Stay up-to-date on what’s in the news with the Y’all Politics Daily Roundup.
YP – U.S. Supreme Court to hear case considering Mississippi’s 15-week abortion ban
On Monday, the United States Supreme Court said it will consider “whether all pre-viability prohibitions on elective abortions are unconstitutional” in the case Dobbs vs. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, 19-1392. A decision is likely to come by June 2022.
This is the first major abortion case for the three new Justices appointed by former President Donald Trump.
In 2018, Mississippi lawmakers passed HB 1510, a bill that would restrict most abortions after 15-weeks of gestation. In November of that year, District Court Judge Carlton Reeves ruled that the law was unconstitutional, saying that the “established medical consensus” recognizes a viable fetus closer to 23 or 24 weeks. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld his ruling when they blocked the law from taking effect.
Speaker Gunn supports special session call to fix initiative process
— Philip Gunn (@PhilipGunnMS) May 17, 2021
YP – “We are the 74” organizing rally at Governor’s Mansion to urge action after Initiative 65 snuffed out
A Facebook group has formed called “We are the 74” urging supporters of Initiative 65 to unite and protest the Mississippi Supreme Court ruling that overturned the medical marijuana initiative due to the flawed process used to get it on the ballot.
The “74” is a reference to the percentage by which Initiative 65 passed on the ballot in the November 2020 General Election. Currently, just over 800 members are in the group.
The state high court ruled on Friday that the initiative process under the current law could not be used to bring forward ballot initiatives given that the state no longer has five Congressional Districts.
SOS Watson comments on I-65 ruling, backs special session
We've received numerous questions regarding the recent Supreme Court decision and the next steps for Mississippi's citizen-driven initiative process. Here are my thoughts: pic.twitter.com/1U47omY17g
— Secretary Michael Watson (@MichaelWatsonMS) May 17, 2021
WCBI – Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann speaks about Voter ID law validity
Monday, Lieutenant Governor Delbert Hosemann spoke to the Starkville Rotary Club.
We asked him his opinion of the validity of the voter ID law.
“Well, we are looking at it this morning actually our lawyers are looking at it to see if there is an effect at all. Clearly, Mississippians have adopted voter I.D., it works, the Department of Justice has approved it. If there is some issue with it, I anticipate the legislature adopt whatever we need to in January,” said Hosemann.
YP – MDOC: Ruth Graham to lead study for Mississippi seminary inmates
Ruth Graham, the daughter of renowned evangelist Billy Graham, has agreed to lead a new seminary program for the Mississippi Department of Corrections. MDOC Commissioner Burl Cain announced an agreement with Ms. Graham to start a 14-week program at the Central Mississippi Correctional Facility starting May 18, 2021. The program will be funded by private donors.
“Every week, Ruth Graham will lead three of our prison seminary programs about how to forgive,” said Commissioner Cain. “In her acclaimed book, Forgiving My Father, Forgiving Myself, she talks about having an absent parent and about what it means to forgive and move on.” Ruth Graham’s beloved father Billy Graham traveled the world with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association for over 50 years, leaving his family for weeks at a time.
MSDH daily COVID-19 reporting – For 3 days
Today MSDH is reporting 316 more cases of COVID-19 in Mississippi, 3 deaths, and 23 ongoing outbreaks in long-term care facilities. The state's #covid19 totals are now 315,026 cases, 7,257 deaths, and 855,595 persons fully vaccinated. Full information: https://t.co/YCv9xPyJDk pic.twitter.com/FF3w47Usr3
— Mississippi State Department of Health (@msdh) May 17, 2021
YP – Former MS House Speaker Pro Tem Greg Snowden to become director of Administrative Office of Courts
Former House Speaker Pro Tempore Greg Snowden of Meridian will soon become director of the Administrative Office of Courts. Supreme Court Chief Justice Mike Randolph said that the new director is expected to assume his duties before the start of the new fiscal year, July 1, 2021.
The Administrative Office of Courts, (AOC), is responsible for the administrative business of the state trial and appellate courts including budget, finance and personnel. The director of AOC also assists the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, the chief administrative officer of every court in the state.
Sen. Hyde-Smith comments on SCOTUS taking up MS case
I am heartened by today’s news that the SCOTUS will consider MS's effort to protect unborn children. It represents an opportunity for the Court to reassess its previous rulings that have sadly led to abortion on demand being the near norm in this country. #ProLife
— U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (@SenHydeSmith) May 17, 2021
YP – In Letter to Biden Administration, Congressman Guest Calls for Additional Support for Taiwan
Congressman Michael Guest (MS-03), Congressman Tim Burchett (TN-02), and 44 other Members of Congress sent a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg urging the Biden Administration to prioritize Taiwan in the Administration’s East Asia strategy and, specifically, to address the exclusion of Taiwan from a United Nations (UN) organization, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
The ICAO oversees air traffic cooperation of 193 national governments, but Taiwan remains excluded from the group despite being home to the eleventh largest airport in the world. By joining the ICAO, Taiwan would gain access to important resources in international aviation, and the UN would gain another valuable partner at ICAO, which would further the UN goal of international cooperation.
