Arkansas Legislative Archives
December 23, 2008
ARKANSAS LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
BRENT STEVENSON
November State Revenues Higher Than a Year Ago
State revenues were higher in
November than a year ago and exceeded the monthly forecast, the state
Department of Finance and Administration reported Dec. 2. Net available
general revenues totaled $328 million last month, or 6 percent above
November 2007, and collections exceeded the November forecast by $11
million, or 3.5 percent. The increase was due primarily to gains in
individual income tax collections, which offset a drop in gross receipts, or
sales tax, collections, state economist John Shelnutt said.
"Individual income tax collections totaled $192.3 million last month, up 20
percent compared to last year and 21.2 percent, or $21.2 million, above
forecast. However, gross receipts collections of $167.6 million last month
were 1.8 percent lower than in November 2007, and collections were below the
November forecast by 2.4 percent, or $4.1 million.
Huckabee: Not Interested in
Running for Senate
Former Arkansas Gov. and Republican presidential
candidate Mike Huckabee says he has “no interest whatsoever” in running for
the U.S. Senate. “I can put that one to bed, pull the covers up, tuck it in
and give it Ambien. It’s asleep. No way,” Huckabee told reporters after
giving a talk at the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service
Dec. 22.
“So for all the speculators who wonder, ‘Well is he
really? What’s he really saying?’ what I’m really saying is, it won’t be
me,” Huckabee said. Huckabee has been mentioned often as a possible
Republican challenger to U.S. Sen. Blanche Lincoln, who will be up for
re-election in 2010. Though he did his best to dispel that rumor today,
Huckabee did not rule out the possibility of a second presidential bid in
2012.
“There’s a whole lot of ifs before we get to even
thinking about 2012,” he told reporters. “I’m not being coy, but I’m just
telling you right now I’ve got to focus on what I do have in front of me,
which is the show on Fox and the ABC commentaries.”
Huckabee has been hosting a talk show on Fox News since
September. On Jan. 5, he is scheduled to begin giving five-minute
commentaries twice a day on ABC Radio Networks.
Hopkins
Named Director of
Arkansas
Teacher Retirement System
The board of trustees of the
Arkansas Teacher Retirement System voted 12-2 Dec. 2 to hire former state
Sen. George Hopkins of Malvern as the nearly $10 billion system's
executive director for a salary of $153,000. A lawyer, he will fill the post
vacated in October by Paul Doane, who resigned after an audit showed
he spent nearly half of his time on the job – and more than $34,000 –
traveling out of state.
Hopkins, a Democrat, served as a state senator from 1987-2000. He served on
the Legislature's Joint Committee on Public Retirement for eight years, six
of them as the committee's Senate chairman.
Governor Appoints Reeves to PSC
Gov. Mike Beebe appointed Olan
"Butch" Reeves to the state Public Service Commission Dec. 4, replacing
Daryl Bassett, whose term expires Jan. 14. Reeves’ term as chairman
of the Arkansas Workers' Compensation Commission expired Dec. 5, but he will
remain on the commission until his PSC appointment begins. Beebe also
announced that he plans to appoint Searcy District Court Judge Watson
Bell to the Workers' Compensation Commission to replace Reeves. Both
Reeves, 57, and Bell, 59, will serve six-year terms.
Jobless Rate Down in Arkansas’ Urban Areas
Five of Arkansas' six urban centers had lower
unemployment rates in October than the year before, according to labor
statistics released Dec. 2 for the state's metropolitan areas. Only Pine
Bluff's jobless rate rose, from 6.6 percent in October 2007 to 6.7 percent
last month, according to civilian labor force data from the U.S. Labor
Department. The city's unemployment rate was three-tenths of 1 percentage
point higher last month than the 6.4 percent rate recorded in September.
The Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers area had the lowest unemployment rate
among urban centers last month at 3.5 percent, down one-tenth of a
percentage point from a year ago and unchanged from September. Jonesboro had
the steepest jobless rate drop from October 2007, down six-tenths of a
percentage point to 4.3 percent, the same as in September. Fort Smith
recorded a 4.7 percent unemployment rate in October, compared to 5.1 percent
the year before. Last month's rate was up from 4.3 percent in September. The
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway metropolitan area had 4.1 percent
unemployment in October, down from 4.2 percent a year ago but up from 4
percent in September. The Hot Springs area unemployment rate was 4.8 percent
last month, compared to 5.1 percent a year ago and 4.7 percent in September.
Governor to Name Trammel to Highway Commission
Gov. Mike Beebe said Dec. 2 that he will appoint
Dick Trammel of Rogers to a 10-year term on the Arkansas Highway
Commission. An executive vice president at Arvest Bank, Trammel, 71, will
replace Jonathan Barnett, who is stepping down in January to become a
member of the Arkansas House of Representatives.
Vaught Named Chief Judge of Court of Appeals
Arkansas Court of Appeals Judge Larry Vaught was
appointed chief judge of the panel Dec. 1 by state Supreme Court Justice
Jim Hannah. He replaces Judge John Mauzy Pittman as the appeals
court's chief judge. Arkansas code allows the chief justice to designate one
of the 12 appeals judges as chief judge to a four-year term. Vaught, who
serves District 6, Position 2 on the bench, has been on the court since
2000. He was re-elected in 2006. The district includes Pulaski, Saline and
Perry counties.
State Improves
to 43rd in Health Ranking
Arkansas ranks 43rd in a national evaluation of health
among the states released Dec. 3. That’s up five points from 48th a year
ago. America's Health Rankings 2008, compiled by the United Health
Foundation, complimented Arkansas for decreases in smoking over the past
year and listed among the state's strengths moderate public health funding
at $73 per person and moderate geographic disparity of 10.5 percent within
the state. But the report said Arkansas' obesity rate rose from 26.9 percent
of the population to 29.3 percent in the past year. United Health Foundation
is a Minnesota-based private, nonprofit group that aims to improve the
availability and cost-effectiveness of health-care services.
Potlatch Completes Spin-off of Pulp-Based Businesses
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Potlatch Corp.
announced Dec. 16 that it has completed the previously announced
tax-free spin-off of its pulp-based businesses into a publicly
traded company called Clearwater Paper Corp. The spin-off was
implemented through a distribution of 100 percent of the common
stock of Clearwater Paper to Potlatch shareholders.
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It’s Triplets
for the Snyders
Second District Congressman Vic
Snyder and his wife, Rev. Betsy Singleton Snyder, are the proud
parents of three – that’s right, three – new baby boys, Aubrey,
Wyatt and Sullivan. The Snyders also have a two-year old son,
Penn.
State GOP Selects Webb as Leader
Former State Senator Doyle Webb, who also served
as former Lt. Gov. Win Rockefeller's chief of staff, has been chosen
to lead the state GOP. Webb defeated Fayetteville businessman
Joseph Wood for the post.
Report Details Economic Impact of Nonprofits on Arkansas
University of Arkansas at Little Rock officials and
several nonprofits recently released the results of years' worth of analysis
on the economic impact of not-for-profit organizations in Arkansas. Over the
past three years, the economic repercussions of these agencies topped $8.3
billion, an average of about $2.8 billion a year. Those figures include
payroll for employees, goods and services purchased, and money dispensed
into the communities they serve through their causes. According to 2006
data, there are 68,257 people working for nonprofits in Arkansas.
Nearly 83 percent (more than eight out of 10) work for a health care or
social assistance nonprofit.
State
Unemployment Rate Rises to 5.7 Percent
Arkansas’
unemployment rate rose again in November by three-tenths of a percentage
point to 5.7 percent, according to labor statistics released Dec. 19.
However, the state jobless rate was well below the national rate, which rose
two-tenths of a percentage point to 6.7 percent for the month.
Court Rules
No-Bid Contract Law Is Constitutional
A state law that allows the awarding of contracts on
projects of more than $5 million without competitive bids is constitutional,
the Arkansas Supreme Court ruled Dec. 11. The decision upheld a ruling
earlier this year by Pulaski County Circuit Judge Jay Moody. A group
of contractors had filed the lawsuit arguing Act 1626 of 2001 violated a
section of the constitution that says building and bridge contracts “in any
county” must be competitively bid.
