Locomotive Speeds Through Arkansas Capitol

WOW! Did anyone else out here notice that locomotive that roared full-bore through the Senate Public Health Committee  today, as SB709 was set for a visit?

As the engineer (Chairman), Senator Percy Malone, grabbed for the whistle to get the train movin,’ people filed in like slabs of beef in a refrigerator car until there wasn’t an inch of space to spare.

It was quite evident from the strike of the gavel that Chairman Malone was going to ensure a fair and balanced debate this morning…NOT (This means I’m kidding).

The meeting hadn’t gotten a full head of steam when Malone suggested time limits for each side. If he’d had it his way, it was evident to me the committee would’ve passed this stop all together. The meeting began at 10 a.m. and was over just shy of 11, with more than a dozen folks slated to speak. So much for open and reasonable debate in conducting the people’s bidness.

I’ll not belabor the blow-by-blow. However two people I spoke with after the meeting, who had traveled from out of state just to testify for this particular bill, were shocked at the way things went.

Christie Herrera, Director Health and Human Services Task Force at the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), and John Nothdurft, Director of Government Relations for the Heartland Institute both travel extensively to testify before legislative bodies all over the country. They shared with me that, in their experience, neither had felt so “railroaded” before. They each recognized quickly that the committee meeting was nothing more than a formality to a predestined end, regardless of what expertise they each brought to the table. In other words, my friends, the thing had been all planned out beforehand.

It was no surprise that the Attorney General’s office showed to testify against the bill, as did a few other government agencies, to which one observer said and was later tweeted by @AFPArkansas: “What happened today was as follows: the gov’t lobbying the gov't for more gov't.” No truer synopsis of the day.

The end of the tracks for SB709 was a split vote 4-4 straight down party lines.

The bug slinger here was Senator David Burnett (D-Osceola) who,  up until today’s steamrolling, was considered relatively conservative. He ran last November unopposed, I somehow doubt that happens again.

I’m sure the fact that this is Governor Beebe’s pet project had nothing to do with the speed at which engineer Malone ran his locomotive through today’s session. But as with all speeding trains at some point there is a stop. And it can be ugly to watch.

That’s when passengers that have been riding along for long time without feeling appreciated or respected can become quite disgruntled. That usually means they search for find a new carrier who will listen to them and give a whistle about meeting their needs and concerns.

My hope and prayer is that this happens well before this high velocity engine jumps the tracks, leaving untold numbers of Arkansans among the carnage and wreckage. 

As a side note here is a statement released today on this issue from our Lt. Governor Mark Darr:

"I appreciate Senator Missy Irvin’s efforts today to help bring to light the cost of implementing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA).  Senate Bill 709, would have provided to the legislature as well as Arkansans the total cost of this act to our state, how many individuals will directly be affected and the consequences of not implementing it. As a candidate I traveled the state talking about the importance of government transparency and spoke openly against government mandated healthcare. Senator Irvin’s bill would have simply provided the accountability and transparency citizens demand from our Government. We all have the right to better understand how PPACA is going to affect each and every one of us. I applaud the four Senators who voted for this bill in committee as well as the many citizens who lined the hallways, placed calls and emails in support of this bill.”

Other articles you may want to read on the issue:

http://tolbertreport.com/2011/03/09/sen-irvins-senate-committee-showdown/

http://talkbusiness.net/article/ALL-EYES-TURN-TO-FEDERAL-HEALTH-CARE-AGAIN-UPDATED-/1600/

http://www.curtiscolemaninstitute.com/blog1/?p=1585

Arkansas Flagship For Obamacare~

There are tons of questions and assertions flying around about the latest brouhaha at the Little Rock Capitol~ Obama Care coming to Little Rock.

Evidently Governor Mike Beebe has decided to present his own form of healthcare reform. It is no secret that Gov. Beebe has had visions of Medicaid dollars dancing in his head. One should be careful what they wish for~he has found himself under the thumb of Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius and, thus, President Obama.

"In conjunction with Medicare, Arkansas Blue Cross and BlueShield, and private insurance plans, Arkansas Medicaid will design and then implement the nation's first statewide payment-reform initiative. The initiative will pay partnerships of local providers to act as health homes." This is an excerpt from a letter released from the Governor's office. (Full Doc here)

Today will be the first in likely many battle that Arkansans will face in the future to win the war of Capitalism vs. Socialsim in the world of healthcare. Sen. Missy Irvin will be presenting SB709 - "An Act to Create the Healthcare Reform Accountability Act." You may also like to read that bill by clicking here. This is a major step toward real transparency and accountability of healthcare in Arkansas.

