Constituents are seldom heard in the Mississippi Legislature; hearings often last-minute, no agenda

Constituents are seldom heard in the Mississippi Legislature; hearings often last-minute, no agenda

When the Mississippi Legislature reconvenes in the Capitol’s marbled halls this month, one voice will scarcely be heard: constituents’. Citizens and advocates are occasionally invited by lawmakers to speak at the Capitol. But unlike some other statehouses in the U.S., there are no formal opportunities for constituents in Mississippi to provide public comment or testimony in committee hearings, remotely or in writing. “Constituents should have a …