Mississippi House Speaker Jason White’s early approach in the job has been a welcome change. He so far has been less controlling than his predecessor, Philip Gunn, of the issues his members consider.
Unfortunately, though, White has decided to continue the practice initiated by Gunn to use closed-door Republican caucus meetings as a way for the majority party to fashion and debate public policy in secret.
This practice, whose legality is still being challenged in the courts, is clearly not in the spirit of the state’s Open Meetings Act, which says the public’s business should be conducted in the open, with limited exception.
It’s worth noting that only the House tries to skirt that law. The Senate believes more in openness.
