Legislator suggests UCA, UALR consider merger
by January 5, 2009 7:23 am 52 views
State Sen. Bob Johnson, D-Bigelow, has suggested that the University of Central Arkansas and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock consider some form of merger.
Johnson’s comments are found in a story by Roby Brock, our content partner at Talkbusiness.net, who has a “sneak preview” of interviews he conducted recently with Gov. Mike Beebe, House Speaker Robbie Wills and Senate President Bob Johnson.
In the preview, Beebe believes Arkansas’ economy is faring better than most other states, and he will ask to renew his $50 million quick action closing fund. The fund, used to close economic development deals, helped bring Hewlett-Packard to Conway.
In addition to suggesting a merger between two large central Arkansas universities, Johnson also suggests the state take a hard look at the practicalities of the “three strikes” law now used to incarcerate for life repeat felons.
“You’ve got a 25-year-old kid locked up for life,” explains Johnson. “We’re spending as much on that kid a year as we would be putting him through private college. Are you kidding me?”
Speaker Wills is eager to continue to cut the sales tax on groceries, but first wants to ensure the state’s budget can be balanced in the event tax collections take a hit from the national recession.
Link here for the report and links to partial transcripts of the interviews.