Jackson Free Press

Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann will deliver three voter-referendum initiatives to the state Legislature this morning that could require voters to bring photo identification to polls, restrict the state's use of eminent domain and amend state law to define when life begins.

Hosemann, a Republican, approved the voter-identification petition, Initiative Measure No. 27, last February. That measure, if passed by a majority of voters in the 2011 November election, will amend the state Constitution to require voters to supply some form of government-issued photo identification before voting.

Initiative critics, like the NAACP, says the photo-identification requirement provides a hurdle for African Americans voters. NAACP President Derrick Johnson said many minorities and senior citizens don't always carry photo identification, and a larger number of blacks don't own vehicles or have driver's licenses.

The second initiative, secured by the Mississippi Farm Bureau, received Hosemann's approval last September. The initiative restricts the state from taking property through eminent domain to transfer it to "any person, non-governmental entity, public-private partnership, corporation, or other business entity."

The initiative follows Gov. Haley Barbour's 2009 veto of a legislative bill that set the same restrictions. Barbour argued at the time that the law, if not vetoed, would hinder the growth of business and "hurt job creation." Advocates for the initiative argued that the state should only have the right to take private property for public use, such as the construction of bridges, levees or highways, not for development from which a corporation may profit.

After a period of 10 years, however, the state may transfer the acquired property to any non-governmental entity it wants, the initiative states.

The third petition, Voter Initiative 27, asks Mississippi voters to approve a constitutional amendment that grants "personhood" to all fertilized eggs in the womb. Les Riley, of Personhood Mississippi, praised the initiative as a step to end abortion in the state.

"[W]e all worked together to collect over 130,000 signatures from Mississippians to put the Personhood Amendment on the ballot so Mississippians could vote to honor God and love our neighbors in our law again; to give equal rights/protections to all human beings; to end legal abortion in our state and challenge the unconstitutional Roe v. Wade court decision; and to help stop the spread of human cloning and other medical cannibalism," Riley wrote in a Dec. 30 statement.

The ACLU, however, argues that the initiative, if passed, would be unconstitutional. Nsombi Lambright, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Mississippi, told Mississippi Public Broadcasting last year that the initiative would interfere with numerous forms of birth control, the treatment of miscarriage, and abortion in cases of rape and incest. The initiative is currently tied up in a legal battle between Personhood and abortion-rights advocates, who are waiting for the Mississippi Supreme Court take up the case and rule on whether the initiative violates the state Constitution.

Hosemann said in a statement that he must deliver the initiatives to the state Legislature, and that the initiatives will appear on the next statewide general election ballot, written exactly as "lawfully submitted."

Rep. Bobby Moak, D-Bogue Chitto, told the Jackson Free Press this morning that legislators may submit an alternate version of any one of the ballot initiatives for the Legislature to vote on. Hosemann stated that, in that event, both the original initiative and the Legislature's alternative version must appear on the same ballot. The voter, facing the alternative options, may either reject both or choose between the two. 

Previous Comments

ID

161423

Comment

I'm interested in the term "medical cannibalism". What is that exactly? Is it when a doctor eats his patient? So, are they saying that people are EATING the aborted fetuses? ;) But, seriously, I think we should ask Les Riley if he got his child the varicella or MMR vaccinations as they are made from fetal tissue. I'm assuming that he has as Mississippi (minus West Virginia) is one of only two states in the nation that does not allow alternate vaccination schedules-or allow you to not follow the APA designated vaccination schedule. So, HORRORS, his CHILD is EATING A FETUS AND HE DOESN'T KNOW IT! Its always interesting to me when men try to legislate my uterus. You guys know I come out swinging...but how can they grant "personhood" to any fertilized egg in the womb? An egg that has yet to implant has not divided and, therefore, is in no way shape or form a "person". Alternately, what if a woman uses Clomid (a very common fertility drug used now as women are delaying child birth) that results in a pregnancy of 4 fertilized eggs? I'm assuming "reductions" (which are commonly done) will then be illegal and-even if the person can't afford the child-they will be forced to give birth to this "person"...after which the state will forget they exist and give them absolutely no support. My question is this...how can you tell me that I must give birth to something and then offer that "something" no services after it truly IS a "person"? If you legislate the birthing process then I want you to legislate the rearing process. ALL OF IT--the night time bottles, the dirty diapers, the day care, the college costs. ALL OF IT. I know this will eventually be struck down as unconstitutional, but with our high level of unemployment, lack of jobs and the current economy, don't you think we can come up with some better crap to deal with than voter ID's and FETAL CANNIBALISM. Now, excuse me while I go have my afternoon fetal snack.

