly voted earlier this week to override the veto issued Monday.