Reeves stated that he would recognize Bryan, but cautioned that the Senate rules are very narrow in defining the reasons for personal privilege. This privilege is for members who feel they have been personally attacked in an official capacity or if the dignity, rights or integrity of the chamber has been compromised. It was obvious that Reeves would terminate him if he diverted from this narrow focus. Bryan used his personal privilege to encourage his fellow senators (both Democrats and Republicans) to regain control over the Senate chamber. He stated that the 52 senators had effectively ceded their authority to the lieutenant governor, the presiding officer. He said he didn’t blame the current lieutenant Governor and that it didn’t start with Reeves. He stated that the gradual process of ceding power has made it more apparent. Reeves is the Senate’s chief policy and process maker. This is not a secret. That might be a good thing. Others may disagree. Others might disagree. The Mississippi Constitution gives the lieutenant governor the power to preside over and serve in the absence governor. He can also vote in the event of a tie. The Senate grants the lieutenant Governor the power to appoint committee chairmen, who are subject to the lieutenant- governor. They also have the power to assign other members to committees and to assign or deny bills to them. The Senate was sued by former U.S. Rep. Gene Taylor in 1990, claiming that the Mississippi Constitution’s separation of powers clause for the lieutenant governor meant that the lieutenant governor, a member in chief of the executive branch, had too much power in the legislative branch. If the Senate elected to make the lieutenant governor a “super legislator”, the state Supreme Court ruled in favor of the lieutenant Governor. Bryan was one of a group that argued for the lieutenant governor to be a statewide elected officer. Bryan stressed that he wasn’t arguing that the powers of the lieutenant governor should be removed from Bryan, but rather contained. Bryan stated, “I suggest to the body that this summer we could meet with the candidates to be lieutenant governor and let the them know we would love to reverse a tendency.” Reeves is being replaced by Jay Hughes, a Democratic Rep. and Republican Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann. Hosemann is the favourite. It is unlikely that Democrats will be able to control the Senate this election cycle. They would have to win all the races in which they had a Senate candidate to capture the majority. Hughes may be telling Bryan to keep his mouth shut. Hughes will likely win, and at least some of the expected Republican majority members would attempt to take away his power. Bryan stated that this is not Hughes’ intention. Bryan stated that he believes there could be a greater collaboration between the senators, and the lieutenant governor. In 2007, Democrats held a majority of the Senate’s seats when Phil Bryant, a Republican, was elected lieutenant governor. In 2007, there was talk of Democrats trying to change the rules in order to take some power away from Bryant. This effort was not supported by many. It is unclear if it would have been successful.