Changes

Gray ran without opposition in the Republican [[primary]] held on May 20, 2014, for the District 62 nomination to the state House. In the November 4 [[general election]] she unseated the two-term [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] Tommy Wren, 5,130 votes (54.3 percent) to 4,319 (45.7 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ballotpedia.org/Arkansas_House_of_Representatives_elections,_2014|title=District 62|publisher=Ballotpedia.org|accessdate=January 9, 2021}}</ref> Representative Gray holds these committee assignments: (1) Legislative Joint Audit (2) Judiciary Committee, and (3) State Agencies and Governmental Affairs.<ref name=michgray/>In February 2015, Gray joined dozens of her fellow Republicans and two Democrats in co-sponsoring legislation submitted by Representative Lane Jean of Magnolia, to reduce unemployment compensation benefits. The measure was promptly signed into law by Republican [[Governor]] [[Asa Hutchinson]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://votesmart.org/bill/19578/51495/129425/reduces-unemployment-benefits#.VR3Zr_l4rGY|title=HB 1489 - Reduces Unemployment Benefits - Key Vote|publisher=Project Vote Smart|accessdate=January 9, 2021}}</ref>

Gray ran without opposition in the Republican [[primary]] held on May 20, 2014, for the District 62 nomination to the state House. In the November 4 [[general election]] she unseated the two-term [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] Tommy Wren, 5,130 votes (54.3 percent) to 4,319 (45.7 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ballotpedia.org/Arkansas_House_of_Representatives_elections,_2014|title=District 62|publisher=Ballotpedia.org|accessdate=January 9, 2021}}</ref> Representative Gray holds these committee assignments: (1) Legislative Joint Audit (2) Judiciary Committee, and (3) State Agencies and Governmental Affairs.<ref name=michgray/>In February 2015, Gray joined dozens of her fellow Republicans and two Democrats in co-sponsoring legislation submitted by Representative Lane Jean of Magnolia, to reduce unemployment compensation benefits. The measure was promptly signed into law by Republican [[Governor]] [[Asa Hutchinson]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://votesmart.org/bill/19578/51495/129425/reduces-unemployment-benefits#.VR3Zr_l4rGY|title=HB 1489 - Reduces Unemployment Benefits - Key Vote|publisher=Project Vote Smart|accessdate=January 9, 2021}}</ref>

That same month Gray supported House Bill 1228, sponsored by Republican [[Bob Ballinger]] of Carroll County, which sought to prohibit government from imposing a burden on the free exercise of religion.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://votesmart.org/bill/19610/51617/141580/prohibits-government-from-burdening-exercise-of-religion#.VSl8TsstEqQ|title=HB 1228|publisher=Project Vote Smart|accessdate=January 9, 2021}}</ref> The measure passed the House, seventy-two to twenty.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://votesmart.org/bill/19610/51617/141580/prohibits-government-from-burdening-exercise-of-religion#.VSl8TsstEqQ|title=HB 1228|publisher=Project Vote Smart|accessdate=January 9, 2021}}</ref> One of the opponents, Democratic Representative [[Camille Bennett]], a former city attorney for Lonoke, Arkansas, called for a reworking of the legislation.<ref>"Indiana, Arkansas try to stem religious objections uproar," Atlantic Broadband, April 3, 2015.</ref> Bennett claimed the Ballinger bill would establish a "type of religious litmus test" which could impact nearly any law under consideration by the legislature.<ref name=religiousfreedom>"Opponents of Religious Freedom Bill Point Out Law Differences, Possible Unintended Consequences," Fox Channel 16 ([[Little Rock]]), April 1, 2015; no longer accessible on-line.</ref> The measure was subsequently passed by a large margin in the House and signed into law in revised form, SB 975, by Governor Hutchinson.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thv11.com/story/news/local/2015/04/02/house-committee-passes-new-rfra-bill-headed-for-full-house/70828864/|title=Gov. Hutchinson signs revised religious freedom bill; HB 1228 recalled|publisher=KTHV-TV|location=Little Rock|date=April 2, 2015|accessdate=April 14, 2015}}</ref>  

That same month Gray supported House Bill 1228, sponsored by Republican [[Bob Ballinger]] of Carroll County, which sought to prohibit government from imposing a burden on the free exercise of religion.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://votesmart.org/bill/19610/51617/141580/prohibits-government-from-burdening-exercise-of-religion#.VSl8TsstEqQ|title=HB 1228|publisher=Project Vote Smart|accessdate=January 9, 2021}}</ref> The measure passed the House, seventy-two to twenty.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://votesmart.org/bill/19610/51617/141580/prohibits-government-from-burdening-exercise-of-religion#.VSl8TsstEqQ|title=HB 1228|publisher=Project Vote Smart|accessdate=January 9, 2021}}</ref> One of the opponents, Democratic Representative [[Camille Bennett]], a former city attorney for Lonoke, Arkansas, called for a reworking of the legislation.<ref>"Indiana, Arkansas try to stem religious objections uproar," Atlantic Broadband, April 3, 2015.</ref> Bennett claimed the Ballinger bill would establish a "type of religious litmus test" which could impact nearly any law under consideration by the legislature.<ref name=religiousfreedom>"Opponents of Religious Freedom Bill Point Out Law Differences, Possible Unintended Consequences," Fox Channel 16 ([[Little Rock]]), April 1, 2015; no longer accessible on-line.</ref> The measure was subsequently passed by a large margin in the House and signed into law in revised form, SB 975, by Governor Hutchinson.<ref>"Gov. Hutchinson signs revised religious freedom bill; HB 1228 recalled," KTHV-TV (Little Rock), April 2, 2015; no longer accessible on-line.</ref>  

Gray is a particular admirer of former Governor [[Sarah Palin]] of [[Alaska]], the 2008  Republican vice-presidential nominee. "We have a lot of respect for her and what she does – and just the fight that she's willing to take on. She's not scared of anything. Her viewpoints and our viewpoints are a lot alike. ... She's a mom, she's a wife [prior to Palin's divorce]. She's me. I can see myself in her a lot," said Gray.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://conservatives4palin.com/2015/04/mgr-michelle-gray-ar62-we-love-sarahpalinusa.html|title=We Love Gov. Palin|publisher=conservatives4palin.com|date=April 8, 2015|accessdate=April 12, 2015; website no longer on-line}}</ref>

Gray is a particular admirer of former Governor [[Sarah Palin]] of [[Alaska]], the 2008  Republican vice-presidential nominee. "We have a lot of respect for her and what she does – and just the fight that she's willing to take on. She's not scared of anything. Her viewpoints and our viewpoints are a lot alike. ... She's a mom, she's a wife [prior to Palin's divorce]. She's me. I can see myself in her a lot," said Gray.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://conservatives4palin.com/2015/04/mgr-michelle-gray-ar62-we-love-sarahpalinusa.html|title=We Love Gov. Palin|publisher=conservatives4palin.com|date=April 8, 2015|accessdate=April 12, 2015; website no longer on-line}}</ref>