In a 6-0 ruling, the high court said the language of the 2001 law only
applied to county construction projects, not state projects. “We hold that
there was no error by the circuit judge in interpreting Article 19, Section
16 to apply only to county construction contracts and in declaring the act
constitutional,” Justice Robert L. Brown wrote. The state had argued
in the lower court challenge that the law saves state tax dollars because
contractors are chosen based on their expertise and previous work, rather
than just on price.
State law requires that state contracts for constructing or repairing
buildings “in any county” be awarded to the low bidder. In 2001, the
legislature approved Act 1626, which created an exemption to allow the
awarding of building contracts to be based on factors other than cost if the
project exceeds $5 million, excluding land costs.
Highway Department: $1.1 Billion "Ready to Go" Projects in Arkansas
In preparation for a possible federal infrastructure
stimulus program, the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department has
released a document showing 130 “ready to go” projects valued at $1.1
billion. That's an increase from the 99 projects costing $690 million that
highway department officials revealed at last month's highway commission
meeting. The list includes bridge, road and engineering projects in 41
Arkansas counties.
Click here to read more at Roby Brock’s TalkBusiness.net Web site.
Griffin Considers
Running Against Lincoln in 2010
Tim Griffin,
who resigned his post as interim U.S. attorney in Little Rock after serving
six months under scrutiny, says he's thinking about running against U.S.
Sen. Blanche Lincoln in 2010. Griffin, who runs a law firm and public
affairs firm, told the Associated Press on Dec. 15 that he hopes to make a
decision by early or mid-summer on whether to run against Lincoln, a
Democrat who will be seeking her third term in the Senate.
"I am certainly thinking about it," Griffin said. "I'm
going to spend some time going around the state and talking to folks and
getting an idea of the interest level. ... I'm going to try and hit all 75
counties as soon as possible and I know that's a tall order trying to hit
all of those in the next few months."
Griffin, a former aide to ex-presidential adviser Karl
Rove, was appointed as interim U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of
Arkansas after Bud Cummins resigned his post. Cummins later said he
was forced out by the U.S. Department of Justice, and his firing was one of
several that prompted a congressional inquiry of the dismissals. Under fire
over the firings controversy, Alberto Gonzales eventually quit as
attorney general in September 2007. Griffin, 40, said he plans on addressing
the firings controversy if it comes up an issue as he mulls a run against
Lincoln.
Griffin said one factor that will weigh heavily in his
decision is how Lincoln votes on so-called "card-check" legislation before
Congress that would allow labor organizations to unionize workplaces without
secret ballot elections. Griffin is opposed to the measure, and Lincoln has
said she is undecided on the issue.
West Memphis
Teacher Named Teacher of the Year
Susan Waggener,
a mathematics and business education teacher at West Memphis High School,
was named the 2009 Teacher of the Year in a ceremony Dec. 10 at the State
Capitol. Gov. Mike Beebe and Dr. Ken James, Education
commissioner, presented Waggener with $15,000 in addition to other prizes.
Waggener will represent Arkansas in the
national Teacher of the Year competition in Washington, D.C.,
this spring.
Governor Announces Appointments to Boards, Commissions
On Dec. 11, Governor Mike Beebe announced the following
appointments to Arkansas boards and commissions:
·
John Baine,
El Dorado, to the Arkansas Museum of Natural Resources Advisory Committee.
Appointment expires July 31, 2010. Replaces Bobby Newman.
·
Dr. Stephen Boss,
Fayetteville, to the State Board of Registration for Professional
Geologists. Appointment expires Oct. 1, 2009. Replaces Stephen Kline.
·
Alan Dean, Camden, to the Heating, Ventilation,
Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Licensing Board. Appointment expires June
30, 2010. Replaces Ralph Brasher.
·
Rod Dunn,
Cabot, to the Governor's Commission on Veterans Affairs. Appointment expires
Oct. 15, 2013. Replaces Harold Harris.
