The Arkansas Project

Stuff From Around Arkansas

By David Kinkade - December 3, 2008 12:57 pm

Hey look, it’s a bunch of random stuff:

Rowr

The Lil Spark Plug That Could: Gov. Mike Beebe will name Northwest Arkansas banker and man about town Dick Trammel as the next highway commissioner, the Morning News of Northwest Arkansas’ Doug Thompson reports. Noted: Thompson’s story has two separate people referring to Trammel as a “spark plug.” “Spark plug”? What the hell is that? Is it supposed to be a compliment? Beats me.

Camera Shy: Rep. Donna Hutchinson of Bella Vista will intro a bill to toughen penalties against video voyeurs who secretly tape or photograph people and post the images online, reports the AP’s Andrew Demillo. I suggest we call it “Tina Sherman’s Law.”

Victoria’s Secrecy: If you wanted to watch CBS’s annual Victoria’s Secret lingerie show, you’re out of luck in much of Arkansas, because KTHV won’t broadcast it, the Arkansas Times reports. Memo to Max Brantley: These trashy sexy stories are supposed to be my territory, so back off. Get back to writing about the Little Rock School Board, pal.

P.S. In an earlier version of this post, I tried to include both a photo of Dick “Spark Plug” Trammel and that shot of Victoria’s Secret model Allesandra Ambrosio, but I couldn’t get them to fit together on the page, so I just went with the one photo. I sure hope I made the right choice.

New Reps Speak at GOP Lunch, Friday

By David Kinkade - December 3, 2008 10:53 am

Jane English, Ann Clemmer and Allen Kerr

Newly minted state legislators Jane English, Ann Clemmer and Allen Kerr will speak to the Central Arkansas Republican Club at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 5, at the Little Rock Club in downtown Little Rock.

For reservations, contact Bonnie Davis at (501) 835-6004 or Jim Davis at (501) 352-2515 and be prepared to cough up $20 for lunch.

Lawmakers Crack Wise in Tax Hearing

By David Kinkade - November 21, 2008 8:49 am

Sen. Denny Altes

Here’s an Arkansas Democrat-Gazette story about a legislative hearing focusing on a sales tax holiday proposal from Republican Sen. Denny Altes. The talk turned to apparel, and legislators wondered aloud if the sales tax exemption would apply to thong underwear:

“So this would exempt all human wearing apparel, I guess underwear and everything, right ?” asked Rep. Lindsley Smith, D-Fayetteville.

She then whispered with some of her colleagues.

“A thong ?” she asked, chuckling, apparently repeating what someone else said.

“I wouldn’t go there, Ms. Smith,” Senate Chairman Jim Hill, D-Nashville, said.

Wocka wocka. It’s not exactly Hepburn-Tracy level repartee, but then maybe you had to be there, and things have been pretty slow the last couple of days.

I thought it would be funny to include a Photoshop image of Denny Altes with a thong on his head, like he was on spring break or something, but then I decided that would take too long, and I’ve got a lot of work to do. I will say, however, that the few minutes I spent doing a Google Image search on “thong” while I was considering that idea were…well, they were just great. It was really great. In fact, I should probably just call it a day, because there is no way anything better than that is going to happen to me today, I’m sure.

Edwards Over Eichler in District 38

By David Kinkade - November 18, 2008 4:51 pm

Kelly Eichler and John Edwards

Almost simultaneously, I received e-mail updates from the Kelly Eichler campaign and from lightning fast blogger Jason Tolbert that our long national nightmare is over: The recount in the race for District 38 shows Democrat John Edwards with a final lead of 77 votes. Edwards goes to the House.

Baker, Beebe Bury Hatchet

By David Kinkade - November 16, 2008 7:44 am

Baker and Beebe: Making nice

From the ‘All’s Well That Ends Well’ Category: GOP Sen. Gilbert Baker and Democratic Gov. Mike Beebe, long at odds over Baker’s campaigning for Beebe’s Republican opponent in 2006, met last week to clear the air and put all this a’fussin’ and a’feudin’ behind them.

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette’s Seth Blomelely reports on the meeting, which I have reason to believe was very gracious:

“He was very gracious,” said Baker, the expected Senate chairman of the Joint Budget Committee for the 2009 legislative session. “I think we’re going to have a good session.”

