One of the complaints we hear is “Conduit spends its time criticizing Republicans and ignores the Democrats.” Mostly we hear this from the Republican politicians who vote like Democrats and don’t like being exposed.
While Conduit disagrees strongly with the Democrat agenda, it is true most of our articles, both criticism and praise, focus on Republicans. And with good reason! Conduit’s focus is on Arkansas government, and there are so few Democrats in the Arkansas legislature they are largely irrelevant.
Conduit’s focus is on Arkansas government, and there are so few Democrats in the Arkansas legislature they are largely irrelevant.
Democrat legislators can do nothing without the Republicans providing most of the votes needed to pass legislation. Major legislation is all Republican sponsored, unless the Republicans decide to let a Democrat colleague get credit for a bill.
Republicans have a super majority in the Arkansas House of Representatives, a super majority in the Senate, and have the governor’s office. When the Arkansas legislature passes tax and spend legislation, it is sponsored, supported, and passed by left-leaning Republicans. When fiscally responsible legislation is passed, it is also because of Republicans. That is why Republicans get the attention, for good or bad.
Politics at the State Capitol is no longer Republicans versus Democrats. It is Big Government Republicans (with the support of Democrats) versus the Republicans who follow the conservative principles of the Republican party.
Politics at the State Capitol is no longer Republicans versus Democrats. It is Big Government Republicans (with the support of Democrats) versus the Republicans who follow the conservative principles of the Republican party.
In reviewing 2019 legislation, we found that in general Democrat legislators were more likely than Republicans to vote to impose taxes, BUT it was Republican legislators who provided most of the votes needed to pass the taxes. For example, look at the Arkansas Senate votes on seven bills to impose taxes, all passed in the Senate:
- So many Republicans voted “Yes” on these four bills they would have passed even if no Democrat voted for the legislation: SB336 (Gas and Diesel fuel tax increases), SB576 (an internet sales tax you pay on your online purchases from out-of-state sellers), HJR1018 (Putting a ½% sales tax on the ballot at the 2020 election), and HB1564 (A tax increase on your cell phone bills)
- Republicans only needed two Democrat votes to attain a majority on HB1565 (Tax increases on tobacco products and e-cigarettes) and HB1737 (A tax increase on water bills)
- Republicans needed only six Democrat votes to reach a majority on SB571 (special excise tax on cigarettes and an e-cigarette privilege tax to fund a redistribution of wealth). The bill passed in the Senate but died in the House without a vote.
(See: Who Picked Your Pocket? Democrats? Republicans? Both?)
Because all tax and spend legislation in Arkansas is sponsored by Republicans, passed by Republicans, and supported by a Republican governor, it is hard for CFA to highlight the few Democrats who merely helped Republicans achieve a blue majority. Yet CFA has done just that. (See criticism of Democrats in: Democrats Few In Number But Still Screwing up Arkansas)
It is rare for a Democrat to be the lead sponsor of any major legislation in Arkansas, since Republicans necessarily decide whether to let a Democrat get credit for passing a bill or sponsoring a similar bill themselves. One of those instances where a Democrat was the lead sponsor of a bill we tracked occurred when Democrat Senator Will Bond was the lead sponsor of a bill (with several Republican cosponsors) to let officeholders raid their campaign funds and use it as personal income as long as the expenses can be characterized as expenses an officeholder might make. Did CFA let the Democrat off the hook? Absolutely Not. (See Making History – Act 879 & Greed)
If Republicans would just vote “Red” instead of “Blue” CFA could spend all of its time singing praises of Republicans.
In case you failed to notice, Conduit praises fiscally conservative legislation and voting records. Here are a few examples:
- We repeatedly thanked the six Republican Representatives who REFUSED TO VOTE FOR ANY of the bills imposing taxes that we tracked. Who are they? Representatives Julie Mayberry, Austin McCollum, Josh Miller, John Payton, Clint Penzo, and Richard Womack. (For example see: Who Picked Your Pocket? Democrats? Republicans? Both?)
- CFA compiled data used by our sister organization Conduit For Commerce to recognize sponsors of good bills and legislators with good voting records based on our economic freedom filter. All the legislators were Republicans (no surprise). And who were the legislators recognized by Conduit? Arkansas Heroes Award: Rep. Dan Sullivan, Rep. Austin McCollum, Rep. Clint Penzo, Rep. Grant Hodges, Rep. Marsh Davis, Rep. Robin Lundstrum, Rep. Josh Miller, Rep. Rick Beck, Rep. Mickey Gates, Rep. Justin Gonzales, Rep. Frances Cavenaugh, Rep. Mark Lowery, Rep. Nelda Speaks, Rep. John Payton. Rep. Richard Womack; Freedom Bill Awardees: Rep. Julie Mayberry, Rep Josh Miller, Sen. Jonathan Dismang, Rep. John Payton; Honorable Mention Freedom Bill Awardees: Rep. Jon Eubanks, Rep. Jim Dotson, Rep. Justin Gonzales, Rep. Robin Lundstrum, Rep. Ken Bragg, Sen. Dave Wallace, Sen. Kim Hammer, Sen. Blake Johnson, Sen. Breanne Davis; Top Senator: Sen. Trent Garner; Millennial Rising Star Award: Rep. Grant Hodges; The Linda Collins Legislator Of The Year “Promises Kept” Award: Rep. Josh Miller and Rep. John Payton. (Also see: Top Liberty Bills of the 2019 Legislative Session and the CFC article Conduit’s Arkansas Legislative Scorecard 2019)
- We should also mention the praises we gave to two Republican legislators, former Senator Linda Collins and Senator Bryan King, who refused to stay silent in the face of political corruption and greed. Although they were not able to pass their ethics legislation, we commended them for standing up for good government despite the continuing culture of greed. Both of these Republicans were defeated for reelection in 2018 with the help of Governor Hutchinson. (See: King’s Anti-Corruption Bill Stopped by House Committee and She Was Right About Corruption)
CFA will continue to praise fiscally conservative legislation and shine a spotlight on tax and spend legislation that hurts the people of our state. You don’t get a pass for supporting tax and spend policies just because you self-identify as a Republican.
CFA will continue to praise fiscally conservative legislation and shine a spotlight tax and spend legislation that hurts our state. You don’t get a pass for supporting tax and spend policies just because you self-identify as a Republican.
If there were enough Democrats in state government to be a factor, we would spend more time on them. But, let’s hope that doesn’t happen. Left-leaning Republicans are bad enough!
We hope you will urge your Republican legislators to follow the principles in the Arkansas Republican platform and vote fiscally conservative. You can make a difference!
By The Way
CFA focuses primarily on taxes, economic issues, our freedoms, and ethics (which is necessary if we are ever to have good government).
Under our economic freedom filter, legislation is analyzed by asking does it:
- Increase or Decrease the Size and Scope of Government
- Increase or Decrease Dependency on Government
- Spend Money We Do Not Have
- Increase or Decrease Transparency in Government
CFA is NOT a Republican organization, but our guiding principles coincide with the principles in the Arkansas Republican platform.
