House GOP Address Centers On ‘Asking The Tough Questions’

This week, Rep. Kim Hammer (R-Benton) delivered the House Republican YouTube address, which emphasized legislative oversight and highlighted several executive branch miscues.

Hammer noted a controversy involving State Treasurer Martha Shoffner’s (D) office where a Legislative Audit report has raised questions regarding her investment practices.

He also singled out legislative concerns that an unqualified worker was hired for a deaf interpreter position at the Department of Career Education.

Both issues were the subject of legislative hearings this past week.

“This week was an eventful one at the state capitol as the legislature conducted the people’s business in various hearings — asking the tough questions needed to ensure state government works efficiently and effectively,” Hammer said.

He said the legislature “is obligated to ask questions when it is discovered the people’s money is being mismanaged or mishandled” in an effort to formulate longer-term solutions.

Hammer used the address as an opportunity to tout House GOP rule as Democrats and Republicans battle for majority control of the legislature this November.  From the address:

This week’s hearings are proof that, thanks to the emergence of House Republicans, the legislative branch is finally performing its duties to oversee state government.

In the past year alone, we have uncovered financial mismanagement at the Forestry Commission that resulted in compromised safety that jeopardized the well being of Arkansans, as well as financial mismanagement at the Department of Veteran Affairs that resulted in the closure of the Little Rock Veterans Home.

And lets us not forget that it was a year ago that it was discovered that our Department of Workforce Services overpaid unemployment benefits by several million dollars.

A pattern is developing within the executive branch of government, and it will take a strong legislature to continue to lead the fight to discover and fix the problems to ensure the people’s business is being done.

You can access the YouTube video at this link.