Beebe said Baker brought up the ads the Republican Party helped fund during the 2006 governor’s race trying to tie Beebe to a convicted felon. Beebe and other Democrats have said the ads were unfair, misleading and false.

Baker of Conway has said he regrets that the party funded those ads but has declined to say whether he owed Beebe an apology.

Neither would give details of what was said during their meeting.

“He was very gracious,” Beebe said. “He came up, asked for the meeting.” Baker said they met Nov. 6 in Beebe’s office for about 15 minutes. He said Beebe’s chief of staff, Morril Harriman, was also in the meeting.

Over the last few months, Beebe campaigned strenuously for Joe White, Baker’s Democratic opponent in Baker’s successful bid to keep his seat.

Beebe: Penny for Your Thoughts

By David Kinkade - November 13, 2008 7:09 pm

Pictured: Dave's attention span when discussing budgetary matters.

Gov. Mike Beebe offered up his budget proposal on Thursday, and it includes, among other things, a further one-cent reduction in the sales tax on groceries. I’ll be revising my Cheetos budget accordingly.

If you want to know more about the budget proposal, you should go read this AP report from boy reporter Andrew Demillo, which includes all the details. I started reading it, but then I got bored after I read that bit about the grocery tax, which was in the lede, because, well, come on, it’s budget stuff and it’s boring. I’m telling you, this attention deficit disorder is no laughing matter. Some days it’s like I can’t focus at all. I swear, it’s like I have the attention span of a

Why Does Max Brantley Keep Opposing Ethics Reform?

By Dan Greenberg - November 11, 2008 2:08 pm

Max Brantley (left) challenges Rep. Dan Greenberg on ethics reform.

I was saddened, but not surprised, to see Max Brantley of the Arkansas Times continuing to attack the bipartisan ethics reform that Democratic Rep. Steve Harrelson and I proposed last year, which would have mandated full disclosure of all lobbyists’ gifts to legislators.

Yesterday, Max provided a flurry of arguments against our 2007 approach of writing reform into the House Rules. At least half of his arguments are flat wrong or irrelevant. (more…)

What I’ve Learned from Max Brantley

By Dan Greenberg - November 10, 2008 10:29 am

Max Brantley at the Arkansas Times is once again grumbling about my work on ethics reform, which reminds me of the last time I met with him about it. In early 2006, I asked Max out for lunch to discuss what I thought was common ground on good-government issues.

Lunch was unusual, because he started to lobby me quite aggressively. He was critical of the common practice of lobbyists giving legislators various undisclosed gifts, such as free food and drink, and he told me that lawmakers should either require full disclosure of or mandate a ban on gifts. I thought, and think today, that these are both good ideas and told him I’d vote in favor of either one.

I was struck by what happened next. “That’s not good enough,” he said, more than a little angrily. “Everybody always says that. Nobody ever actually introduces anything. You need to sponsor one of them.”

Legislators, Max said, always can rhetorically commit to ethics reform, at no cost, secure in the knowledge that no one would ever actually introduce an ethics proposal. Max then started peppering me with questions about what I was prepared to sponsor, not just to support.

This was a pretty good argument, and at some point near the end of the lunch, I told Max that I would sponsor a disclosure requirement. At that time I was preparing to teach a class on how Congress works, and I was so struck by what Max said that after lunch I went home and wrote down his words in the margins of a book I frequently refer to—David Mayhew’s terrific Congress: The Electoral Connection—given that Max’s quote so perfectly illustrated a problem that Mayhew discusses more elliptically.

In late 2007, Rep. Steve Harrelson and I introduced a measure that would require full gift disclosure by every legislator in the House. I will always be grateful to the four other legislators who notified us immediately that they wanted to cosponsor it. Because Speaker Benny Petrus’s gift ban bill had received 89 of 100 votes in the House earlier that year (although it failed in the Senate), we assumed that there was sentiment for binding ethics reform. In retrospect, we were quite naïve. (more…)

Annual Sessions? Bring ‘Em On!

By David Kinkade - November 9, 2008 1:04 pm

Much wringing of hands about annual sessions for the Arkansas legislature among the chattering classes, who can’t believe that this is actually gonna happen. But it’s true: Voters approved the constitutional amendment for annual sessions last Tuesday. This Arkansas News Bureau story from crack reporter Rob Moritz rounds up reaction from various legislators who were for and against.

