Representative Richard Womack (R- Arkadelphia) is a member of the Arkansas House of Representatives and is a conservative who keeps his promises. We call him a “Platform Hero” because of an outstanding record of voting with the principles and platform of the Republican Party of Arkansas.
First, we look at highlights from his voting record, and then we show how well he scored based on the Economic Freedom Filter of Conduit For Commerce.
VOTING RECORD HIGHLIGHTS
Abortion/ Pro-Life
- Voted to ban all abortions in Arkansas except to save the life of the mother – SB6 of 2021
- Voted to require any clinic that performs an abortion to be licensed as an abortion facility and prohibits hospitals to perform an abortion except to save the life of the mother – SB388 of 2021
- Voted to ban abortion if/when Roe v. Wade is overturned – SB149 of 2019
- Voted to prohibit dismemberment abortions – HB1032 of 2017
- Voted to prohibit abortions based on the sex of an unborn child – HB1434 of 2017
- Voted to prohibit abortions based on a child having down syndrome – SB2 of 2019
- Voted to expand the waiting period for an abortion from 48 to 72 hours; requires abortion clinics to report babies born alive after a botched abortion – SB278 of 2019
- Voted to increase inspections at abortion clinics – HB1428 of 2017
- Voted to prohibit human remains from abortions to be treated as medical waste – HB1566 of 2017
- Voted to require doctors to save children who survive an abortion – SB148 of 2017
- Voted to prohibit “wrongful birth” lawsuits for those who wish they had an abortion after the baby has been born – SB340 of 2017
- Voted to prohibit taxpayer funding of human closing and destructive embryo research – HB1399 of 2019
- Voted to require abortion clinics to report any complications arising from an abortion – SB3 of 2019
- Voted to require abortionists to give patients who use abortion-inducing drugs information about abortion pill reversal – SB341 of 2019
- Voted to require any abortionist be a board certified or eligible OBGYN physician – SB448 of 2019
- Voted for informed consent process for chemical abortions – HB1572 of 2021
- Voted to prohibit government schools from entering into transactions with abortion providers – HB1592 of 2021
- Voted to increase inspections at abortion facilities and require abortionists to report crimes for when a woman is a victim of rape or incest – SB463 of 2021
Value of Life
- Voted to expand the safe haven law to allow people to surrender a newborn without criminal prosecution if surrendered in places like a fire or police station – SB168 of 2019
- Voted to enhance the penalty for physician assisted suicide – SB503 of 2019
Children
- Voted to prevent chemical castration and sex changes of minor children – HB1570 of 2021
- Voted to prevent liquor stores near a child daycare facility – HB1385 of 2019
Fairness in Sports
- Voted to protect women’s sports to ban genetic males identifying as females from playing against girls – SB354 of 2021
Freedom
- Voted to protect churches and religious groups from being forced to shut down by the government during an emergency government order and recognizes them as essential – HB1211 of 2021
- Voted to protect the constitution against federal overreach – SB298 of 2021
- Voted to protect the rights of conscience for healthcare workers – SB289 of 2021
- Voted to protect free speech on college campuses – SB156 of 2019
COVID
- Voted to prohibit vaccine mandates in Arkansas – SB615 of 2021
- Voted to allow patients in hospitals, nursing homes, and similar facilities to be allowed visitors during a pandemic or similar emergency – HB1061 of 2021
- Voted to return COVID19 fees to Arkansas businesses – SB301 of 2021
- Voted for legislative oversight over emergency declarations – SB379 of 2021
Taxes
- Voted for income tax cuts – SB1 of 2021 (2nd Special Session)
- Voted for income tax cut – SB211 of 2019
- Voted for reduced sales tax on used cars – HB1912 of 2021; HB1160 of 2021
- Voted for sales tax cut on sale of used cars – HB1912 of 2021
- Voted for sales tax cut on used vehicles – HB1342 of 2019
