news
House Appropriations Committee chairman Herb Frierson, R-Poplarville strains to listen as House Medicaid Committee chairman Bobby Howell, R-Kilmichael addresses the committee, Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2013 at the Capitol in Jackson, Miss. Lawmakers are rushing to meet an early April deadline to complete work on a $5.5 billion budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
It's probably a temporary setback.
Appropriations Chairman Eugene "Buck" Clarke says he'll bring the budget bill back up next week and he expects it to pass when attendance is better. Several senators didn't vote Thursday.
Mississippi needs federal approval for any election changes, and a voter ID proposal was submitted to the Justice Department months ago. If it's rejected there, Republicans want to ask federal judges in Washington, D.C., to approve it.
Senate Bill 2901 says the secretary of state could spend up to $695,000 for voter ID litigation during the year that starts July 1.
If the budget bill passes the Senate, it goes to the House.