House Republicans Unveil SIMPLE Plan

Today, House Republicans unveiled what they hope to accomplish in next year’s legislative session if they are given a Republican majority.  They call the plan “The SIMPLE Plan” for each of its six parts.

“Arkansas Republicans are committed to fighting for hard-working Arkansas taxpayers by establishing a new conservative majority in the Arkansas General Assembly and replacing the status quo in the state government with a simple, direct and bipartisan vision that Arkansas can hold us accountable to,” said the press release from the caucus.

The six parts of the plan include:

• Spending Reform – They plan to enact yearly growth caps in the state general revenue budget, implement performance-based budgeting for state agencies, and demand that agencies provide efficient and effective services for the citizens of Arkansas.
• Income and Other Tax Reform – Streamline Arkansas’ tax system, establishing a true middle-class tax rate, respond to the fiscal needs of industry and those willing to invest capital to create jobs for Arkansas workers.
• Medicaid Sustainability – Implement new controls that will save nearly $50 million for every 1% of waste, fraud and abuse in the Medicaid system, bring transparency to the state budget process in order to identify surpluses, while maintaining critical services to manage the crisis and support patient and free-market drivers.
• Protecting Arkansas’ Future – Pass the pain-capable unborn child protection act, a voter ID bill, and drug testing for those receiving welfare and unemployment benefits.
• Legal and Regulatory Reform – Review the state court system for efficiency, discourage frivolous litigation, and greater oversight of state revenues generated by fees, licenses, and legal settlements.
• Educational Excellence – Greater flexibility for charter school programs and enabling more choices for parents.

“For 138 years, we have been governed in both chambers of our legislature by a single party. Today, we as Republicans are offering Arkansans an alternative to the status quo,” said the press release.

For more information, see the House Caucus website linked here.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-UjO5gOLO8]