House Adjourns For The Day Without Abortion Vote

The House adjourned earlier today without taking a vote on the abortion opt-out bill sponsored by Sen. Alan Nunnelee (R-Tupelo); but they did not vote to adjourn sine die which would have killed the bill. Rather, members will be back tomorrow at 8 a.m. per Nita Durrell, Communications Director for the House Democrats.

In what would be a very interesting scenario, Rep. Greg Snowden (R-Meridian) stated that the Speaker may order the Highway Patrol to compel members to return to the Capitol if a quorum is not present. The reason we are going through this is because Rep. Credel Calhoun (D-Jackson) held the bill’s passage up on a motion to reconsider yesterday. The bill did clear the House yesterday, before that move, but now it looks like Democratic leaders may elect to not bring the bill up.

According to Snowden, Rep. Steve Holland (D-Plantersville) said he will not call a meeting of the Public Health Committee (which he chairs) to consider the bill. He took to the podium to say the bill was not necessary- echoing yesterday’s complaints from House Democrats. Rep. Becky Currie (R-Brookhaven) responded on Twitter to this charge by saying, “Then voting to reinforce would not hurt anything!”

What can happen now is that if Holland and Speaker McCoy refuse to allow a vote, a majority can refuse to adjourn sine die meaning the House will remain in session. At that point, it is a game of chicken. Who will fold first: Pro-life Democrats or McCoy/ Holland?

Update: Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant, who helped usher this bill through the Senate, said this about the delay in the House: “This is a great effort that ensures taxpayer money will not be used to pay for elective abortions. I was disappointed that the Senate bill was not brought up for a vote in the House Health Committee. I am hopeful the House leadership will reconsider the abortion opt-out legislation when they reconvene Saturday and pass it immediately on to the Governor.