The chances of the resolution passing would have been significantly higher if Hosemann had assigned it to the Rules committee. Two of five Rules committee members — Sen. Walter Michel (R-Ridgeland) and Sen. Hillman Frazier (D-Jackson) — publicly support the change of the state flag. This would mean that only one of the other three members of the Rules committee — Sen. Dean Kirby (R-Pearl), Sen. Dennis DeBar (R-Leakesville), or Sen. Hillman Frazier, D-Jackson — would have to vote yea for the resolution to move to the Senate floor and be voted on. In recent days, Parker and Kirby told Mississippi Today that they believe the fate of the flag should be decided by the voters and not the Legislature. DeBar did not respond to questions. Hosemann sent the Senate Constitution committee the resolution, breaking a long-standing precedent that Hosemann had set earlier in this legislative session. The Rules committee is always the first to receive any resolutions or bills that would suspend legislative rules. Six such pieces of legislation were filed earlier in this legislative session. Hosemann assigned them all, except for the flag resolution to the Rules committee. Hosemann and his staff went out of their way not to take a public position about the state flag. His staff has not responded to Mississippi Today’s requests for comment for six days. As protests continue across the nation and the state about racial equality, lawmakers in the Senate and House are having conversations about changing the state’s flag. Mississippi protesters have focused their demands on the state flag. It is the only one in the country that contains the Confederate battle emblem. Hosemann’s only comment on the state flag was on Tuesday morning’s Supertalk Mississippi, a conservative talk radio station. Gerard Gibert, a radio host, asked Hosemann about his thoughts on the state flag after a 20-minute interview about the state budget. Producers began playing outro music as a signal for the end of the interview and the beginning of a commercial break. Hosemann’s 90 second answer didn’t address his personal views on the matter. He also stated that he hadn’t spoken with senators. Below is Hosemann’s exact answer to questions regarding the state flag. Since June 8, this is his only comment on the issue. Hosemann: “I’ll give the bill to committee… If it’s out, the Senate will vote on it. That’s the position I have held for a while: We won’t hide anything on the calendar. We’re going to vote for whatever comes out of this committee.” “Looking at all this, I believe it is time for Mississippians to start looking at the future. We won’t be demeaning any flag from the past. Mississippi had — you need to go back all the way to 1830, when we kicked out all the Choctaws from their land. We didn’t have two-thirds ownership of Mississippi when we made it a state in 1817. We took the third from the Choctaws under the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek and sent them on a Trail of Tears through Oklahoma.” “We have a Mississippi history, and again likely there, which has continued in many different events. So I expect Mississippians will start searching for the flag of the future. It will either be the current flag or one that is newer. There are many options, but I believe it’s time to have that discussion.” “I think it will end up being both (decided jointly by the Legislature and the people in Mississippi). It will be passed by the Legislature before being placed on the ballot. It’s just my estimate; I haven’t asked any senators how they would like to do that.” Hosemann’s office issued a statement after the story was published. Hosemann stated that he was in favor of putting a decision regarding Mississippi’s flag on the statewide ballot. “Our citizens face many challenges in the economy and healthcare. The ongoing controversy over our current banner distracts us from addressing these problems. This controversy must be settled. The flag that represents me and my children should reflect the collective future of all our citizens, as determined by those who will be living under it.” Hosemann said: “The Senate resolution to alter the flag was assigned a committee with a Republican chairman, and a Democratic vice chairman. I hope it will receive fair consideration. The Senate will vote if the resolution is passed by committee.”