by - March 24, 2013 9:34 pm
Major legislative issues loom
• The Senate Report: Week 10 review The only people wanting the Legislature to drag on are those counting on the per diem checks for their livelihood. For the rest of…
Opinion
by - March 19, 2013 5:18 pm
Protecting animal protection
As The City Wire has reported, Sen. Gary Stubblefield, R-Branch, introduced two anti-speech bills, SB 13/SB 14, that, if passed, will criminalize the actions of those who dare to document…
by - March 17, 2013 3:32 pm
It is almost thievery
Past due accounts receivable has to be one of the most aggravating problems a business owner must confront. As a business owner, you perform the work, incur significant costs, and…
by - March 16, 2013 3:42 pm
Francis and football
We have a new Pope. Or maybe it is that the Catholics have a new Pope and the rest of us have a new celebrity. Which is good, because the…
by - March 9, 2013 7:00 am
Student health, abortions and tax reform
The issues facing members on the House floor this week ranged from Medicaid reform to funding court assistants. By the end of our 8th week in session, close to 900…
by - March 5, 2013 4:04 pm
Decisions dilemma
• The Senate Report: Week 7 review When I ran for office the first time, I didn’t know what a State Representative or Senator did. I had never been to the…
by - March 5, 2013 2:13 pm
Political bets with public dollars
While there has been much noted of Arkansas’ recently approved “pain capable” abortion bill, there has been little meaningful public debate among legislators about the political, social and legal complexities…
by - March 3, 2013 10:25 pm
Sequester your own budget
What a non-event this sequestration was! We listen to the news where journalists and politicians, in a near frenzy, predict dire consequences for our country and everybody within its borders…
by - March 3, 2013 10:13 pm
A school security primer
After much of the shock, anger, and outrage has passed following the tragic shooting at the Sandy Hook School, it is time to take an apolitical look at making real…
by - February 26, 2013 7:16 pm
What is going on?
• The Senate Report: Week 6 review Red carpet. Celebrities. Lots of hoopla. That may be fine for the Oscars, but it is not a typical day in the life of a…
by - February 24, 2013 6:34 pm
Billy says make it pretty
Billy, the old friend from the college days at Arkansas Tech University, called this week to get an update on a previous conversation. He’d traveled into Fort Smith a few…
by - February 22, 2013 4:12 pm
Veterans, abortions and steel
By the end of our 6th week in session, the Governor signed over 140 bills into law. 76 of those bills originated in the House. Over 450 bills have been filed in…
by - February 19, 2013 7:25 am
Return on investment
• The Senate Report : Week 5 review Let’s start with a simple premise. Money is finite. It can go anywhere. It is like water in that it will go where there is…
by - February 17, 2013 9:23 pm
Whirlpool’s spin cycle
The Fort Smith Board of Directors should put the brakes on this request by Whirlpool Corp. to ban the installation of groundwater wells in an area near the company's former…
by - February 17, 2013 9:06 pm
State government and basic math
I’ve been fighting and arguing with a certain business assessor in the Sebastian County Tax Assessor Office for at least two years, probably more. I am right and she is…
by - February 11, 2013 10:52 am
Let’s talk about jobs
• Senate Report: Week 4 review The 89th General Assembly has passed a few bills thus far and has made headway on a few topics. We have had genuine conversation in…
by - February 10, 2013 2:52 pm
TCW editorial: Bait and switch
Jobs, jobs, jobs. That was the pre-election mantra of these heady Republicans who knew they were within striking distance of capturing the keys to the Arkansas lawmaking engine. It was…
by - February 6, 2013 5:26 pm
Busting GOP myths
“Government Doesn’t Create Jobs” “Arkansas is not a good jobs magnet.” The above phrases are among the top GOP mythologies parroted often by Republicans, with the first phrase even recited…
by - February 6, 2013 8:36 am
Walmart suppliers must embrace ‘startup mindset’
In the supplier community that circles its wagons around the Walmart corporate headquarters in Bentonville, change is constant. Ten years ago companies like Heinz, Pepsi, and Kellogg’s had teams on…
by - February 5, 2013 2:33 pm
The Oklahoma report
In recent years, Oklahoma’s state government has played a vital supporting role to the private sector, helping to promote a business friendly environment that has lead to a net gain…