REP. CHARLENE FITE – Ignoring the Republican Platform

REP. CHARLENE FITE – Ignoring the Republican Platform
Pt 4 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 Representative Charlene Fite (R-Van Buren)

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.

REPRESENTATIVE CHARLENE FITE

Here are some important votes on which Rep. Fite’s actions conflict with conservative values and to various degrees with the platform and principles of the Arkansas Republican Party.

ABORTION

1. Failed to vote for a bill to prohibit dismemberment abortion – HB1032 of 2017
2. Voted against protecting the conscience and religious freedom rights of healthcare providers – SB289 of 2021

VALUE OF LIFE

3. Voted to put a price tag on human life in lawsuits – SJR8 of 2017

TAXES

4. Voted for new Internet Tax – SB140 of 2017
5. Voted for gas tax increase – SB336 of 2019
6. Voted for gas tax increase legislation to move forward – HB1726 of 2017 (expungement votes)
7. Voted for increased taxes on tobacco and e-cigarette products – HB1565 of 2019
8. Voted for $300 million tax increase proposal – HJR1018 of 2019
9. Voted for tire tax/fee increase – HB1267 of 2017
10. Voted for increased taxes/fees on cell phone bills – HB1564 of 2019
11. Voted for increased taxes/fees on water bills – HB1737 of 2019
12. Voted against the sales tax cut on used vehicles – HB1342 of 2019
13. Voted against a sales tax exemption for coins, currency, and bullion – SB336 of 2021
14. Voted against a tax cut on double-taxation of business inputs – SB362 of 2017
15. Voted against ending tax increases at special elections – HB1368 of 2021
16. Voted against unemployment tax cut for businesses – HB1405 of 2017; SB298 of 2019

COVID

17. Voted against ending mandatory face masks – SB590 of 2021
18. Voted against returning COVID19 regulation fees to businesses – SB301 of 2021 (Governor’s Veto)

REGULATIONS

19. Voted against deregulation of adopting the least restrictive rules in reciprocity licensing – HB1835 of 2017
20. Voted against deregulation that exempts hair stylists from cosmetology licensing – HB1746 of 2021
21. Voted against prohibiting local governments from banning plastic bags, straws, containers, etc. – HB1704 of 2021
22. Voted against deregulation allowing nurse anesthetists to practice to the full scope of their education and training – HB1198 of 2021
23. Voted against deregulation expanding scope of practice for optometrists – HB1251 of 2019
24. Voted against deregulation and improving access to care – allowing nurse practitioners to serve as a primary care provider within Medicaid – HB1254 of 2021
25. Voted against deregulation on microbreweries – HB1272 of 2017

EDUCATION

26. Failed to vote for two bills to allow schools to study the Bible as an academic course – HB1017 of 2013; HB1626 of 2019

PUBLIC RIGHT TO KNOW

27. Voted against transparency and FOIA litigation where governments wrongfully withhold information from the public – SB196 of 2021

OTHER IMPORTANT LEGISLATION

28. Voted against improving the minimum wage law to help small business, nonprofits, teens – HB1752 & HB1753 of 2019
29. Voted against improving minimum wage law by not applying minimum wage when a truck driver is logging in as “off-duty” or “sleeper berth.” – HB1227 of 2021
30. Voted against unemployment sustainability by indexing benefits to economic conditions – HB1676 of 2021

PRINCIPLES AND PLATFORM OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF ARKANSAS

The votes of Representative Fite 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 and 2 conflict 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 3 conflicts with the 2nd Principle of the RPAP – “The sanctity of life”, the 9th Principle of the RPAP – “The equal and just enforcement of the law”, and the 10th Principle of the RPAP – “Separate and equal branches of government”

Items 4-16 conflict 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.”
Items 17 and 18 conflict with 4th principle of the RPAP – “Individual freedom and liberty secured by a limited government”.
Items 19-25 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 26 conflicts with the 1st Principle of the RPAP – “The power of faith in God almighty” and with the Education Reform section of the RPAP – “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.”

Item 27 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 . . .”
Item 28-30 conflicts with the Business section of the RPAP “Arkansas’s small businesses are the drivers of our economy. All levels of government must do all they can to understand and meet the needs of small businesses during our recovery.”

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

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

2022 REPUBLICAN PRIMARY

You have seen Representative Charlene Fite’s record.

The Republican primary is May 24, 2022. Filing as a candidate filing begins on February 22 and ends March 1.