·
Carol Dyer,
Little Rock, to the Arkansas Tobacco Control Board. Appointment expires July
1, 2013. Replaces Mark Carter.
·
George "Bucky" Ellis,
Benton, to the State Library Board. Appointment expires Oct. 18, 2015.
Replaces Sherman Banks.
·
Robert Goff,
Vilonia, reappointed to the Arkansas State Board of Registration for
Professional Soil Classifiers. Appointment expires Nov. 1, 2013.
·
Donald Grigg,
Pine Bluff, to the Governor's Commission on Veterans Affairs. Appointment
expires Oct. 15, 2013. Replaces A.M. Armstrong.
·
Sammy Hart, Arkadelphia, to the Governor's
Commission on Veterans Affairs. Appointment expires Oct. 15, 2013. Replaces
Dotson Collins.
·
Pace Hindsley,
Marvell, to the Boll Weevil Eradication Committee. Appointment expires July
1, 2011. Replaces Trent Felton.
·
Anita Hudson-Meadows,
Barling, to the State Board of Examiners of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse
Counselors. Appointment expires Sept. 14, 2012. Replaces Brad Farmer.
·
James Huff,
Springdale, to the Arkansas State Board of Nursing. Appointment expires Oct.
1, 2012. Replaces Robert Currie.
·
Shelby McCook,
Sherwood, reappointed to the State and Public School Life and Health
Insurance Board. Appointment expires April 8, 2011.
·
Sally McLarty,
Newport, to the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission. Appointment expires
Jan., 14, 2012. Replaces Dr. Staria Vanderpool.
·
Clark Mason,
Little Rock, to the Arkansas Department of Aeronautics Commission.
Appointment expires Nov. 9, 2013. Replaces Don Ruggles.
·
Sandra Priebe,
Mountain Home, to the Arkansas State Board of Nursing. Appointment expires
Oct. 1, 2012. Replaces Lepaine McHenry.
·
Costella Rudd-Hayes,
Pine Bluff, reappointed to the State Board of Examiners of Alcoholism and
Drug Abuse Counselors. Appointment expires Sept. 14, 2012.
·
Cathleen Shultz,
Searcy, to the Arkansas State Board of Nursing. Appointment expires Oct. 1,
2012. Replaces Stephanie Rockett.
·
Danny Tate,
Forrest City, to the Arkansas Tobacco Control Board. Appointment expires
July 1, 2013. Replaces Ron Rivers.
·
Francis "Clark" Trim,
Maumelle, to the Arkansas Humanities Council. Appointment expires Dec. 31,
2009. Replaces Michael Steele.
·
To the Governor's
Developmental Disability Council: Mary Crook, Little Rock, replaces
Judy Brooks; Janice Fortner, Searcy, reappointment; Kristy
Pollard, Mountain Home, reappointment;
Terry Rasco, Little Rock, replaces Zelda Hoaglan;
Christopher Tebbetts, Mountain View, replaces David Long. All
five appointments expire June 30, 2013.
·
To the Marine
Sanitation Advisory Committee: Robert Griffith, Gamaliel, appointment
expires Oct. 5, 2009, replaces Tony Hodge; Richard Hanson,
Mountain Home, reappointment; Charles Hoke, Morrilton, replaces
Mark Buhrow; Greg Roper, Heber Springs, replaces Jay Schafer.
Unless otherwise noted, these appointments expire Oct. 5, 2011.
House Interim Committee on Aging,
Children and Youth, Legislative Affairs*
December 23, 2008 - 9:00 A.M.
Harrison
Task Force on Abused and Neglected Children*
January 5, 2009 - 1:30 P.M.
State Capitol, Room 130
Legislative Joint Auditing*
January 6, 2009 - 9:00 A.M.
State Capitol Room 171
ALC - Charitable, Penal and Correctional Institutions
Committee*
January 6, 2009 - 10:00 A.M.