Author

Lori G

Date

2011-01-04T14:54:07-06:00

ID

161425

Comment

These yahoos are having a ralley on the steps of the capital at 4pm. I'm heading down to see if the anti-abortionmobile is there. Then everyone is going to pray and sing hymns. Also, "signs will be provided". I'd like a "sign" of someone turning some water into wine as it will be near 5pm. I'll provide a head count of "PERSONS" (although I'm not sure how many will just be hanging out fertilized in wombs...so the head count may not be completely correct)

Author

Lori G

Date

2011-01-04T15:02:41-06:00

ID

161426

Comment

Will Brian Johnson please stand up. I need someone to be amused with me. Look at this shite

Author

Lori G

Date

2011-01-04T15:21:05-06:00

ID

161429

Comment

Is it safe to assume you'll be "tased" and dragged from the conference? I thought medical cannibalism is when parents eat the placenta. You know you wanted to do it. But seriously, I am outraged by Les Riley's blasphemy. He writes that we must vote for this measure to "honor God," which necessarily suggests that voting against it "dishonors God." Who the devil does Riley think he is? We are all entitled to our religious beliefs. Baptists do not agree with Catholics who do not agree with Methodists, and that's just keeping it among Christians. For any person to tell us that we must vote a certain way on an incredibly controversial measure to "honor God" is beyond the pale. It's Taliban talk, frankly. As for voter ID, I would like to know which exact provision of the Constitution Republicans use to justify this law. We better hope Washington or Jefferson don't show up, because they won't be able to vote. And will the Justice Department even allow such a measure?

Author

Brian C Johnson

Date

2011-01-04T15:38:41-06:00

ID

161446

Comment

"Its always interesting to me when men try to legislate my uterus. You guys know I come out swinging...but how can they grant "personhood" to any fertilized egg in the womb? I know I am the resident male chauvenists to some, but I agree with you in the regards to some trying to legislate morality - by trying to create this kind of legislation, which in turn is a form of socialism - Hoseman's idea government is basically telling you "IT"S NOT YOUR FETUS, IT'S OUR (The Governments) FETUS UNTIL THAT BABY COMES TO TERM"!? Now I am an advocate of individual rights, which in turn makes me a Libertarian by definition - however the Paul Family has so turned me off to the Libertarian movement - anyway, I would challange those who are against abortion and ask them how do they stand on public health care - if they tell you their against it, then tell them they are technically really for abortion then, end of argument!

Author

Duan C.

Date

2011-01-05T07:34:04-06:00

ID

161447

Comment

Now I am an advocate of individual rights, which in turn makes me a Libertarian by definition No, it really doesn't. There is more to libertarianism than a vague statement about believing in individual rights. I believe in individual rights, and I am not a libertarian, although I agree with a good number of its ideas, if not the utopian, uninformed part about how companies shouldn't be regulated.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2011-01-05T09:57:15-06:00

ID

161448

Comment

@ Ladd - How can you ignore this part I added to my statement, however the Paul Family has so turned me off to the Libertarian movement, I said by definition meaning what's in the Encarta® World English Dictionary[North American Edition] as described by them: lib·er·tar·i·an[ lìbbər térree ən ] lib·er·tar·i·ans Plural NOUN 1. advocate of individual responsibility: somebody who believes in the doctrine of free will 2. advocate of individual freedom: somebody who believes in the principle that people should have complete freedom of thought and action That's the definition - not my saying

Author

Duan C.

Date

2011-01-05T10:16:21-06:00

ID

161469

Comment

I support the eminent domain referendum. The others...no way!

Author

golden eagle

Date

2011-01-05T21:15:06-06:00