All results / Stories / Arielle Dreher
Legislator Funded by Koch Brothers, Big Money Tells Citizen to Leave State
A freshman legislator who won his seat with the help of the banking and real-estate industries, as well as Koch Industries and Empower Mississippi, this week told a concerned citizen that he "could care less" about her concerns about budget cuts and suggested that she should leave Mississippi.
Rep. Moore: Plans to Cut Mississippi School Districts from 148 to Less Than 50
Mississippi would be on the road to 50 or fewer school districts, a new public-education funding formula and more charter schools under legislation the House Education Committee members approved Friday before heading home for the weekend.
Amended Airport Bill Increases Jackson's Representation, Sort Of
The City of Jackson might get more representatives on its airport commission, and that board would not have the authority to sell airport property, but could still lease it, under an amended airport bill the Mississippi House committee passed this morning.
Politicians for Sale? State’s Consumer Finance Association PAC Spends Big on State Officials
Payday and small business lenders are not always welcome business development on the municipal level, in no small part because of the cycles of poverty easy-to-obtain, high-interest loans can feed.
Secret Execution Team, Firing Squads, Restricted Media Included in House Bill
Death by firing squad could become an option for administering the death penalty if Senate Bill 2237, which passed by the Mississippi House of Representatives on Friday and held on a motion to reconsider, becomes law.
Campaign-finance Reform Scaled Back, Will Be Studied Instead
The momentum to bring campaign-finance reform to Mississippi slowed this week, turning into a study to consider whether the reform is needed after the House of Representatives amended a bill to require candidates to itemize credit-card details.
Trafficking, Anti-Terrorism Bills Still Alive; LGBT Rights Under Fire, Again
Mississippi has a human-trafficking problem that gets far too little law-enforcement and medical attention, but a bill is still alive in the Mississippi Legislature that would provide more resources to fight the problem.
Politicians for Sale? Mississippi Economic Council Knows How to Throw a Party
Funding for the state's crumbling infrastructure didn't exactly top priorities for legislators on their first round of revenue bill deadlines, and Senate Bill 2921 made it over to the House by four votes.
Human Rights Work Through Film: Lessons from a German Filmmaker
Johanna Richter was not looking for awards with her documentary; she was looking to bring about actual, tangible change in a country she could not quite call her own.
UPDATED: Anti-LGBT 'Conscience' Bill Includes Judges and Clerks, Makes It Harder to Seek Damages
The Senate passed House Bill 1523, the "Freedom of Conscience from Government Discrimination" bill," last night after over two hours of debate, including an amendment that makes it harder for individuals to sue and seek damages based upon their "sincerely held religious belief" that marriage is between a man and a woman.
Conservative Policy Center, Lobbyists Fund Poll Question on HB 1523
Within 36 hours after the Mississippi Senate passed House Bill 1523, co-sponsor Rep. Andy Gipson, R-Braxton, took up the bill first thing Friday morning, telling the House that reporting about the bill has been biased against it.
'Total Infringement': Governor Signs HB 1523 Over Protests of Business Leaders, Citizens
Gov. Phil Bryant signed House Bill 1523 into law today, which will allow businesses, circuit clerks and medical professionals to recuse themselves from offering services based on a religious belief that marriage is "between one man and one woman."
Governor Signs HB1523, ‘Unconstitutional’ Abortion Bill Heads to His Desk
An anti-abortion bill that has already been ruled unconstitutional by courts in Kansas and Oklahoma is on its way to Gov. Phil Bryant.
Parental Rights, Representation Get a Capitol Spotlight
House Bill 772 addresses parental representation and clarifies which state offices are responsible for providing counsel to parents in danger of losing their rights.
U.S. Rep. Thompson at Nissan: If HB 1523 Not Repealed, Must Seek Federal, Legal Recourse
Standing near a huge Nissan Titan truck at the automaker's Gluckstadt plant, U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson reiterated today that House Bill 1523 is harmful to Mississippi's reputation and economic future, vowing to fight it through legal and federal avenues.
Poll: Majority in State Support Medicaid Expansion, But the Legislature Doesn't
Despite the Mississippi Legislature's inaction with Medicaid expansion this session, a new poll shows that more than 50 percent of Mississippians support expanding Medicaid, which could provide health-care coverage to an additional 280,000 Mississippians, as well as provide tax credits for low-income adults.
The Last Stand Against HB 1523: Repeal Effort 'Second Chance' for Mississippi?
Rep. Jay Hughes, D-Oxford, and other Mississippi House and Senate Democrats called on the Legislature's leadership to repeal House Bill 1523 this morning.
HB 1523: Half ‘Redundant,’ Half ‘Unconstitutional’
The controversial House Bill 1523, with its long list of protections for people who discriminate against LGBT people and others, will become law in July unless one of two things happen: lawmakers repeal it, or courts strike it down.
Budget, Tax and Infrastructure Woes
Despite Republican supermajorities in both the House and the Senate, there seems to be little agreement across the chambers on tax legislation and budget proposals this year.
Politicians for Sale? Tate Reeves' Million-Dollar Election
While some lawmakers are attempting to take aim at personal-use spending with campaign-finance funds, little is said about who is funding whom when it comes to candidates.