Video: House Rejects Special Needs Vouchers

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JACKSON, Miss. (AP) – House members are rejecting a bill to give vouchers worth more than $6,000 to parents of some Mississippi special education students.

The House voted 63-53 Wednesday to reject House Bill 765, with 11 Republicans crossing over to vote with most Democrats against the bill.

The vote came after House Speaker Philip Gunn, a Clinton Republican, ruled that only a majority was needed to approve the bill. Rep. David Baria, a Bay St. Louis Democrat, had contended in a procedural challenge that a two-thirds vote was required under the state Constitution because the bill granted benefits to individuals.

House Education Chairman John Moore, a Brandon Republican, held the bill on a procedural motion, saying he would try to rally votes again before the session ends. Gunn, though, is declaring it dead.