SEN. HICKEY– Ignoring the Republican Platform

Corrected 10:05 AM 1/21/2022

SEN. HICKEY– Ignoring the Republican Platform
Pt 3 of Incumbents Who Ignore Their Party’s Platform

The primary elections are near (May 24, 2022). You will soon hear your state Senator and Representative talk about their voting records. They will likely focus on their easy votes or small issues, but they may leave out their bad votes.

So, if promises or platforms matter to you, we suggest you ask your candidate whether their votes align with their campaign promises and their party’s platform.

Since Conduit focuses on conservative issues and legislators’ voting records, and the Arkansas House and Senate are over 78% Republican, this series of articles will highlight Republican incumbents who frequently vote contrary to conservative values and in many instances contrary to the Republican Party of Arkansas Platform.  This time we focus on incumbent state Senator Jimmy Hickey Jr. (R-Texarkana).

Before we begin, you need to know sometimes a legislator will try to kill a bill without going on record as voting “No.” To do this, some walk off the floor to miss the vote or sit quietly without voting. Another tactic used to help kill a bill without voting “No” is to vote “Present.” Not voting or voting “Present” are not neutral actions. Regardless of whether a legislator votes “No”, doesn’t vote, or votes “Present” each action has the same effect of trying to deny the legislation enough votes to pass.

SENATOR HICKEY

Here are some important votes on which Sen. Hickey’s actions conflict with conservative values and to various degrees with the platform and principles of the Arkansas Republican Party. What makes these votes concerning for all Arkansans is Senator Hickey is the leader of the Senate. His title is President Pro Tempore of the Senate.

ABORTION

1. Voted against a ban on abortion (ban except the save the life of the mother) – SB6 of 2021

FIREARMS

2. Voted against protecting 2^nd Amendment Rights against federal overreach on the right to bear arms – SB298 of 2021 – voted against overriding the Governor’s veto of the bill

FREE SPEECH – (Protecting Conservative Speech)

3. Failed to vote on bill for protecting free speech on college campuses – SB156 of 2019

TAXES

4. Voted for new internet tax – SB140 of 2017;
5. Voted for gas tax increase – SB336 of 2019
6. Voted for $300 million tax increase proposal – HJR1019 of 2019
7. Voted for tax increase on tires – HB1267 of 2017
8. Voted for tax increase on water bills – HB1737 of 2019
9. Voted for tax increase on cell phone bills – HB1564 of 2019

PUBLIC RIGHT TO KNOW

10. Voted for and exemption from the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to keep information from the public – SB373 of 2017

ELECTIONS

11. Voted against special election reform to limit local tax increases at special elections when voter turnout is low – SB723 of 2017

EDUCATION

12. Voted against banning the teaching of critical race theory – SB627 of 2021
13. Voted against school choice education savings accounts – SB723 of 2017

COVID RELATED LEGISLATION

14. Voted against ending mandatory masking – SB590 of 2021
15. Voted against prohibiting vaccine passports in Arkansas – SB615 of 2021
16. Voted against returning fees for businesses fined for COVID19 orders – SB301 of 2021
17. Voted against expanded telemedicine during COVID19 pandemic – HB1063 of 2021

REGULATIONS

18. Voted against repealing regulations for any new regulation – SB512 of 2017
19. Voted against de-regulation in healthcare for nurse anesthetists – HB1198 of 2021
20. Voted against de-regulation in healthcare for expanded access to care – HB1254 of 2021
21. Voted against de-regulation in healthcare for pathway for nurse practitioners to practice to the full scope of their education and training – HB1258 of 2021
22. Voted against deregulation on bill which would have stopped local governments from banning plastic containers/straws/etc. – HB1704 of 2021
23. Voted against deregulation on bill exempting hair stylists from full cosmetology licensing – HB1746 of 2021
24. Voted against deregulation of homegrown food, the Food Freedom Act –- SB248 of 2021

OTHER IMPORTANT LEGISLATION

25. Voted against a ban on maintaining an economic development office in communist China – SB252 of 2021
26. Voted for a new hate crime law creating new special protected classes – SB622 of 2021

PRINCIPLES AND PLATFORM OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF ARKANSAS

The votes of Senator Hickey listed above conflict with conservative values and we believe to various extents the votes conflict with statements in the platform and principles of the Republican Party of Arkansas. We provide examples below we believe show a conflict but judge for yourselves by reading the full Republican Party of Arkansas Platform.