State Capitol, Room 272
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12-21-2008
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2008 Notable Arkansans' Deaths
February Michael Evans Wilson, 65, died Feb. 8. Mike Wilson was the
great-great-grandson of Robert Edward Lee Wilson, who founded the
agriculture-based company Lee Wilson & Co. in 1886. Wilson was CEO of Lee
Wilson from 1987 until his death. He also served as... -
Arkansas Business
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12-21-2008
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Arkansas Business People to Watch In 2009
Heath
Abshure Don't be surprised to see Arkansas Securities
Commissioner A. Heath Abshure ruffling some feathers in
2009. Abshure has a lengthy list of issues he's preparing to address
at the legislative session, which convenes Jan. 12. The most
contentious item on the commissioner's agenda: getting variable
annuities... -
Arkansas Business
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12-21-2008
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Severance Tax Projected to Stay Steady
Despite
the drop in natural gas prices to about $5.75 per mmBtu, the
Arkansas Department of Finance & Administration does not foresee its
projections for severance tax collection dropping precipitously in
2009. The DF&A projected that
Arkansas' newly enacted severance tax, which
takes effect in... -
Arkansas Business
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12-21-2008
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State
Unemployment Rate Rises to 5.7 Percent
Arkansas’
unemployment rate rose again in November by three-tenths of
a percentage point to 5.7 percent, labor statistics released Friday
showed. The state jobless rate, however, was well below the national
rate, which rose two- tenths of a percentage point to 6.7 percent
for the month.... -
Arkansas News Bureau
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12-21-2008
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Beebe Weighs In on Key State Issues
As he
prepares for his second regular legislative session as governor,
Mike Beebe says he and Lt. Gov. Bill Halter have significant
differences over how to set up a lottery but that an agreement is
coming together with Attorney General Dustin McDaniel on felony
animal cruelty legislation.... -
Arkansas Democrat Gazette
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12-19-2008
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Arkansas Speaker Voices Concerns on Scholarship Lottery
Incoming
House Speaker Robbie Wills said Thursday that Lt. Gov. Bill
Halter's proposal to use a surplus in existing scholarship funds to
start the lottery scholarship program before any tickets are sold
already faces "dwindling" support among lawmakers. A day after
Halter mentioned the idea as part of a set of principles he
hoped... -
Baxter County Bulletin
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12-18-2008
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Mike Beebe, Bill Halter Disagree Over Lottery Ideas
Gov. Mike
Beebe and Lt. Gov. Bill Halter clashed on Wednesday over how to
fund millions of dollars in scholarships expected to be paid for by
a state-run lottery approved by voters last month. Hours after
Halter unveiled a set of proposals he wants lawmakers to consider
in... -
Arkansas Business
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12-18-2008
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Beebe Nixes Proposed Repeal of ABC Gift Ban
The state
Alcoholic Beverage Control Division has dropped plans to ask
state lawmakers to repeal a law banning ABC employees from accepting
gifts from the people they regulate after Gov. Mike Beebe frowned on
the change. ABC officials had planned to request a repeal of the law
as part of a draft bill the... -
Arkansas News Bureau
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12-18-2008
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Legislators Look Forward to Next Session
The three
legislators representing people in Benton
County in Washington, D.C., talked
recently about the federal legislative session that begins in
January. U.S. Sens. Mark Pryor, D-Ark., and Blanche Lincoln, D-
Ark., and U.S. Rep. John Boozman, R -Ark., offered perspectives on
the economy and other issues.... -
Benton County Daily Record
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12-18-2008
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Lincoln, Pryor Split on Bailout Proposal
Two U.S.
senators - Mark Pryor and Blanche Lincoln - split their votes over
the Auto Industry Financing and Restructuring Act. Not passed by the
Senate, the bill would have provided up to $14 billion in
bridge loans and lines of credit to domestic auto manufacturers to
help them continue to... -
Benton County Daily Record
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12-18-2008
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Beebe Says Tax Cut Needed Despite Tight Budget
Gov. Mike
Beebe said Thursday he gave himself an escape clause from his pledge
to cut the grocery tax by saying the reduction would depend on the
economy, but would not fall back on that condition despite the tight
budget. "I could have gotten out and said 'in these tough economic
times, we've just got to... -
Baxter County Bulletin
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12-17-2008
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Lincoln: "Card-Check" Proposal Not Necessary
Sen.
