Various conversations I’ve overheard this week make me think that many people who initially favored all three November 8 ballot initiatives are now having second thoughts.

There’s one misconception that I overheard that needs to be cleared up: a valid state driver’s license is a valid state ID. The licensed driver would not be required to obtain another form of state ID if the voter ID initiative passes.

With Initiative 26 there are no misconceptions. All conceptions will become legally protected persons if enough voters support this amendment to the state constitution.

There is, however, a lot of confusion about Initiative 26. Opponents charge that passage might prohibit birth control, limit in-vitro fertilization, and prevent abortion in cases of rape, incest or when the mother’s life is at risk. Proponents accuse opponents of using scare tactics.

The truth is, nobody is quite sure what will happen if Initiative 26 passes. The outcome is uncertain, but it seems certain that the state’s lawyers will spend a lot of time in court defending the initiative if it passes.

To add to the state constitution an amendment that even the state’s conservative governor has described as “ambiguous” does not bode well, no matter the fervor of emotional support it has garnered.

Which leaves little room for discussion of Initiative 31 that would amend the state constitution to limit eminent domain. The trouble is that Mississippi already protects its landowners from eminent domain excesses. To vest the state constitution with this amendment would make the process overly restrictive.
The Governor and I have seldom agreed more often.