Talk Politics

Covering Arkansas Politics

Democratic Leaders Struggling With ‘fayetteville To Fourth’

One has a pivotal legislative vote, the other will defend it in court.

The Legislative To-do List

The Arkansas Legislature handled a lot of it’s business, but one major item still remains. Here’s a recap of the General Assembly’s big to-do agenda.

Budget: The legislature approved a $4.6 billion budget packed with more money for schools and prisons, but austere in many other areas. The General Assembly blocked Gov. Mike Beebe’s proposed 1.86% pay increase for state employees… and went further on tax relief.

Womack, Gop Freshmen Front And Center In Budget Battle

Third District Congressman Steve Womack (R-Rogers) scored a political victory with the tight passage of a resolution he sponsored that would delay pay for Congress if a budget impasse shuts down the federal government.

Governor Discusses End Of Session Atmosphere

Gov. Mike Beebe met with reporters at the end of the week on what was hoped would be the last day of the 88th General Assembly.

Teague Picked To Lead Senate In 2013

Sticking to tradition, the Arkansas State Senate chose its new leader for the 2013 regular session.

New Congressional Plans Revealed On Last Day Of Session

Two new competing Congressional redistricting plans were revealed on the last day of the legislative session leaving lawmakers in a quandary over how to resolve differences on the decennial process.

All Eyes On The Senate As Session Wraps Up

With major budget bills, Congressional redistricting and an Insurance Department funding impasse resolved, all eyes now turn to the Arkansas State Senate for the General Assembly’s conclusion.

House Passes Major Budget Bills

Months in the making, the Revenue Stabilization Act (RSA) cleared the full House of Representatives as lawmakers put a stamp of approval on the state’s $4.6 billion balanced budget bill.

‘fayetteville To The Fourth’ Map Clears House

A controversial Congressional redistricting plan – the "Fayetteville to the Fourth" map – today cleared the Arkansas House of Representatives on a party line vote of 52-46. The bill needed 51 votes for passage and now goes to the State Senate for consideration.

You can view the roll call of the vote at this link. Rep. Barry Hyde (D-North Little Rock) had his vote struck because he was not on the floor during the official vote count.

Crawford Among Freshmen Calling For Action

While all eyes have been focused on the Arkansas Legislature, there is a looming federal government shutdown over stalled budget talks in Washington, D.C.

How About An Insurance Department Compromise?

The scuttlebutt this morning is that lawmakers have been negotiating all night on a resolution to their stalemate on the Insurance Department budget, which has been tripped up by a minority of House members opposed to $1 million in funding for federal health care reform.

Health Insurance Exchange Stalling Final Budget

It feels like the movie Groundhog Day.

House Democrats Alter Redistricting Plan

After days of negotiations and partisan criticism, Rep. Clark Hall (D-Marvell) and Rep. Eddie Cheatham (D-Crossett) reworked a Congressional District map with an amendment to a new shell bill.

Senate Panel Takes Up Congressional Redistricting (updated)

State Senators took up a Congressional redistricting plan posed as an alternative to the House-led "Fayetteville to the Fourth" map.

Insurance Department Funding Bill Fails Again (updated)

A funding bill for the Arkansas Insurance Department was debated for a second day in the House of Representatives, but it met the same fate as a day earlier.

Insurance Dept. Funding Defeat Threatens More Than Health Care Reform

Political wrangling over health care reform could throw a monkey wrench in legislators’ plans to go home on Friday or it could shut down a state agency aimed at protecting insurance consumers.

Tax Cut Bills Now Law Of The Land

Six bills that were part of a tax cut-budget compromise between Gov. Mike Beebe and House and Senate leaders have all been signed into law.

Alternative Redistricting Plans Surface

An opponent of the "Fayetteville to the Fourth" Congressional redistricting plan is promoting an alternative map that divides several counties, but keeps major cities in existing districts. Also, State Senators prepared to make a move to push their versions of Congressional redistricting through a Senate panel.

Tolbert: Overwhelming Opposition To ‘fayetteville To The Fourth’

The Tolbert Report confirms the obvious: Fayetteville residents are indeed unhappy with a potential move from the Third to the Fourth Congressional District.

Tolbert: Pro-life Groups Struggle To Pass Legislation

Jason Tolbert of the Tolbert Report writes in his weekly Stephens Media column on the fate of at least 7 pro-life bills that have yet to gain any traction in this year’s Arkansas Legislature.

Tolbert noted:

With the significant gains Republicans experienced in the 2010 elections, many expected pro-life bills would have a much easier time passing the Legislature this year. However, the opposite seems to have happened.

With only a few days remaining in the regular session, pro-life groups have yet to pass a single bill.

Tolbert lists several reasons for why he thinks the pro-life legislation hasn’t had greater success. He cites factors such as a pro-Democrat House Public Health Committee, Attorney General Dustin McDaniel’s office issuing opinions on the constitutionality of the bills, and Republican sponsors of the bills versus Democrats.

"In this session, the partisan divide has been greater on almost every issue, including the right to life," Tolbert concludes. You can read more at this link.