Latest ‘Church Carry’ Proposal Raises Constitutional Concerns

February 14, 2013 9 Comments
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As readers of this blog know, the Arkansas legislature passed a “church carry” bill a couple of weeks ago that the governor has now signed into law. The bill allows churches the option to let licensed, trained members carry in church but leaves church carry illegal by default. Now two legislators are proposing their own version of “church carry.” Unfortunately, their bill is aimed at limiting gun and religious freedom, not expanding it. The bill is HB1284. It is sponsored by Rep. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: 2013 General Assembly, Arkansas Legislature, Gallery, Gun Rights Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

LIVE Arkansas Election Results

November 5, 2012

I'll be updating this post throughout the night as election results trickle in from the Associated Press. Refresh your browser to get the very latest. Balance of Power, Final Score Arkansas Senate: GOP 21, Democrats 14 Michael Lamoureux elected first Republican President Pro Tem of the Arkansas Senate yesterday. Arkansas House: A likely 51-49 GOP majority, assuming that John Hutchison holds his lead (a recount is scheduled for next week). 12:27 - AP calling a victory for John … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Arkansas Democrats, Arkansas Legislature, Arkansas Politics, Elections Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Election Coverage, Brought To You By The Arkansas Project!

November 5, 2012
election-2012-is-it-over-yet-button-campaign

Well, tomorrow night’s the big night that we’ve all been waiting for -- Decision 2012. Many political commentators have called it (as they do every four years) “the biggest election of our lifetimes.” In Arkansas, there are five ballot issues to be decided, including medical marijuana and a half-cent sales tax increase. The state legislature is also poised for a change of party leadership for the first time since Reconstruction. So, where can you find the best, most extensive, most … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Arkansas Legislature, Elections Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Credit Report: Q&A With Rick Calhoun on Debt Downgrade

August 9, 2011
Rick Calhoun on S&P government debt downgrade

On August 5, the credit rating agency Standard & Poor’s (S&P) lowered the U.S. government’s debt rating, citing concern about the nation's debt burden and spending trajectory. What does that mean? Let's ask Rick Calhoun, a Little Rock investment banker with Crews and Associates and a board member of the Advance Arkansas Institute. Previously on the Arkansas Project, Rick warned about how a downgrade could affect the federal government's ability to service its debt, and how spending … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Tax Reform Tagged With: , ,

Bully Pulpit: Will Arkansas ‘Cyberbullying’ Law Criminalize Free Speech?

August 8, 2011

City officials in Renton, Wash., are scrambling to identify the creator of a series of web videos exposing corruption and incompetence in the city police department. The videos (simple cartoons created on Xtranormal.com and distributed via YouTube) allege a variety of sex scandals, unearned promotions, drunkenness, abuse and more. Here's a taste (includes some NSFW language, in case you have an uptight supervisor or co-worker in earshot): The city prosecutor is seeking to identify the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Arkansas Legislature, Arkansas Media, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , ,

This Week In Terrible Things! (August 1-5)

August 5, 2011
Collage of terribleness

Here's a new something or other called "This Week in Terrible Things!" Why? I don't know, why do I do anything. Maybe it will turn into a regular thing.  Just shut up and read it. Jittery: Sales taxes down in Arkansas in July, but don’t worry, we’ll all be in high clover as soon as all those Amazon sales taxes start rolling in. Right? Right? Guys? (Arkansas News Bureau) Regulate this: Former Sen. Blanche Lincoln started a new gig pitching the need for sensible regulations with the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Uncategorized

‘A Corrupt Practice’: Interview with Allen Kerr on State Retirement Double-Dipping

August 3, 2011
kerr_headshot

As a follow-up to our primer on double-dipping yesterday, here’s more from state Rep. Allen Kerr, who’s done more than any elected official to shine a light on how some state employees are able to “retire” briefly and then return to their jobs a few weeks later to collect both a salary and a pension. Kerr bluntly calls double-dipping a “corrupt practice” in which highly compensated upper level state employees like Artee Williams, head of the state Department of Workforce Services, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Arkansas Democrats, Arkansas Legislature, Arkansas Republicans, Gov. Mike Beebe Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Take Two: A Primer on Double-Dipping Retirement in Arkansas (Updated!)

August 2, 2011
Take two: A primer on double-dipping in Arkansas

Recent reports that two highly compensated state employees (here and here) are joining the ranks of “double-dippers”—that is, “retiring” briefly, collecting pension benefits, and then returning to their positions to collect both a paycheck and a state pension—have brought this issue back to the front burner. It’s perhaps the most shameless and indefensible practice in Arkansas state government. And while efforts have been made to shut down double-dipping, it just keeps coming … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Arkansas Democrats, Arkansas Legislature, Gov. Mike Beebe Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,
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