JACKSON, Miss. – Mississippi lawmakers have approved a bill that authorizes the construction of a civil rights museum and a history museum.
The bill passed the House and Senate on Monday but was later held for more debate in the Senate.
The proposal had the backing of Republican Gov. Haley Barbour, a potential 2012 presidential candidate. He renewed calls for it early this year, weeks after coming under fire for comments in a magazine article in which critics said he downplayed the dangers of the civil rights era in Mississippi.
The Senate wanted to require organizers to secure private donations before any state funding was released. The House balked at the idea.
The bill approved on Monday would provide $20 million for the civil rights structure and $18 million for the Mississippi history museum.
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The bill is House Bill 1463.