Blanche Lincoln said Tuesday she doesn't believe federal legislation
that would allow labor organizations to unionize workplaces without
secret-ballot elections is necessary, but gave herself room to
support the measure if it's brought up later. Business and labor
groups are pressuring the Democratic senator from
Arkansas
for... -
Arkansas Business
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12-17-2008
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Arkansas Suffers Steady Layoffs Amid Slow Economy
Word that
a rail car maker in Paragould
could have enough work to last through Christmas was the bright spot
Monday amid a steady stream of layoff notices that is dragging down Arkansas' economy and
its people. The American Railcar Industries plant couldn't promise
that layoffs won't be... -
Arkansas Business
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12-15-2008
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March Trial Set for Appeal on Arkansas Coal Power Plant
An
administrative judge plans to hold a trial beginning March 9 over an
appeal of a pollution permit for a proposed $1.5 billion coal-fired
power plant in southwest Arkansas. Environmental
groups have argued that the Nov. 5 air permit issued by the
Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality was granted without
adequate analysis of the... -
Arkansas Business
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12-15-2008
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Arkansas Legislative Expenditures Trending Up
Arkansas
legislators have received about $4.1 million in expenses so far this
year, suggesting an upward trend in what they seek for mileage,
travel and daily allowance to serve their constituents. The 11-month
total compares to $4.7 million for all of 2007, $3.6 million for
2006,... -
Baxter County Bulletin
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12-10-2008
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Budget Hearings, Bills Occupy State Senator's Time
Ongoing
state budget hearings and other preparations for a state legislative
session will keep state Sen. Kim Hendren busy in coming weeks, he
said. The Gravette Republican said lawmakers are well aware that
voters last month approved a state constitutional amendment that
will provide for regular annual legislative... -
Benton County Daily Record
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February 16, 2007
ARKANSAS LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
BRENT STEVENSON
Week six of the
86th General Assembly is in stark contrast to previous week where
it seemed that all actions were progressing at a snail’s pace. This week the
number of introductions increased, the committees produced a higher rate of
recommendations, and much of Governor Beebe’s Balanced Budget Program was
enacted.
Taxes were still
the dominant issue. The removal of 3 percent of the sales tax on food was
approved by both the House and Senate and signed into law on Thursday with
much pageantry including former state Senator Bud Canada present. Canada was a
long-time advocate of the removal of the sales tax on food when he served in
the Senate with Governor Beebe. The bill also contained the provisions that
were being promoted by Speaker Petrus and House Revenue and Tax Committee
chairman Kevin Anderson’s proposal to implement to the tax reduction on food
in the form of a tax credit rather than as a tax exemption to be applied at
the point of purchase.
SB 119, by Sen.
Barbara Horn of Foreman, and HB 1420 by Rep. Allen Maxwell of Monticello, each
progressed toward enactment this week. These are identical bills providing for
the sales tax exemption on electricity and natural gas used as energy for
manufacturing. SB 119 has been approved by both the House Revenue and Tax
Committee on Thursday and HB 1420 passed off the House floor on Thursday by a
vote of 98 to 2. It is now ready for action by the Senate and it should be on
the governor’s desk by the end of the week. As approved, these bills will
provide a 1½ percent reduction in the sales tax on energy for manufacturers
beginning July 1, 2007 and reduces the tax by an additional ½ percent
beginning on July 1, 2008. This is a very significant beginning to a program
that will eventually result in the removal of all sales taxes of manufacturing
energy.
On Friday, the
House passed HB1443, by Rep. Kevin Anderson. This bill’s provision’s will
remove individual tax payers, with an income that is below the poverty level
developed by the United States Congress, from the income tax rolls in
Arkansas. This bill represents the third portion of the tax relief package
agreed to by Governor Beebe and leaders of the House and Senate. The vote in
the House on HB1443 was 100-0.
