GOP files lawsuit on use of state-owned cars

The issue of how the use of state-owned cars by Arkansas’ Constitutional officers is defined in terms of compensation became more heated Wednesday (Sept. 29) with the filing of a lawsuit.

GOP Party Chairman Doyle Webb filed in the Circuit Court of Pulaski County the lawsuit listing Arkansas’ seven constitutional officers and Speaker of the Arkansas House Robbie Wills as defendants for their alleged violation of Amendment 70 to the Arkansas Constitution.
 
Plaintiff for the suit is Johnny Rhoda of Van Buren County, and the GOP 2nd District chairman for the Arkansas Republican Party. Webb is the attorney.
 
Amendment 70 prohibits constitutional officers from receiving any additional income beyond their salary. In a press conference held over a week ago, Webb said he considers the personal use of state vehicles additional income or expenses.

Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel, a Democrat who is running unopposed in November, has declined to issue an opinion on the matter. The issue first came to light in early July when Lt. Gov. Bill Halter declared as income for tax purposes his use of a state-owned vehicle.

Halter, a Democrat who was unsuccessful in his attempt to defeat U.S. Sen. Blanche Lincoln in the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate seat, and McDaniel engaged in a brief public spat on the issue. On July 7, Halter’s office issued this statement: “Lieutenant Governor Halter believes the use of a state vehicle for daily commutes is a personal benefit that should be reported as taxable income. This office hasn’t explored the constitutionality of this issue because, frankly, it doesn’t seem that complicated. Lieutenant Governor Halter receives the use of a state vehicle, he reports the personal value of this benefit and he pays the taxes due.”

McDaniel followed with a statement saying the Constitution is unclear and cited previous opinions saying the use of a vehicle is not considered income. However, McDaniel did relinquish the use of his vehicle in July.
 
The Wednesday statement from Webb chastised McDaniel for not doing more to clear the air.

“Who or what is McDaniel protecting? The “tradition and practice” of the old boy system in Arkansas?” Webb asked in the statement.  “Attorney General Dustin McDaniel may have declined to issue an advisory opinion on state vehicles last week but his actions speak louder than words. … Why did McDaniel refuse to make his statement an official opinion? The Republican Party is prepared to fight for the people of this state to be represented honestly by their public officials. There is no room for entitlement in public service and there is no room for the old boy network in Arkansas state government.”

The Democratic Party of Arkansas responded by referring to the filing of a “baseless” lawsuit as “a little screwy.” Going further, the Democratic statement sought to remind voters of the previous ethical problems Webb faced and Jim Keet’s recent tax delinquencies. Keet, a Republican, is hoping to unseat Gov. Mike Beebe in November.

“Jim Keet’s tax cheating schemes and Doyle Webb’s ethical problems have been well documented by the media. It was not long ago that Doyle Webb was fined by the Arkansas Supreme Court Committee on Professional Conduct for scamming an elderly widow who was likely in a diminished mental state. The scheme netted Webb $321,000,” explained the statement from the Arkansas Democratic Party.

Democratic Party of Arkansas Chairman Todd Turner added, “Instead of clogging the dockets of Arkansas courts with baseless lawsuits, Jim Keet and Doyle Webb should concentrate on their own dealings."