House speaker says he has votes needed for re-election

The Clarion-Ledger, 11/9/7

Incumbent House Speaker Billy McCoy has released the names of lawmakers he says have committed to support his leadership for another four years.

The list of 62 state representatives was made public only after one-on-one conversations with each person before or after the general election Tuesday, McCoy said Thursday.

The number is just enough to give the Democrat from Rienzi a majority vote, or 50 percent plus-one vote of the 122-member House.

“We have an actual commitment from these members,” McCoy said. “And we have others to come.”