Mississippi Republicans’ so-called “super majority” allows a level of secrecy in government that makes the state Legislature more than a little scary.

During the regular legislative session earlier this year, we all learned just how bizarre this stranglehold could be as Republican lawmakers pushed through a series of sweeping budget cuts and tax cuts which left the state in financial trouble.

That would have been fine if the plan had been clearly communicated to everyone — chief among them the taxpaying citizens for whom lawmakers work. Instead lawmakers met secretly and only a choice few party leaders seem to be informed about what the plan — or lack of a plan — actually was.

Rank and file Republicans just voted as they were told without asking many questions. Democratic members of the House and Senate tried to procedurally slow down the freight train, but were unable to stop it — or slow it long enough to get any answers.

As a result, the state’s budget is out of whack.

Lawmakers have already allowed Republican Gov. Phil Bryant to take $45 million from the state’s rainy day fund to help balance the budget.

State law limits governors to pulling only $50 million per budget year.

But that amount — $45 million of which was already pulled — will not be enough.

Bryan pulled back lawmakers to Jackson again this week in a special session of the Legislature in hopes of having the $50 million per year cap removed so he can pull additional funds as needed to cover the budget gap. He wants the ability to pull as much money as he needs, but no one seems to know exactly how much that may be.

Lawmakers have little choice at this point than to allow the money to be moved, but all of the secrecy isn’t the way to govern our state.