What Happens in Committee . . . Doesn’t Count?
Traditionally legislative committees have been the place where legislators and lobbyists could quietly kill legislation without the public finding out
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Jim Hendren
Embarrassingly Feeble Response to Corruption
What did the 2019 Arkansas legislature do to fight corruption? Close to zero. It was as if they think systemic
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Redistribution of Wealth Legislation Filed in Arkansas
Senate Bill 571 is called the “earned income tax credit.” It is legislation to redistribute wealth to people with lower
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Indicted Nephew Says “Everyone was doing it” – Now comes SB258
According to the FBI, former Senator Jeremy Hutchinson said, “Everyone was doing it.” Maybe he was right. Jeremy Hutchinson, who is
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$300 Million Tax Increase Proposal Passes In One Minute With No Debate
A new half-cent sales tax proposal got a nod of approval from the Arkansas Senate this week. If approved by
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Property Tax Relief Hits Wall, Effort Hijacked to Divert Funds
Legislation to increase the homestead property tax credit passed easily out of the Arkansas House of Representatives with 89 out
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Arkansas Lawmakers Could Be Banned From Lobbying Activity While In Office
The Arkansas Senate passed a bill that would ban state legislators from serving as lobbyists while in public office. While
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Homestead Tax Relief Bill Delayed – Politicians Look To Grab Money
House Bill 1321 by Rep. Lanny Fite to increase the homestead property tax credit has stalled in the Senate. Under
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Campus Free Speech Bill Passes Senate Education Committee
A bill that would protect free speech on campus passed out of committee this week. SB156 has many Republican co-sponsors
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Income Tax Cut Bill Two Votes Short
The Governor’s income tax plan failed by two votes on the Senate floor Tuesday (February 5) by a vote of
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Governor Announces Income Tax Cut Plan
Gov. Asa Hutchinson released his final plan for income tax cuts for in Arkansas. Tagged the “5.9 plan” it would
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Focus of Legislative Leaders as Session Begins
Few people listen to the opening speeches of Arkansas’ legislative leaders, other than those of us who spend time in
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Police Captain joins Medical Marijuana Commission
Arkansas police Captain Kevin Russell was appointed to join the five person Medical Marijuana Commission. Capt. Russell served the Benton
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Tax Task Force Ends: Net Tax Increase In First Fiscal Year
The Tax Reform and Relief Task Force is over. After 18 months of meetings and in-depth research on Arkansas taxes,
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Scare Tactics: Don’t Be Kansas!
Incoming Senate President Pro Tempore, Jim Hendren (the Governor’s nephew) bragged on the work of his tax task force which is
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Tax Task Force Finalizing Tax Increase/Decrease Measures for 2019 Session
The Arkansas Tax Task Force met again this week in its next to last meeting of its existence. The task
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ELECTIONS: Being Conservative Versus Playing Conservative
State Representative Johnny Rye (R) of Trumann posted a thank you to voters for re-electing him to the House of
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Friends with Benefits . . . Financial Benefit
Former Speaker of the House, Jeremy Gillam, received loans from several state Representatives. The loans from 2016 went unreported until
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Can the legislature police itself?
In the wake of multiple scandals involving state legislators, Senator Jim Hendren proposed and passed revisions to the Arkansas Senate’s Code
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