More articles on the matter

GOVERNOR'S MEDICAID REFORM ENCOUNTERING APPREHENSION 

Aarkansas Gov. Beebe Seeks To Be First State To Implement ObamaCare

Morning Roll Call~ News You Need to Know

Praying for our Troops and our Leaders will do a nation good!

National Guard soldiers deploy for Texas, Iraqhttp://bit.ly/fiLRJw
About 130 soldiers from the Arkansas National Guard have left for training in Texas that will be followed by deployment to Iraq.






The Calendar for the week at the Capitol~ Here. 
You can watch many of the committee meetings and the House here. 



Moore Roads to Taxes

Arkansas House Speaker Robert Moore (D-Arkansas City) will file a bill this week to increase taxes to pay for road repairs in Arkansas. He will support a second proposal (HJR1001), filed by Rep. Jonathan Barnett (R- Siloam Springs) to give voters the option in November 2012 to increase taxes for highway construction.


Last Thursday the AP reported that "Moore told reporters that he planned to file legislation next week that would raise taxes while the chairman of the House Public Transportation Committee plans to ask the Legislature to refer a half-cent sales tax hike to voters in 2012" 


The article also stated that "Arkansas has $23 billion in highway needs over the next decade, but only $4 billion in funding."  Sounds to me like we need to really start curtailing some other spending. Barnett expects his  "half-cent sales tax would end after 10 years and could raise about $200 million a year for new road construction. Barnett said he expected to file more details on the proposed constitutional amendment in the next two weeks."




#4 Tax cut in the Barrel 


Today during the Senate Committee on Revenue and Tax SB274 filed by Senator Gilbert Baker (R-Conway) will be heard. This bill would  double the sales tax exemption on used vehicles from $2,500 to $5,000. Baker said he plans to amend the bill Monday to bring the number of co-sponsors to about 22 of the state’s 35 senators.  This is the fourth tax cut to be heard by committees so far this session.


Keep your fingers on the dial to contact your legislators.




Being Good Stewards According to Governor Beebe


In his weekly radio address, Governor Beebe pays homage to the ADEQ (Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality) for their "reducing our environmental impact." He goes on to say that the ADEQ "has shown tremendous progress toward these goals in recent years. As it strives to protect and enhance the state's environment, it not only "talks the talk", it "walks the walk"."


As you may know the Governor has his Commission on Global Warming, which according to the web site is tasked with giving  "Arkansans our own perspective on the scope and potential impact of this phenomenon and recommend the best steps to take to protect ourselves, our environment and our economy for the future."


I am trying to get more details on this venture. If you want to know more I encourage you to Google "Beebe's global warming commission" a plethora of information will just pop up, let me know what you find out.







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Join w/people across the state in support of Gov Walker at the Ark Defending the American Dream Summit this Thurs! http://ardream.org #tcot

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#ARLeg Louisiana newspapers reporting that Ark. Dept. of Higher Ed director Jim Purcell will be offered LA higher ed job this week.

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Okla. State Workers To Rally For Pensions, Pay: Hundreds of state employees are expected at the Oklahoma Capitol... http://bit.ly/gQKb7h

~Tax Nazi Loses to Minority Majority~

You've heard of the Soup Nazi right, well Governor Beebe is the Tax Naxi. He has been working non stop behind the scenes to control what happens at the State Capitol.

He has supposedly used all the (dirty) tricks of the trade, ie. back room meetings, lobbyist pressures, out right threats, public appearances with state dignitaries and more, but so far to no avail.  And the results were EPIC~ three tax cuts passed through the Arkansas House of Representatives  with what I am now calling the minority majority! 

I was so fortunate to be there and watch (you can witness here) as 53 of our elected officials held the line for the people of Arkansas, 8 (correction there were 9) of them, Democrats, at a very high price. (Vote Roll Call) The[y] voted for HB1002 a bill that would reduce the capital gains tax in our state. The Governor made it very clear that this was not going to happen. (see post from Tuesday)

I assume that these 53 legislators took very seriously the events of Nov 2nd  where history was made in our state (Arkansas, Can They Hear Us Now?)and realize that times are a changin. 

