by - January 20, 2015 1:17 pm
Reshaping the tax code
Last Saturday, news broke of President Obama’s intentions to reshape the tax code in favor of the middle class and working families, which would require raising taxes and fees on…
Opinion
by - January 18, 2015 7:42 pm
Make a legislative connection
While national political events capture the attention of the majority of our news media, Arkansas lawmakers are meeting in Little Rock writing, debating, and passing state laws that affect our…
by - January 18, 2015 6:03 pm
Gearhart did go home again
A surprise announcement came about this past week when G. David Gearhart, the chancellor of the University of Arkansas, announced he would resign on July 31. A national search for…
by - January 15, 2015 6:26 pm
Why would we want to do that?
Have you ever heard anyone say that it’s not easy to attract people to move to Fort Smith? Or maybe you’ve heard someone say we need more development along the…
by - January 15, 2015 3:53 pm
Avoid the mortgage debt scam
Recently I was reading about people around the nation who take out deeds in lieu of foreclosure and wind up getting called about owing debts on their mortgages years after…
by - January 13, 2015 3:37 pm
Beebe raised the bar
Arkansas’ political heart has recently been beating at the rhythm of Gov.-elect Asa Hutchinson’s appointments of his senior staff and appointments to executive agencies, and at the rhythm of the…
by - January 12, 2015 6:15 pm
The lottery fix (maybe)
There is always a perceived “prize” or bragging rights for the member of the Arkansas General Assembly filing the biggest and most complex bill every session of the Legislature. Forget…
by - January 11, 2015 8:04 pm
Burning free speech rights
In a week in which the world tragically learned (again) the dangers of attaching an unwavering loyalty and willingness to kill and be a martyr for a symbol, U.S. Rep….
by - January 11, 2015 7:34 pm
7 Fort Smith government moves
Solely for the purpose of providing a window into how Fort Smith city staff and the Board of Directors conduct public business, let’s revisit the process to name the water…
by - January 9, 2015 2:35 pm
A ‘Thank you’ from Gov. Beebe
Nine-and-a-half years ago, I announced my intention to run for Governor of Arkansas. This next week, for the first time since June of 2005, I will not be pursuing or…
by - January 8, 2015 7:14 pm
Reducing lobbyist influence
Back in November, Arkansas voters passed a ballot initiative that caught some people by surprise because of its provision that effectively lengthens term limits. I’m talking, of course, about Issue…
by - January 6, 2015 9:46 pm
Document retention
Unless you are involved in some criminal activity, January is a good time for a business to review its document retention policy. A well designed document retention policy that is…
by - January 5, 2015 9:56 pm
Leaky roof politics
There’s an old joke about a man with a leaky roof. When it rained, he said he couldn’t fix the holes because it was raining. When it wasn’t raining he’d…
by - January 4, 2015 11:43 pm
Hutchinson and a history lesson
As the inauguration of Asa Hutchinson, Arkansas’ 45th Governor, draws near, there are hints of a central theme emerging for the inauguration which may not be new, but may flavor…
by - January 3, 2015 5:25 pm
Still on the SOB watch
It’s just another day, really. Another week. Another month. Another year, one hopes, above the daisies and dirt. But this calendar shift comes with an unavoidable remembrance that, honestly, best…
by - January 3, 2015 5:23 pm
Beebe challenges, accomplishments
When asked in recent interviews about my past eight years as Governor, I've said repeatedly that it's been quite a ride. When you review the challenges we've faced and the…
by - December 29, 2014 3:14 pm
Attorneys general and defending state laws
I am not sure how many people noticed, but there has been something of a trend forming over the past year in which state attorneys general refuse to defend laws…
by - December 28, 2014 6:44 pm
The BIG business of bowl games
It’s the most wonderful time of the year, or one of them, anyway. Wall-to-wall college football bowl games for a full month. Of course, we get stuck with some stinkers…
by - December 28, 2014 6:40 pm
Statewide trauma system kudos
We talk a lot about how Arkansas’s Payment Improvement Initiative and the Private Option have advanced and are stabilizing our health-care infrastructure. However, it was just six years ago that…
by - December 28, 2014 6:30 pm
Rutledge’s legal stand
It came as no surprise this week that the soon-to-be Attorney General of Arkansas, Leslie Rutledge, has not changed her mind or her campaign mantra. Her personal and legal steadfastness…