- Voted for homestead property tax credit increase – HB1321 of 2019
- Voted for phasing out sales tax on business inputs – SB362 of 2017
- Voted for unemployment tax cut for employers – SB298 of 2019
- Voted against the Internet Sales Tax paid by Arkansas consumers – SB140 of 2017
- Voted against the gas and diesel tax increase – SB336 of 2019
- Voted against the $300 million tax increase proposal – HJR1018 of 2019
- Voted against the highway tax bond proposal – HB1726 of 2017
- Voted against tire fees/tax increase – HB1267 of 2017
- Voted against new taxes to support a redistribution of wealth – HB1161 of 2017
- Voted against using military retirees to raise taxes – HB1162 of 2017
- Voted against increasing cell phone fees – HB1564 of 2019
- Voted against increasing water bill fees – HB1737 of 2019
Education
- Voted for school choice scholarships for children – HB1371 of 2021; SB680 of 2021
- Voted for school choice education savings accounts – HB1222 of 2017; SB746 of 2017
- Voted to allow a bible course taught in government schools – HB1626 of 2019
Elections
- Voted for required voter I.D. – HJR1016 of 2017
- Voted for election integrity in provisional ballots – HB1112 of 2021
- Voted for special election reform to prevent tax increases at special elections – HB1368 of 2021
- Voted for special election reform to prevent tax increases at special elections – SB723 of 2017
- Voted for campaign finance transparency – HB1010 of 2017; HB1427 of 2017
Privacy
- Voted to protect private information of nonprofit organizations – SB535 of 2021
Special Interests
- Voted against a new healthcare council to lobby legislators – HB1568 of 2019
Deregulation
- Voted for workforce freedom – uniform licensing laws statewide – HB1460 of 2021
- Voted to adopt the least restrictive rules in reciprocity licensing – HB1835 of 2017
- Voted for work from home freedom – HB1416 of 2021
- Voted for the food freedom act – SB248 of 2021
- Voted for Housing Design Freedom – SB170 of 2019
- Voted for apprentice plumber deregulation – SB514 of 2017
- Voted for expanded telemedicine use – HB1068 of 2021
- Voted against new regulations and fees on ride sharing apps at airports – SB686 of 2021
- Voted for expansion of telemedicine to phone calls – HB1063 of 2021
- Voted for amended supervision requirements for nurse anesthetists – HB1198 of 2021
- Voted for full practice authority for nurse midwives – HB1215 of 2021
- Voted for APRN’s as primary care providers in Medicaid – HB1254 of 2021
- Voted for a pathway for nurse Practioners to practice to full scope of training and education – HB1258 of 2021
Access to Government Information
- Voted for transparency in county government spending – HB1343 of 2019
- Voted to allow recording of all public meetings – HB1928 of 2019
- Voted to allow photographing of public records – SB194 of 2021
- Voted against secret meetings for economic development projects to protect FOIA – HB1280 of 2021
- Voted against a FOIA exemption for government attorneys – SB373 of 2017
Other Important Legislation
- Voted for a freeze on Obamacare Medicaid Expansion – HB1465 of 2017
- Voted to promote working for food stamps recipients – HB1512 of 2021
- Voted to prohibit fraud in unemployment insurance – HB1765 of 2021
- Voted to index unemployment benefits to economic conditions – HB1676 of 2021
- Voted to improve the minimum wage law for small businesses, nonprofits, and teens – HB1752/1753 of 2019
ECONOMIC FREEDOM FILTER OF CONDUIT FOR COMMERCE
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
| Rep. Richard Womack Voting Record – Conduit for Commerce Scorecard History | |||
| Session | Score | Rank from the top out of 100 members | Awards |
| 2021 | 88% | 6/100 | Conduit for Commerce Calvin Coolidge Hero of Freedom Award Winner |
| 2019 | 80.2% | 14/100 | Conduit for Commerce Calvin Coolidge Hero of Freedom Award Winner |
| 2017 | 71% | 8/100 | Conduit for Commerce Calvin Coolidge Hero of Freedom Award Winner |
To read and download the Arkansas Legislative Scorecard 2021, CLICK HERE.
REPUBLICAN PRIMARY
The Republican primary is May 24, 2022, and early voting begins May 9.
