MFP Asks Court To Make House GOP Caucus Meetings Public

The Mississippi Free Press asked a court on Monday to hold that Mississippi House Republican Caucus meetings must be open to the public under the Open Meetings Act. Last year, the full Mississippi Ethics Commission rejected the Mississippi Free Press’ argument and declared that the Legislature is not a “public body” under the law after its director, Tom Hood, recommended that the panel affirm this publication’s request.

The House Republican Caucus, whose members constitute a majority of the lower chamber, meet behind closed doors, and outgoing House Speaker Philip Gunn had long used the secret meetings to set the agenda for the House and deliberate on legislative priorities. The meetings have often left not only the press and the public but other lawmakers in the dark about major legislative maneuvers until the day they happen.