Lawmakers Open Session On Hunt For Private Option Votes

The Arkansas General Assembly opened its 2014 fiscal session on Monday (Feb. 10) with state lawmakers hunting votes to fund the private option, alter a special election schedule, and possibly fix a voter ID law.

Legislators are working to find a supermajority of votes – 75% in both chambers of the Arkansas House and Senate – to renew funding in the next fiscal year for the state’s private option. The novel health care plan was crafted by Republican leaders and Democratic Gov. Mike Beebe to use the state’s Medicaid expansion money under the federal health care law to supplement private health insurance for lower income Arkansans.

The 75% threshold means that 26 members of the 100-member House or nine members of the 35-member Senate can block appropriations bills. Two more state senators than in last year’s regular session now say they oppose the private option funding, which may imperil its passage.

House Speaker Davy Carter (R-Cabot) said he wants an early vote on private option in his chamber. He said “nothing has changed” since last year as it relates to the health care plan and, with its passage last session, members should still be in support of the measure.

LT. GOVERNOR VACANCY & VOTER ID
Two identical bills were filed on Monday that would address a vacancy in the office of Lt. Governor.

Former Lt. Governor Mark Darr (R) resigned earlier this year after an ethics controversy. Gov. Beebe and lawmakers have said the cost of a special statewide election to fill the vacancy during an election year where the post will be filled anyway would be costly to taxpayers and unnecessary. The Senate President, Michael Lamoureux (R-Russellville), is next in line to serve as acting Governor if Beebe were to be unable to serve.

Sens. Eddie Joe Williams (R-Cabot) and Keith Ingram (D-West Memphis) filed measures to address the vacancy that would require a two-thirds vote of both chambers to consider. During fiscal sessions, non-appropriation bills must have the two-thirds acceptance to be considered.

Williams’ and Ingram’s resolutions say that if a vacancy occurs in the Lt. Governor’s office less than ten months before the next scheduled general election, then a special election does not have to be called. The measure would also require that the vacancy would be filled in the regular course of the next scheduled general election, which is the case in 2014.

Other than the Lt. Governor’s office, the Governor has the authority to appoint successors to constitutional offices if vacancies occur.

Attorney General Dustin McDaniel (D) issued an opinion on Monday that said absentee voters who do not present identification when they send in their absentee ballots should not be given additional time to present proof of ID.

McDaniel said a controversial voter ID law approved by the legislature last year did not make provisions for this accommodation.

Lawmakers may address the issue as local election commissions have requested the law be revised.