Day after day there are literally hundreds of people walking the halls of the Capitol that are there for one reason and one reason only, to be a visual reminder to those casting the votes that the people of Arkansas are now fully engaged. Arkansans are determined to make sure our state government is run~ of, by and for the people, regardless of what the Governor and his cohorts want to believe. 

We are under no delusion that this will happen over night and are very cognizant of the fact these bills still have to make it through the Senate and ultimately pass the Governor, but what is important is that just like the Little Engine That Could, citizens are realizing that the power is with the people, if , and only if, they choose to exert it. 

Here are some of the amazing details of the event from state bloggers. I encourage you to read, it really is one for the history books:  "Arkansas's Iron Curtain, Revisited", "Conservative Majority Passes Tax cuts in Dramatic House Session", and "Tax Cut Bills ass House Panel"

Trickle Down Goofy Voodoo Economics? What??

Dear Governor Beebe, the people of Arkansas would like you to know that we are not buying your political jabber jawing about budget cuts. To say there is no room to improve our fiscal situation is counter to our core beliefs and flies in the face of truth, according to numerous newspaper headlines we have read over the last year.

In a speech this past weekend you said to the Democratic Party of Arkansas Executive Committee:

“We are in the midst right now of discussion and negotiations and threats and counter threats about actions that people want to take primarily on the Republican side of the ledger that potentially impact our ability to deliver essential services or keep this budget balanced like we are talking about,” (read about balanced budget)

Your definition of essential services evidently differs from most Arkansans in that, we would not define essential services as $400,000 spent by just eight of our legislators last year alone on travel and expenses? 

Or the 658 vehicles at the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission for only 613 employees. 

Nor the bloated $324,000 a year salary we pay to the Lottery Director,  Ernie Passailaigue, whose base pay should be $141,603 a year, but the Lottery Commission has been paying him $324,000 a year thanks to an optional multiplier included in the state’s lottery law, which CONSEQUENTLY, according to a statement from Attorney General Dustin McDaniel on February 7th, Arkansas law “expressly prohibits."  

Pretty sure not many Arkansans you would find that your  $5,000,000 private jet and pilot are an essential service . Being one of the poorest states in the union not many have a private jet at home.

In 70 of our 75 counties median household incomes dropped 6.9% from 2000 to 2009 according to the U.S. Census Bureau and you, Governor are telling us you can't cut your budget?

I would say the math is not the problem, but your definition of “essential”.

Morning Roll Call~ News You Need to Know

News is beginning to gear up here in the Natural State, I hope that this news reel is helpful.

I would like to ask for your help in making it as Arkansas specific as possible by informing me of any stories that have to do with government transparency, fiscal issues, or over reaching. Hopefully we will build over the next several months a network of citizens across this state that are contributing to let others know what is happening to Arkansans everywhere.

If you know additional sources that regularly post on Arkansas issues please let me know.

Be sure and check out the twitter feeds at the bottom and I strongly encourage you to jump on board the social media train... don't be afraid, if they want to find you they already have everything they need to know, lol.


Fayetteville getting “Greener”

Let me clear, I truly believe we need to be good stewards of our environment. I believe littering and polluting is wrong. I am a proponent of recycling, composting and making efforts to live in harmony with our environment. I am strictly against gads of government intervention and programs that do more harm than good, spending enormous amounts of money, and shackling Americans with tremendous regulation.

Fayetteville is on the forefront of continually circumventing the circle of life.  Leaders here constantly orchestrate and employ, at the cost of the tax payer, programs to lead their subjects in the direction they wish us to go.

They are currently in the process of employing a streamside protection ordinance. If you do not know what that is I encourage you to read this fact sheet put out by the University of Arkansas Public Policy Center (this is a wonderful source for information)

This proposed regulation will affect citizen property rights, restrict property owners of activities on their own land, eminent domain seizures, increased tax burden and other financial liabilities.

There is a meeting tomorrow, Thursday, January 6^th at 1pm at the Washington County Farm Bureau office, located at 1165 N. Meadowland Drive (just off Wedington, just west of 540), I hope to see you there~

Fish, Birds,…now Hogs…?

