The Arkansas Project

The Arkansas Project Podcast, Episode Two

May 24, 2013 Nic Horton 1 Comment

(Click here to on your mobile device.) On this week's podcast, we discuss the Shoffner scandal, Rep. Richard Womack's revelation that he was offered a bribe for his vote on the "private" option, new developments surrounding the private option's future, and an interview with Rep. Kim Hammer, candidate for Speaker of the Arkansas House. (AAI's Dan Greenberg had to call in by phone from out of state for this week's show. As a result, we had some technical difficulties to overcome and the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Podcast Tagged With: Arkansas, Kim Hammer, legislature, martha shoffner, Policy, Politics, Richard Womack, tea party, the arkansas project

Intercepting the Football: Blocking Regulators’ Touchdowns in Arkansas

May 23, 2013 Nic Horton 2 Comments

A proposed amendment to the Arkansas Constitution would require legislative approval of rules passed by administrative agencies in Arkansas. The resolution, SJR7, has been championed by incoming Senate President Pro Tem Jonathan Dismang. It represents a dramatic shift in power in governance, away from unchecked regulatory authority towards democratic accountability. If ratified by the voters in next year’s general election, this proposed constitutional amendment would require a legislative … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Arkansas Legislature, Arkansas Republicans, Regulatory Reform Tagged With: ADEQ, Arkansas, California, constitutional amendment, eminent domain, EPA, football, Game and Fish Commission, IRS, legislature, Policy, Reform, regulations, senate, Senator Jonathan Dismang, SJR7

Richard Womack: No Pie for Me!

May 21, 2013 Nic Horton 6 Comments

There’s been a lot of gossip swirling around the vote to expand Medicaid in Arkansas. For example, how did proponents of expansion pick up 8 votes from Monday (when the bill first failed) to Tuesday when it passed? There’s been a lot of talk about bribery or extortion -- Rep. Nate Bell even went to the House floor and spoke of “threats” that had been leveled against House members. Rep. Bruce Westerman, in a fiery speech, asked members if their votes were worth “30 pieces of silver?” … [Read more...]

Filed Under: 2013 General Assembly, Arkansas Legislature, Medicaid, Obamacare Tagged With: AAI, Arkadelphia, Arkansas, Arkansas Times, bribery, Bruce Westerman, legislature, medicaid, nate bell, obamacare, pie, Richard Womack, Shoffner

Martha Shoffner: Innocent Until Proven Guilty or Guilty Until Proven Innocent?

May 20, 2013 Nic Horton 4 Comments

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A lot has happened since we broke the news Saturday night that State Treasurer Martha Shoffner had been arrested by the FBI (officially the biggest story in the history of The Arkansas Project, by the way, shattering the record that was set only a few weeks ago when we broke the news about constitutional carry). At the time, it wasn’t clear why she had been placed in the Pulaski County jail. However, this lack of evidence did not stop two Arkansas political figures from simultaneously … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Arkansas Democrats, Arkansas Politics Tagged With: apple, Arkansas, arrest, cherry, Dennis Milligan, Dustin McDaniel, federal court, key lime, lemon ice box, Mark Pryor, martha shoffner, Mike Beebe, pie box, Politics, Treasurer

On the Arkansas Times, Part III: Are Private-Option Advocates Really That Much Smarter Than We Are?

May 20, 2013 Nic Horton 3 Comments

Upon rereading David Ramsey’s piece on the genesis of the “private option,” it’s hard not to notice the flood of admiring compliments he bestows on the intellect of its creators. They are “clever,” “smart,” “open-minded,” and “pragmatic.” As they work in tandem with Governor Mike Beebe, they are “thoughtful and nuanced.” In particular, Senator Jonathan Dismang’s “comfort with getting into the weeds on policy details” makes him “open to pragmatic … [Read more...]

Filed Under: 2013 General Assembly, Arkansas Media, Medicaid, Obamacare Tagged With: Andy Allison, Arkansas, Arkansas Times, Bruce Westerman, David Ramsey, davy carter, Good Friday memo, HHS, john burris, jonathan dismang, media, medicaid, obamacare, Politics, Sebelius, tea party

BREAKING: Treasurer Martha Shoffner Arrested, Held in Pulaski County Jail

May 18, 2013 Nic Horton 2 Comments

Well, here's a little bit of Saturday night political news for you: State Treasurer Martha Shoffner has been arrested and is being held in the Pulaski County jail. You can see a record of her arrest at the jail's website by searching for her name. No further information is available at this time. Stay tuned to The Arkansas Project for new developments. Update, 8:24 pm: The AP is reporting that Shoffner has been charged with a form of extortion. More details as they become available. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Arkansas Democrats

Introducing, The Arkansas Project Podcast

May 17, 2013 Nic Horton Leave a Comment

(Click here to listen on your mobile device) We are proud to present to you the inaugural episode of The Arkansas Project Podcast. We are hoping to produce one show a week to keep you up-to-date on what's going on at the capitol. In the near future, the show will be available for download in the iTunes store, but for now, you can enjoy it here on the blog. For your reading pleasure, here are the stories we mention in the show today: Carter quote on "private" option opponents IRS … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Podcast Tagged With: Arkansas, Dan Greenberg, governor, guns, health care, IRS, legislature, medicaid, obamacare, Policy, Politics, taxes, tea party

The Warring Messages of the Private Option

May 17, 2013 Nic Horton 5 Comments

At the Saline County TEA Party meeting last week, Rep. Andy Mayberry told his constituents that the struggle over the private option made him feel like he was being forced to jump out of the third story of a burning building: There’s no way, if I just stand there, that I’m going to survive. I’m gonna burn. There’s a window over here that I can choose to jump out of and I might die in that fall. I know I’m going to die if I stay there and don’t do anything. But I might just survive … [Read more...]

Filed Under: 2013 General Assembly, Arkansas Legislature, Medicaid, Obamacare Tagged With: Arkansas, charlie collins, Exchanges, expansion, Government, medicaid, Mike Beebe, obamacare, private option, Republicans, spending, tea party