The Associated Press
JACKSON – Mississippi House Speaker Billy McCoy has headed off a potential challenge to his leadership.

McCoy said Wednesday that he will appoint a diverse group of House members to study anti-abortion proposals that conservatives were trying to push into law this year. He said the proposals will be considered in 2009.

His announcement came after the Democratic speaker and several of his allies worked behind the scenes.

A group of House conservatives had been poised Wednesday to seek a temporary change in the House operating rules to try to move an anti-abortion bill on to the governor. But some other lawmakers saw the attempt as a way to circumvent a committee chairman. Legislators generally are protective of their own operating procedures.