State Needs Leadership in 2002 (Jeff Hankins Publisher’s Note)

Gov. Mike Huckabee and the Arkansas General Assembly have to contend with more than major budget decisions in 2002.

They have an election year.

Strange as it may sound, Huckabee actually has the most enviable position: high approval rating, no competition for re-election and a recession to blame when spending cuts are made.

This isn’t to suggest he has an easy role by any means. And it doesn’t let him off the hook in providing much-needed leadership and initiative to solve some major problems hanging over us, but it does give him the upper hand against all the political snipers.

Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Beebe, D-Searcy, is being as quiet as he can. He’s coasting on a free ride to the attorney general’s office without serious opposition from within his party or the Republicans.

Attorney General Mark Pryor, the Democratic challenger to U.S. Sen. Tim Hutchinson, R-Bentonville, is keeping his distance from the state budget debates as well. After all, he’s seeking federal office so he can beg off the state debate. His agreement with Huckabee not to mess with the tobacco settlement funds was actually quite surprising considering that his efforts during a special legislative session helped prevent passage of the CHART plan.

Then there’s House Speaker Shane Broadway, D-Bryant, who can’t make up his mind about what position he wants to pursue this year. Maybe governor, or state senator, or secretary of state. He has successfully kept his name out front, and perhaps the Democrats will put him on the ballot to beat up and weaken Huckabee a bit. A state Senate race that he stands to win seems more likely.

The rest of the legislators, many of whom face re-election, are hearing from their constituents and don’t have any safe options. Those constituents don’t want their services cut, but they don’t want to pay more taxes either. That’s what makes the tobacco money so appealing.

I should interject that moving tobacco settlement funds into general revenues at this point would be a huge mistake for this state. The CHART plan for treatment services, tobacco prevention and biomedical research was and is one of the most disciplined and forward-thinking plans any state in the country put together for use of these funds. We can’t risk losing that initiative just because it’s the quickest, easiest and most politically feasible solution.

Until 2001, governing had been easier at every level of government since the mid-’90s. Tax revenue was growing along with personal income and consumer spending, and unemployment rates were falling. Spending needs and wants generally were being met. In Arkansas, we were even cutting taxes.

Growth is now minimal, but the needs and wants continue to build. Meeting the demands will be impossible even before the state loses its appeal of the Lake View School District lawsuit.

Ultimately, the governor and General Assembly will need to put everything on the table — program cuts, elimination of tax exemptions, tax increases, new spending priorities. With term limits for legislators and a populist governor, it’s a longshot this will happen.

I don’t know that business leaders can agree on what to do any more than the politicians. It’s been easier for business interest groups to take defensive or protective postures than to help formulate a plan to move the state forward.

Our best hope actually could be this: Huckabee wins re-election and decides he will serve out the four-year term and not challenge U.S. Sen. Blanche Lincoln in 2004. With high popularity, the support of business leaders and election concerns out of the picture, he presents to the Legislature a legitimate government overhaul plan for the 2003 session.

Maybe I’m reaching, but I don’t see anyone else in a position to deliver. And with the dearth of candidates and competition for statewide office this year, I don’t see anyone else interested in getting into a position to deliver the leadership we need.

Jeff Hankins can be reached via e-mail at [email protected].