 

The Hogs were just 18 yards from winning after an AMAZING blocked punt with less than a minute to go in last night Sugar Bowl. But two plays later, an incomplete pass and the epic interception that is to scar Ryan Mallett’s record for ever, sealed the fate of our beloved Razorbacks. The game ended with The Ohio State winning 31-26… arggggg.

As far as the fish and the birds dying all over the state, seems that Arkansas is not the only one. I ran across a story from KAIT reporting that in Labarre, La some 500 birds peppered over a quarter-mile in their community.

Mike, my husband, was telling me that there were several stories around the nation of dead fish and birds in the past few weeks, has this happened before? Or is this something new?

Tons of speculation is swirling in our close knit state from fireworks, to sonic booms, H1N1, upper atmosphere hail to chemical warfare (?) Governor Beebe made an astute and comforting comment on Tuesday proclaiming “I never seen anything like it. It's weird," …

Well this may well turn out like that funky smell that hit New York City many months ago, we will just never know.

To Seat or Not to Seat?

That is the question that will be before our Arkansas House of Representatives on Thursday. Progressive Arkansas, a state blog, informed us that “it is possible that the House will also deal with whether to seat Rep.-elect Leslee Milam Post (D-Ozark).”

You may recall that on December 30^th on Morning Roll Call there was a question of residency requirements and Mr. Smith had been charged with theft of property of nearly $30,000.00 of taxpayer money.

Here’s what else Progressive Arkansas says they learned from an undisclosed source:

The House will meet in the House chamber at 1:30 pm on Thursday "to consider what action the Members deem appropriate on the matter of Fred Smith and any other matters relating to the seating of a member based on 'qualifications, returns and elections,'" according to a House e-mail.

A House source tells us that "any other matters relating to the seating of a member" may refer to Post. She has been implicated, though not proven guilty, in the illegal obtaining of private documents relating to her former opponent, Tom Fite (R-Alma), who was disqualified for election due to a conviction for Medicare fraud.

This story is developing. We will post updates as new stories on the website, not as edits of this article.

This should be an interesting Arkansas saga to follow…


UPDATE~

http://www.progressivearkansas.com/content/breaking-arkansas-house-will-meet-thursday-determine-smiths-fate

LAST ONE FOR TODAY~

Arkansas Inmates Get/Make a Break

There’s a new blog in town, IndependentArkansas.com, and they have an interesting story concerning our prison system. Evidently “the state’s prison population has doubled in the past 20 years, and costs are rising even faster – from $45 million then to $349 million today. That will only get bigger as the state adds more than 100 people to the prison system each month.”

There has been a “Working Group” established to take a look at the problem and offer recommendations which then our legislators will take a look at and determine which route to take.

In their post, IndependentArkansas.com has an interview on YouTube of Governor Beebe’s statement, it goes like this:

“This is (pause) … People want honesty? People want transparency? People want their government not to lie to them? … This is the honest, laydown truth. You can like it or you can not like it, but it’s the truth. If you don’t like these solutions, you’d better have different ones because if you don’t, someone’s going to have one for you. I’m not taking any money away from education to pay for this prison stuff. I’m not kicking anybody out of a nursing home with my vote to pay for this stuff. All this rhetoric, well we’ve got fraud and abuse and we can save money. You bet. If you show it to me, we’ll save it. You find me some fraud, let’s arrest them. You want to save $100 million with abuse, show it to me where it is, let’s take it and put it wherever it needs to be. But let’s be honest and be specific.”

You know what?... I TOTALLY AGREE WITH THE GOVERNOR!! This government~ Of, By and For the People, can be really painstaking effort, and WE need to take it. And Gov. Beebe is right on the mark when he says “You can like it or you can not like it, but it’s the truth. If you don’t like these solutions, you’d better have different ones because if you don’t, someone’s going to have one for you.”

Isn’t this what WE THE PEOPLE say we want, for our legislators and leaders to listen to us? Well then we need to start talking.

That also requires us to know what the heck is going on, which would require us to take the time to pick a subject, a legislative body, a level of government from the state down and become involved.

Friends we can rally in the streets all day long, protest till our faces turn blue and we pass out, but the ONLY thing that is going to change what is going on in our government is it’s people, and that is YOU and I.

Please consider to resolve this year to help by becoming more informed, engaged and empowered. If you need ideas on how to do that please contact me and I will help by giving you several options.

 

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