Mississippi Politics & News
Mississippi politics from The Daily Signal, featuring state legislation, education policy, economic development, and the Magnolia State’s conservative leadership in the Deep South.
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opinion
Good News: Mississippi Woman Convicted After Trying to Win Votes Via Bribes
For the residents of Canton, Mississippi, faith in their elected officials must be at an all-time low. The city has been facing seemingly endless election scandals in the past couple of years. Five local officials—including an alderman, the fire chief, and the city clerk—have been convicted of a variety of crimes stemming from their efforts… -
opinion
There’s a Silver Lining to the Voter Fraud Scandal in Mississippi
It has been a tough time for the city of Canton, Mississippi. In the span of just a few days, two city leaders—including one running to be a judge—were convicted on charges stemming from a far-reaching voter fraud scandal that has ensnared numerous members of the city’s political establishment. So far, seven people—five of them… -
news
Donors to Charities Can’t Be Exposed Under New Mississippi Law
Mississippi’s governor has signed into law a donor privacy bill designed to protect the anonymity of those who give money to nonprofit charities. The new law prohibits state government officials from soliciting or releasing donor information from charitable groups that fall under section 501 of federal tax law. Gov. Phil Bryant, a Republican, signed the… -
opinion
No, Sen. Warren, Presidential Candidates Wouldn’t Campaign in Mississippi If We Got Rid of the Electoral College
The Electoral College is under fire. Again. Delaware last week joined 12 other states that have pledged to award their Electoral College votes to the presidential candidate who gets the most votes nationwide, regardless of who wins their state. Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, is set this week to introduce a constitutional amendment to abolish the Electoral College,… -
news
Mississippi Outlaws Abortions After Fetal Heartbeat Detected
Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant signed a “heartbeat bill” Thursday that will make abortion illegal in the state after a fetal heartbeat is detected. “I am very pro-life, always have been,” Bryant, a Republican, said after signing the legislation. “I think obviously we’ll have some legal challenges on it. We have legal challenges with every pro-life bill… -
opinion
With Free Markets at Work in Mississippi, Magnolia State’s Economy Blooms
History is full of reasons to love free markets. They reward hard work and catalyze innovation, providing technology and comforts previously unimaginable to the ordinary person. A new report by Anthony Kim and one of us (Patrick Tyrrell) of The Heritage Foundation shows just how Mississippi workers benefit from increased economic freedom when trade barriers… -
news
Mississippi Police Ban Nike Products After Nike Endorses Colin Kaepernick
Mississippi state police won’t be able to purchase any Nike apparel or products after an announcement from the commissioner of public safety. “As commissioner of the Department of Public Safety, I will not support vendors who do not support law enforcement and our military,” Commissioner Marshall Fisher said in a statement, USA Today reported Sunday…. -
news
Through God, This Mississippi Boys School Is Working to Heal the Racial Divide
GREENWOOD, Mississippi—Thomas McMillin Howard, known as “T. Mac,” describes Greenwood, Mississippi as a “backwards place.” And sadly, most people who’ve visited would agree. Separated by a bridge where the black population tends to live on one side, and the white population mostly lives on the other, Greenwood has struggled to reconnect with its racially segregated… -
news
Bernie Sanders Joins UAW in Mississippi Push for Nissan Union Vote
High-profile Democratic Party leaders and Hollywood celebrities are partnering with the United Auto Workers to help Big Labor gain footing in Southern states. The UAW won a deal with Japanese-based Nissan Motor Co. allowing close to 4,000 full-time employees at its Canton, Mississippi, plant to vote on whether to organize as a labor union. Sen. Bernie… -
opinion
Creating Jobs in Mississippi’s Golden Triangle
Entrepreneurial dynamism has lagged in America for the past eight years, according to The Heritage Foundation’s 2017 Index of Economic Freedom. Yet someone in Mississippi’s Golden Triangle has been creating jobs for the American people. That person is Joe Max Higgins, an economic development official who has been going the extra mile for his fellow… -
news
Mississippi Lawmakers Demand State Education Department Oppose Obama’s Transgender Guidelines
A group of Mississippi state lawmakers have joined the governor in calling for a top state education official to reject the Obama administration’s transgender student guidelines or resign. “Now Obama is threatening our school funding to force his liberal ideologies of immorality on our nation at the expense of our helpless children,” Mississippi state Rep…. -
opinion
Mississippi Governor Explains Why He Signed Religious Liberty Law
In an interview with The Daily Signal, Gov. Phil Bryant, R-Miss, explains what his state’s new religious liberty law does and doesn’t do. While many opponents of the law say it will harm Mississippi’s economy, Bryant paints a different picture. He’s lowered taxes a whopping 50 times since taking office and says that, among other… -
opinion
Mississippi Is on the Right Side of History
Lawmakers in Mississippi took a stand for the First Amendment this week, and the usual suspects aren’t happy. Liberal politicians, LGBT activists, and big business are all in a tizzy, claiming discrimination where absolutely none exists and completely misrepresenting this commonsense law in hopes of bullying the state to reverse its decision. Here’s the scenario:… -
news
In This Mississippi Town, Residents Are Fighting Atheist Organization Calling for Removal of Christmas Display
In one Mississippi town, residents are fighting back after an an atheist organization requested that that a Christmas display in their city be removed, organizing a show of support for the display. “I just feel like Christians lose a lot nowadays because we’re too polite,” says Andrea Kirkley, a resident of Collins and a stay-at-home… -
opinion
Bureaucratic Commissions Won’t Get Mississippi out of Common Core
Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant (R) has just vetoed an “anti”–Common Core bill. He was right to do so. The bill didn’t do what its backers said it would do: withdraw Mississippi from Common Core. In remarks yesterday, Bryant stated, “I remain firmly committed to ending Common Core in Mississippi. This bill does not accomplish that… -
news
Mississippi Lawmakers to Tackle Education, Taxes
In Mississippi, lawmakers already are gearing up to tackle education, tax relief and the state’s contracting system, among other issues. Here is a quick look at the three biggest issues the legislature will tackle in 2015: Education With a ballot initiative and a lawsuit on deck over K-12 education funding, the legislature will have to address… -
news
Mississippi Looking to Expand Use of Police Body Cameras
Smile Mississippi, police may have you on camera. Police body cameras could work as an accountability tool for patrol officers and help protect them from false abuse complaints. Studies have backed up the advantages of using the devices, but with technology and data storage come privacy concerns. Columbus and Cleveland police already use body cameras… -
news
Lieutenant Governor: Let’s Scrap and Replace Common Core in Mississippi
Common Core in Mississippi might be on the chopping block if Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves has his way. Reeves said this week he supports scrapping Common Core and replacing it with another curriculum. The Republican said he wants to form a task force of parents, teachers and business leaders to investigate a new curriculum to replace Common… -
news
Grammy Museum in Mississippi Gives U.S. Taxpayers More Blues
Mississippi is cornering the market on taxpayer-funded music museums. First there was a state-funded museum dedicated to country legend Tammy Wynette. Now the state is going to have a museum for the Grammy Foundation in Cleveland, Miss., and it’s going to be built with federal and state taxpayer dollars. U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., in… -
news
Blood Testing Could Be in Store for Mississippi Drivers at DUI Checkpoints
Over Labor Day weekend, the Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol ran a no-refusal DUI checkpoint in Oxford, home of the University of Mississippi. In a no-refusal checkpoint, a driver who refuses a sobriety test — either a breath test or a standard field sobriety test — could be compelled to undergo a blood test. A judge…