More SB183 Shenanigans~

Being Valentines Day I found this wonderful  Hershey's chocolate Kiss which reminded me of some SB183. An enigma wrapped in a riddle shrouded in mystery, much like an earmark wrapped in a fee (tax) shrouded in a bill, . 

Last week I told you about the miss recorded votes of Senators Bledsoe and Dismang after this bill sailed through the Senate with a 27-7 vote talley (should have been 25-9). 

This sent conservatives around the state into a tissy because if passed it will double fees for car titles, for all Arkansans, to help increase funding for the Arkansas State Police retirement system. 

But I am wondering what buildings have to do with Arkansas State Police retirements? In Section 3 of this bill we switch from talking about retirement to talking about some 1995 building fund and depositing $920,000.00. 

Voters made it very clear that they will not stand one more increased tax, fee, levy, whatever you wanna call it.

Today the Arkansas House passed over this bill, which means, as far as I understand it, that they didn't want to deal with it today so they "passed over" it and will vote on it another day.

This gives citizens time to reach our representatives and share with them your thoughts on this bill. 

A confusion in the vote~ SB183

There has been a brouhaha in the last 24 hrs over the Arkansas Senates' passage of SB183. 
This bill if passed into law with will double fees for car titles, for all Arkansans, to help increase funding for the Arkansas State Police retirement system. 

Here's a story in the Washington Examiner that explains in a little more detail...here

The bill passed the Senate 27-7.  I was surprised at some of the folks who appeared on the "YEA" list, the likes of Senators Cecile Bledsoe and Johnathan Dismang.  


I called Senator Bledsoe and asked why she voted for this increase in fees, she said there was a mistake in the roll call and she should have been marked as a no vote. As a matter of fact she filed this letter with the Secretary of the Senate office yesterday afternoon: 

February 8, 2011

Ms. Ann Cornwell, Director

Secretary of the Senate

State Capitol, Room 320

Little Rock, AR 72201

Dear Ms. Cornwell,

During session on Tuesday, February 08, 2011, Senate Bill No. 183 was brought up for 3^rd reading and vote.  I was recorded as voting for this bill but I should have been recorded as voting NO on this piece of legislation.  Please file this letter in the Senate Journal along with the roll call that was taken on Senate Bill No. 183.

Thank you,

Senator Cecile Bledsoe

District 8

I also talked to  Sen. Johnathan Dismang who was not on the Senate floor when the vote was taken, he should have been listed as a "not present" (a no vote). He has also filed a letter with the Secretary of the Senate.


Another great reason why citizens should be informed and engaged. 


UPDATE:
 this bill was pulled off the table in the House, here's the tweet: 


AFPArkansas9:50am via web

Rep Carnine pulls SB183 (the bill that would increase vehicle title fees) off the calendar! #ARLeg #AFPAR#AFPhq #afeeisatax