REP. SPENCER HAWKS – Ignoring the Republican Platform

REP. SPENCER HAWKS – Ignoring the Republican Platform

Part 15 of the series

This series of articles highlights Republican incumbents who frequently vote contrary to conservative values and in many of those instances contrary to the Republican Party of Arkansas Platform.

We are highlighting the record of Representative Spencer Hawks (R – Conway). Representative Hawks is running against Senator Mark Johnson as a candidate for Arkansas Senate in District 17.

Before we highlight some votes, we need to explain voting records.

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 SPENCER HAWKS

Here are some important votes on which Rep. Hawks’ actions conflict with conservative values and to various degrees with the platform and principles of the Republican Party of Arkansas. The platform does not address all subjects and we have made note where there is no related statement on the issue in platform but the issue is still a conservative issue.

Note: In all the instances below in which Rep. Hawks failed to vote on a bill, he had signed in as being present that day but didn’t vote on the bill. Not voting has the same effect as a no vote in that it works to deny the legislation enough votes to pass.

Children

1. Voted against a ban on gender reassignment surgery and chemical castration of children – HB1570 of 2021
2. Voted “Present” (which works against a bill) on legislation to ban liquor stores near daycares – HB1385 of 2019

Life

3. Present but failed to vote (which works against a bill) on bill to increase penalties for physician assisted suicide – SB503 of 2019

Taxes

4. Voted for the Internet Tax Sales Tax paid by Arkansas consumers – SB576 of 2019
5. Voted for gas and diesel fuel tax increase – SB336 of 2019
6. Present but failed to vote (which works against a bill) on bill for sales tax cut on used vehicles – HB1342 of 2019
7. Voted for the $300 million sales tax increase proposal for roads and highways – HJR1018 of 2019
8. Voted to increase taxes/fees on phone bills – HB1564 of 2019
9. Voted to increase taxes/fees on water bills – HB1737 of 2019

COVID-19

10. Present but failed to vote (which works against a bill) on overriding the Governor’s Veto of bill for returning COVID19 regulation fines to businesses – SB301 of 2021

Elections

11. Voted for electronic voter registration that could undermine election integrity – HB1517 of 2021
12. Present but failed twice to vote (which works against a bill) on bill to prevent new tax increases at special elections – HB1368 of 2021

Access to Government Information

13. Voted for secret meetings for spending taxpayer money on economic development projects – HB1280 of 2021

Regulation or Deregulation

14. Voted for new regulations and fees on ride sharing apps at airports – SB686 of 2021
15. Voted against deregulation for nurse anesthetists – HB1198 of 2021
16. Voted against bill for housing design freedom – SB170 of 2019

Other Important Legislation

17. Voted against promoting work in food stamps – HB1512 of 2021
18. Voted “Present” (which works against a bill) on bill to improve the minimum wage law for nonprofits, small business, and minors – HB1752 of 2019
19. Also voted “Present” (working against bill) on a bill similar to HB1752 of 2019 to improve the minimum wage law for nonprofits, small business, and minors – HB1753 of 2019

PRINCIPLES AND PLATFORM OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF ARKANSAS

Below are statements from the platform of the Republican Party of Arkansas. You be the judge to what extent Representative Hawks voting record conflicts with these statements. As noted above the platform does not address all subjects and we have made note where there is no related statement on the issue in platform but the issue is still a conservative issue.

Item 1-2: NO CORRESPONDING STATEMENT IN THE PLATFORM.
Item 3: The 2^nd Principle of the RPAP “The sanctity of life”
Items 4-9: 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: The 4th principle of the RPAP – “Individual freedom and liberty secured by a limited government”.
Items 11-12: The platform says: “Honest elections are the foundation of our republican form of limited government, and we strongly applaud every effort Arkansas Republicans have previously taken to ensure our ballot is protected and that access is guaranteed for all authorized voters, including the elderly, the military, and young voters.”
Item 13: 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: 17-19: 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.”

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

2022 REPUBLICAN PRIMARY

The Republican primary is May 24, 2022 and early voting begins May 9.