Item 1 conflicts with the 2^nd Principle of the RPAP “The sanctity of life” and with the platform which says: “Most importantly, we believe all unborn children have a fundamental right to live in order to avail themselves of these equal opportunities.”
Item 2 conflicts with the 8^th Principle of the RPAP – “the personal right to own and bear arms”, conflicts with the Preamble of the RPAP – “Without the right to own and bear arms to serve as an individual’s hedge against government overreach and as a means for self-defense in our home, on our property, and of our person, none of our rights and freedoms can be guaranteed.”, and conflicts with the Individual Freedom Section of the RPAP – “As Republicans, we fully support the Second Amendment’s guarantee of our individual right to keep and bear arms. We remind all Arkansas law enforcement and prosecutors that Arkansas law recognizes the right of our citizens to freely carry handguns in the open.”
Item 3 conflicts with the Government Reform Section of the RPAP – “We are opposed to any restrictions that would discourage Arkansans from fully exercising their First Amendment rights, or limit their commitment to their beliefs”, and “We further oppose any state or federal efforts to impair Arkansans’ free speech rights guaranteed in the Constitution and upheld by the Supreme Court.”
Items 4-9 conflicts with the 6^th Principle of the RPAP “Lower taxes to produce economic growth” and the Preamble of the RPAP – “We recognize the importance of lower taxes to spur economic growth and to ensure that individuals reap more of the benefits of their hard work.”
Item 10 conflicts with the Preamble of the RPAP – “Regnat Populus, the People Rule” and with the Government Reform Section of the RPAP – “We firmly support transparency and openness at every level of government. Those elected, appointed, and employed in government work for the taxpayers of this state and must provide public information when requested . . .”
Items 11 conflicts with the the 6^th Principle of the RPAP – “Lower taxes to produce economic growth” and the Preamble of the RPAP – “We recognize the importance of lower taxes to spur economic growth and to ensure that individuals reap more of the benefits of their hard work.”
Item 12 conflicts with the Preamble of the RPAP – “we are created equally with individual freedoms and liberties . . . ” and “. . . join us on our continuing journey to realize a positive conservative vision of a strong and modern Arkansas.”, the Education Section of the RPAP – “. . . our children must be given the tools to succeed in their chosen fields through education.”, “Every education decision we make is with the students and parents first in our minds!” and “Arkansas’s children deserve a world-class education, developed by parents, educators, and leaders accountable to our citizens . . .” and the Individual Freedom Section of the RPAP – “We are being created in God’s image; and as such, we believe all Americans should have equal opportunity to succeed regardless of race, nationality, origin, gender, or creed and should be granted no special preferences based on this criteria.”, “Equality of individuals before the law has always been a cornerstone of our party. Bigotry has no place in our state. Arkansas Republicans denounce those persons, organizations, publications, and movements that practice or promote racism . . .” and “We believe that an Arkansas family has the primary responsibility for its own welfare, including the education and moral training of its children.”
Item 13 conflicts with the Education Section of the RPAP – “Arkansas’s children deserve a world class education, developed by parents, educators, and leaders accountable to our citizens, regardless of their zip code. This requires openness to every type of education system available: homeschooling, distance learning, public school, private school, charter school, and vocational or technical school.”, “Every tool should be given equal consideration and be utilized in a manner that puts the student’s needs above all ‘to secure to the people the advantages and opportunities of education.’” “Every education decision we make is with the students and parents firs tin our minds!” “Every opportunity for every family to enroll each child in the school of its choice should be secured by government and offered to Arkansas families. Parents must have the ability to make informed choices regarding the education of their children and should not be restricted by lines on a map or the cost of tuition.” and “to become greater players on the global stage, our children must be given the tools to succeed in their chosen fields through education.”, and the Individual Freedom Section of the RPAP – “We believe that an Arkansas family has the primary responsibility for its own welfare, including the education and moral training of its children.”
Items 14- 16 conflict with 4th principle of the RPAP – “Individual freedom and liberty secured by a limited government”.
Item 17 conflicts with the Preamble of the RPAP – “. . . repair, renew, and restore – in an expeditious and safe manner – our dynamic economy rooted in free enterprise, economic freedom, and personal liberty.”
Items 18-24 conflict with the 4^th Principle of the RPAP – “Individual freedom and liberty secured by a limited government”, the Preamble of the RPAP – “We are created equally with individual freedoms and liberties that, through our own exercise of individual responsibility and initiative, can result in great outcomes independent of government.”, and the Economic Prosperity and Job Growth Section of the RPAP – “In order to continue moving forward in our economic recovery, businesses in Arkansas need to operate freely from overly burdensome regulation and over-taxation.”
Item 25 conflicts with the Economic Prosperity and Job Growth Section of the RPAP – “We oppose sacrificing Arkansas-based jobs to other countries in the pursuit of trade agreements . .”  and the Preamble of the RPAP – “We believe in a strong national defense and honor those men and women who, for the long history of our country, have stood sentry on our behalf and, in some cases, given us their last full measure of devotion.”
Item 26 conflicts with the Individual Freedom Section of the RPAP – “We are being created in God’s image; and as such, we believe all Americans should have equal opportunity to succeed regardless of race, nationality, origin, gender, or creed and should be granted no special preferences based on this criteria.” and“Equality of individuals before the law has always been a cornerstone of our party. Bigotry has no place in our state. Arkansas Republicans denounce those persons, organizations, publications, and movements that practice or promote racism . . .”

POOR SCORE ON ECONOMIC FREEDOM FILTER

Conduit for Commerce scores the votes of legislators based on Conduit’s Economic Freedom Filter.  The Economic Freedom Filter analyzes bills that do the following:

• 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

Senator Hickey scored poorly on the Conduit for Commerce Scorecard. Hickey has never been recognized as a Hero of Freedom by the conservative organization. Below is a breakdown on his showings on the scorecard, released after each regular legislative session.

2022 REPUBLICAN PRIMARY