Ethics Reform or Placating People?

What do you think about our legislators being lobbyist too? Jason Tolbert from Tolbert Report has a few great post on the new "ethics bill" SB194, regarding the "cooling off" period for legislators and lobbyist.

http://tolbertreport.com/2011/01/31/ethics-bill-filed-beebe-calls-for-stronger-bill/

http://tolbertreport.com/2011/01/31/the-joyce-elliott-rule/

For American Majority yesterday I posted the blog "Paging Senator David Johnson~ Where Are You?" which discussed the reimbursement part of the bill. This is where those clearly taking advantage of the system ruin it for everyone. I will say it again, "I don’t think there’s a constituent in our state that would expect or want our law makers to absorb personal costs for officially tending to the affairs of our State" but we must have accountability and transparency across the board for the sake of all parties concerned.

Arkansas Responds to Healthcare News

Yesterday a Florida federal judge declared Congress violated the Constitution by requiring Americans to buy insurance as part of the Obamacare health overhaul passed last year and said the entire law "must be declared void." Here are some snippets of the conversations in Arkansas on the topic:

Lt. Governor Mark Darr:
“I fully support District Judge Roger Vinson’s ruling that the health care reform law is unconstitutional. The judge’s ruling and the fact that a majority of states were parties to this lawsuit proves that this case has merit. I join the vast majority of Arkansans in my opposition to health insurance being mandated and run by the federal government.”

Congressman Tim Griffin:
"I welcome the ruling in favor of the 26 states that sued the federal government over the constitutionality of the health care law. I voted to repeal the law earlier this month, and I look forward to continuing the process in the House to replace it with a new one that increases access, lowers costs, limits government, promotes job creation and follows the Constitution."

A statement from the GOP of Arkansas:
The Republican Party applauds today’s ruling in Florida that the Obamacare mandate is unconstitutional as it further erodes individual rights of choice,” said Republican Party of Arkansas Executive Director Chase Dugger. “Attorney General McDaniel continues to argue the suit is frivolous and costly, but he is forgetting to mention the $100 to $200 million Obamacare will cost our state. While Arkansas’ four Congressmen took a principled stand to represent Arkansas values by recently voting to repeal the harmful law, Attorney General Dustin McDaniel took a stand to oppress freedom of choice and individual liberty by not joining the lawsuit."

Rep. David Meeks sent this tweet:
I applaud the judges ruling and once again shows the bill I filed is Constitutional and should be passed into law. #arleg

On the left all I could find in Arkansas was this nugget~
Activist Judge Rules Affordable Care Act Unconstitutional-On To The Supreme Court~ funny how when a judge follows the Constitution they are called "activist" by the left.

Great Links to National Stories :

Wall Street Journal

A Joke? I Don't Think It's a Joke, Do You?

Here's Representative Leslee Post's "commentary" on SB113 the bill that would stop tax payer funded abortions in Arkansas.

There are several bills that I will be watching in the upcoming week. One very disturbing one is SB113 sponsored by Senator Cecile Bledsoe. It prohibits health insurance exchange policies from offering coverage for abortions except through a separate rider.

What a joke. And the insurance companies know it. Most people are not going to plan ahead for an abortion. What bothers me MOST about this bill is that it denies coverage for procedures needed by women who have had a miscarriage (abortion) from natural causes."

I would be interested in knowing where Ms. Post gets the idea this bill "denies coverage for procedures needed by women who have had a miscarriage (abortion) from natural causes."

I would encourage Ms. Post to consult with her constituents who by majority voted against her in the November election. If you remember correctly Ms. Post was seated because the winning candidate was found to be ineligible (read more...)

She might also want to talk to her counter parts in the Senate who passed the bill overwhelming and by bipartisan vote 27-8. Seems senators in Arkansas don't think it is a joke either.

I have read the bill and can't find what she is referring to anywhere. If I didn't know better I would think this is one of those straw-man arguments meant to detract from the real issue of people being made to pay for abortions with their tax money. What are your thoughts?

I just spoke with Senator Bledsoe here is her comment:

“That is an inaccurate statement. There is no language in this bill that would prohibit someone who has suffered a miscarriage of natural causes to get the appropriate care from their physician. It surprises me that anyone would use incorrect medical information to mislead people to the affects of this bill. If you have a miscarriage you will not be denied medical protocol or treatment by your physician.”

Also spoke with Jerry Cox, president of Family Council:

"I am not sure where Ms. Post got that idea. This bill has absolutely nothing to do with miscarriages. This is an attempt to muddy the waters. If we do not pass this bill I am certain your tax money will be used for abortions on demand."

Do You believe in States Rights and Constitutional Rule?

Taken directly from Curtis Coleman's blog, this bill will heard by the Senate Committee on Judiciary

Affirming the Sovereignty of Arkansas and the United States:SB97

by Curtis Coleman

On Wednesday of this week, eight Arkansas state senators will have a unique opportunity to demonstrate their fidelity to their oath of office by affirming the supremacies of the Arkansas and U. S. Constitutions.

Arkansas Senate Bill 97, “an act to protect rights and privileges granted under The United States Constitution and The Arkansas Constitution,” will be considered by the Senate Judiciary Committee under a special order of business at 11:00 a.m. in Room 171 of the State Capitol in Little Rock. (The Committee will begin consideration of its regular agenda starting at 10:00 a.m.) S.B. 97 is sponsored by Senator Cecile Bledsoe (R-Rogers) and 30 other state senators and representatives (listed at the end of this article). Contact information for the members of the Senate Committee on Judiciary is listed at the end of this article.

The proposed legislation includes the prescription that “Any court, arbitration, tribunal, or administrative agency ruling or decision shall violate the public policy of this state and be void and unenforceable if the court, arbitration, tribunal, or administrative agency bases its rulings or decisions in the matter at issue in whole or in part on any foreign law, legal code, or system that would not grant the parties affected by the ruling or decision the same fundamental liberties, rights, and privileges granted under the United States Constitution and the Arkansas Constitution.”

While it is extraordinarily difficult to imagine why any elected representative of the people of Arkansas might oppose this profoundly simple and equally profound affirmation of the Arkansas and U.S. Constitutions, the bill is expected to face opposition from some members of the Committee.

Opponents are expected to propose (a) that the bill has a hidden agenda and is a gimmick to insinuate that some Arkansas courts or groups are currently not following the Arkansas Constitution, (b) the bill targets specific groups or religions and (c) Arkansas companies which are or plan to do business in other countries would be adversely affected. All of these concerns are erroneous and unfounded.

As the co-founder and former President/CEO of an Arkansas company doing business on four continents, I can affirm that S.B. 97 will have either no affect or will strengthen the position of Arkansas-based companies doing business with companies and/or customers in other countries. Nor does the proposed legislation “target” any specific group or religion. If this important legislation is adopted, no Arkansans will be limited in the practice of their religion as long as their practices do not conflict with the Arkansas Constitution or the United States Constitution. The sponsors of the bill insist that S.B. 97 is simply but importantly a pre-emptive affirmation of the supremacy of the Arkansas and U. S. Constitutions.

More Dead Fish

A news release Monday from the wildlife agency said a fish kill spotted Friday involved only about 500 fish, compared with 83,000 in a fish kill reported Dec. 29.