The controversial
issue of the General Improvement Fund is signaled to be the focus of next
week. HB 1427 is making its way through the process, would create a
commission, appointed by the Speaker of the House and the President Pro
Tempore of the Senate, to function as a reviewing and funding body that would
distribute state funds for local project that have previously been funded by a
direct appropriation in the past. The House and Senate memberships want to
develop an alternative method of distributing these funds that will avoid the
controversy of last session. HB 1427 passed the House on Friday by a vote of
78-20.
Two major areas
of concern remain to be developed for this session. The matter of funding for
the Public Schools facilities has not been initiated as of this date, look for
a number of the education package bills to be introduced next week. This week,
in a speech to the County Judges Association, Governor Beebe let it be known
that he is entertaining the idea of raising the diesel fuel per gallon tax by
5-cents to provide an additional $100 million for highway improvement projects
that have been identified by the Arkansas Highway and Transportation
Department. The net result to the AHTD would be $70 million with the residual
$30 million split between cities and counties.
February 2, 2007
ARKANSAS LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
BRENT STEVENSON
BSA
Capitol Headlines
Friday, February 2,
2007
Vol. 5, Ed. 4
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01-30-2007 |
House votes to eliminate BMI
LITTLE ROCK - The
House voted Monday to repeal the state-mandated measurement of students'
body mass. The Legislature adopted the nation's first such program in 2003
as part of former Gov . Mike Huckabee's Healthy Arkansas initiative to
curb obesity in children, but the... -
Arkansas News Bureau |
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01-30-2007 |
$9.4 million committed to save ivory-billed land
Federal and state
officials on Monday committed $9.4 million toward conserving 6,250 acres
of wetlands and hardwood forests in the Cache River and Bayou DeView
watersheds - land considered crucial for the ivory billed woodpecker. The
money will be used to create a Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program
in... -
ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE |
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01-31-2007 |
Complaint filed over destruction of Huckabee hard drives
LITTLE ROCK -
Political gadfly Jim Parson's filed a complaint Tuesday with the Pulaski
County prosecutor's office over former Gov. Mike Huckabee's order to
crush computer hard drives in his office before stepping down as
governor. The 73-year-old Parsons of Bella Vista, the self-proclaimed
"inspector general of... -
Arkansas News Bureau |
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01-31-2007 |
Beebe: Delta aid no call for ill will
Gov. Mike Beebe said
Monday that Northwest Arkansas shouldn’t begrudge the Delta any additional
assistance that state government may provide. “They frankly deserve the
same quality of life, the same opportunity and the same chance at the
American dream that you all enjoy in Northwest Arkansas,” Beebe... -
Fayetteville: Northwest Arkansas Times |
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02-01-2007 |
Halter announces lottery proposal
LITTLE ROCK - Lt.
Gov. Bill Halter on Wednesday announced plans for a
proposed constitutional amendment to create a state lottery, proceeds from
which would be used to fund college scholarships and teacher bonuses. Rep.
Will Bond, D-Jacksonville, filed House Joint Resolution 1005, a lottery
proposal... -
Arkansas News Bureau |
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02-01-2007 |
Committee tables payday lending bill
LITTLE ROCK - A bill
that would impose a fine on payday lenders for charging interest rates
above the 17 percent state usury limit stalled in a House committee
Wednesday. The House Insurance and Commerce Committee deferred action for
a week on legislation that would fine lenders $300 per offense for
charging interest in excess of 17... -
Arkansas News Bureau |
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02-01-2007 |
Homestead exemption sails through House
LITTLE ROCK -
Legislation to raise the state's homestead exemption on property by $50 ,
from $300 to $350, sailed through the House on Wednesday. HB1030 by Rep.
Scott Sullivan, D-De Queen, passed 99-0 and goes to the Senate. The Senate
passed bills giving local governments greater authority to require
cleanup... -
Arkansas News Bureau |
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02-02-2007 |
Income tax relief bill passes committee
LITTLE ROCK - Income
tax relief legislation billed as an alternative to Gov. Mike Beebe's plan
to reduce the state sales tax on groceries won a House
committee's endorsement Thursday. A day after the Senate unanimously
passed Beebe's proposal to reduce the 6 percent... -
Arkansas News Bureau |
