Senate weighing bill to disallow state agencies from advertising

JACKSON — A bill pending in the Mississippi Senate seeks to pull the plug on all state agencies’ ability to advertise.

State Sen. Merle Flowers, a Republican from Southaven, tells WLBT-TV millions and millions of dollars are going advertising programs all over the state.

The bill would prevent state agencies from using radio and television advertising to promote agency programs.

The bill does not include newspapers and there would be some exceptions like public service announcements required by the federal government.

If state agencies must use state dollars to advertise, then a bidding process would be required.

That would also be the case for advertising with federal money.