The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, 4/17/8
The Mississippi House and Speaker Billy McCoy, D-Rienzi, avoided what could have been a contentious rules fight Wednesday over a wide-ranging bill dealing with abortion and underage sexual activity.
McCoy, who was elected speaker earlier this year by a narrow 63-61 vote, agreed to establish a special committee to look at the issues surrounding the bill during the summer.
Republicans, led by Herb Frierson of Poplarville, agreed to drop a motion they had filed that would have allowed them, if the could get a three-fifths majority, to go around the committee chair in charge of the legislation and send it to the governor.
It is rare that such a procedure is attempted in the Legislature and would be seen as a slap at the leadership if successful.
“What I was thankful for, grateful about, was that we were able to work with the Democratic leaders and Republican leaders to come to a peaceful resolution because this is not something that you should go through with if it can be avoided,” McCoy said.
Magnolia Tribune
