All eyes are on Mississippi as the legislature could take historic action today.

Lawmakers are in the state capitol for a rare Saturday session.  Mostly they have discussed appropriations but so far the “elephant in the room”, the state flag, has yet to be addressed.

Here is a recap of what has happened so far:

9:30 a.m. – The House Rules Committee meeting:  This is where a resolution to suspend the rules of the legislature would originate.  They adjourned without taking up the resolution.

10:00 a.m. – House and Senate reconvened.

11:40 a.m. – House has recessed subject to call

11:55 a.m. – Senate has recessed until 1:30 p.m.

As Steven Gagliano reported in an earlier story, if leadership feels that the votes are there, the committee can reconvene this afternoon and advance the resolution.

The resolution must clear the committee before heading to the House floor, where it must receive a two-thirds vote in order to be sent over to the Senate. If the two-thirds majority is achieved, debate on the actual bill can begin.  To pass the bill, a simple majority of the House and Senate would be required.

We understand the effort to gain the necessary votes to both suspend the rules and begin debate on the flag, will continue throughout the day.

Earlier, Governor Tate Reeves said if a bill is sent to him to change the flag, he would sign it.

We will update this story as the day progresses.

The post State flag issue: Today’s timeline of legislative action appeared first on News Mississippi.