House Speaker Philip Gunn supports Governor Tate Reeves calling a special session to reinstate the initiative process that was struck down in a ruling by the Mississippi Supreme Court Friday. “There needs to be consideration given, a plan developed. How are we going to do that? How are we going to reinstate the initiative process?”
During an interview on The Gallo Radio Show on SuperTalk Mississippi this morning, Gunn told us he hasn’t heard from the Governor or the Lt. Governor about that possibility. Even if a special session were called, it would still require a two-thirds vote in both chambers of the Legislature to reinstate the initiative process. Afterward, it would need approval by voters. That means the earliest it would get on the ballot would be November of 2022.
Reinstating the initiative process is a completely different issue than medical marijuana. Lawmakers would have to decide whether or not they want to address both. For his part, House Speaker Philip Gunn expressed a desire to reinstate the initiative process, but remained mum on whether or not medical marijuana would also be considered.
Secretary of State Michael Watson, Senate President Pro Tem Dean Kirby, and Representative Robert Johnson all favor a special session.
