Talk Politics

Covering Arkansas Politics

Lawmakers Recess With Budget Work Completed

$4.7 billion and not much more. State lawmakers approved a budget for FY 2013 that mostly mirrored Gov. Mike Beebe’s recommendations.

Income Tax Refunds Hurt February Overall Revenues

Arkansas’ February tax revenues netted $190.1 million for the month — down 11.2% from a year ago and 10.6% below forecast.

Opponents Of Natural Gas Severance Tax Hike Stage Capitol Rally

Opponents of a natural gas severance tax increase staged a rally at the state capitol to show opposition to a proposal that has yet to qualify for the November ballot.

Filing Period Closes, Election Field Is Set

Candidate filing closed at noon today (March 1) setting the field for the May primaries and potential November elections.

Medicaid Takes Center Stage In Budget Debate, But It Is Likely To Star Longer

A new Medicaid budget shortfall estimate — disputed by Gov. Mike Beebe (D) — has state lawmakers advocating for a more aggressive budget approach.

Justice Fund Report Pinpoints 3 Reasons For Revenue Decline

Court officials released a special report that explains why the depleted Administration of Justice (AOJ) fund lost so much money in 2011 that Gov. Mike Beebe (D) has had to bail it out with emergency funds.

Griffin Inquiry Renews Hope For Hawker Beechcraft Jobs

Last month, we reported that Cong. Tim Griffin (R-Little Rock) called into question the U.S. Air Force’s award of a contract to a foreign competitor of U.S.-based Hawker Beechcraft. The Air Force has backed off the decision and delayed its award pending an investigation.

Is Arkansas Ready To VoterUp?

Are local political campaigns ready for the next technological leap?

Democrat Q. Byrum Hurst Enters Fourth District Congressional Race

Democratic Party of Arkansas chairman Will Bond hinted last week that he expected a third Democrat to enter the Fourth District race besides D.C. Morrison and State Sen. Gene Jeffress.

Minority Leader Burris Part of Youth Wave In Legislature

John Lyon with the Arkansas News Bureau offers a profile of House Minority Leader Rep. John Burris (R-Harrison).

Arkansas Times: Ellington Weighing First District Congressional Run

First-term Prosecuting Attorney Scott Ellington of Jonesboro is weighing a First District Congressional run.

Filing Period Opens For Arkansas Races

The first day of candidate filing opened in Arkansas and more than 197 candidates used the opening day to declare their candidacies. What are the early match-ups? Check out our complete lists.

Budget Session Appears On Course For Quick Finish

After several days of back-and-forth discussions, state lawmakers appear poised to complete their fiscal session work in short order.

Rep. Griffin: Romney Needs “More Passion”; “Vigilant” On Military Cuts

Second District Congressman Tim Griffin (R-Little Rock) says GOP Presidential hopeful Mitt Romney needs to show “more passion” if he’s to shore up his bid to challenge President Barack Obama in the fall.

Talk Politics With Tim Griffin

This afternoon, Feb. 22, at 3 p.m., Talk Business & Politics will launch its latest installment of “Talk Politics,” our Q&A session with U.S. Rep. Tim Griffin (R).

Beebe Lays Out What GOP Budget Cuts Would Be For State Agencies

Gov. Mike Beebe (D) offered a detailed impact of how Republican proposed budget cuts would affect certain state agencies.

Time, Money and Politics Are Driving Budget Debate

They will haggle over money this week, but political willpower and a tricky parliamentary timetable will impose arbitrary deadlines that could lead to a quick deal or a longer stalemate.

These Presidents Had Their Days

A President’s words can inspire after decades and centuries. This phenomenon is what attracts so many to politics and offers hope that, even in our seemingly divided worlds, we’re not that far apart.

Brummett: A Primer On The Current Budget Debate

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette political columnist John Brummett offers a Q&A session with himself to explain the ins-and-outs of the current budget debate at the state capitol.

Severance Tax Hike Opponents Pick Up The Spending Pace

The group opposing former gas executive Sheffield Nelson’s severance tax proposal, Arkansans for Jobs & Affordable Energy, has gotten very serious, very fast.