It’s worth noting that the “This Is a Bad Idea Caucus” crosses ideological lines: From the left, the inimitable Max Brantley at the Arkansas Times blog has been disapproving of what he terms “the permanent legislature,” while over here on the right, the Arkansas Project’s own Rep. Dan Greenberg was a vocal critic of the proposal in the weeks leading up to the election.

But I have decided that The Arkansas Project will not be joining this short-sighted chorus of negativity. With annual sessions, there will be twice as many opportunities for scandal, corruption, foolishness, baseless rumors, scurrilous gossip, frivolity and, in general, all those things that are the lifeblood of blogs like this. So I say, let’s embrace this brave new world of annual sessions and the many, many opportunities it will no doubt present to us. Forward ho!

Eichler/Edwards Recount Slated for Nov. 18

By David Kinkade - November 6, 2008 5:00 pm

Dust off your hanging chads, because it looks like the race in House District 38 between Republican Kelly Eichler and Democrat John Edwards is headed for a recount, as suggested earlier today. This from an Eichler campaign e-mail received just moments ago:

As of today, the unofficial results for District 38 show the following:

John Edwards - 7,044 votes or 50.26%
Kelly Eichler - 6,970 votes or  49.74%
Under votes: 476
Over votes: 1

With only a 74 vote or .52% margin, the campaign has asked the Pulaski County Election Commission to hold a recount in this election.  Tentatively, that recount is scheduled for November 18 at the County Election Commission.

Eichler, Edwards Race Remains Unsettled

By David Kinkade - November 6, 2008 7:01 am

Kelly Eichler and John Edwards

The Under the Dome blog notes that all ballots have been counted in the House District 38 race between Democrat John Edwards and Republican Kelly Eichler, with Edwards claiming a slim lead of 74 votes.

Meanwhile, the Tolbert Report has chatted with folks in the Eichler camp and says it’s likely headed for a recount. Eichler tells an Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reporter same in a story in the morning paper.

I’ll note that when Arkansas Project readers voted on this race in a highly scientific online poll on Monday, Eichler commanded a solid 57 percent of the vote. That leads me to one conclusion: Obviously, there has been some serious vote fraud committed in this race, because there’s no way that online poll could have been wrong. Crafty Democrats! You just have to watch them every second!

Arkansas Legislative Race Results

By David Kinkade - November 5, 2008 6:48 am

I’m not going to reproduce the results of every state race—for that, head over to the Under the Dome blog or the Secretary of State’s website. But I will highlight the results of a few races that have been featured prominently on The Arkansas Project the last few months, because I know how important it is for you to have closure:

Sen. Gilbert Baker (R) fended off a challenge from Joe White (D) in District 30, with Baker pulling about 55 percent of the vote.

In House District 62, the GOP’s Terry Rice handily defeated former Republican-turned-Democrat Bill Walters, in a result that satisfies a hell of a lot of Republicans I know.

In Saline County, Republican Ann Clemmer captured an open seat from Democrat Scott Smith in District 29 (that’s a GOP pick-up), while Democrat Barbara Nix defeated Republican Dave McCoy in District 28.

Another Republican pick-up in District 42, where Jane English defeated Democrat Val Yagos. And add one more to the GOP roster with young Jonathan Dismang’s victory over Democrat Keith Williams in District 49.

In Fort Smith, Stephanie Malone (R) took out Mike Bock (D) to claim an open seat.

In District 38, it looks like Democrat John Edwards is claiming the slimmest of leads over Republican Kelly Eichler. Headed for a recount?

Republican Bryan King, the incoming House minority leader, laughed off a challenge from Democrat David Stoppel in District 91 with a commanding 66 percent of the vote.

The much-covered (on this blog, anyway) race between Rep. Steve Breedlove (D) and John Van Gorder (R) ended with a smooth victory for the incumbent Democrat.

And it looks like every one of those ballot initiatives/proposed amendments/referred questions passed, including the lottery (as expected) and the ban on foster care for cohabiting couples (which I thought was headed for defeat). And annual sessions for the legislature! I suppose that will be good for blogging material, if nothing else….

More later.

Today’s Poll: House District 67, Breedlove vs. Van Gorder

By David Kinkade - November 4, 2008 9:36 am

John Van Gorder (R, top) and Rep. Steve Breedlove (D)

Let’s do one final legislative poll today, mostly because I installed this poll feature and now I have no idea what on earth I’ll do with it once the election is past. Today: Rep. Steve Breedlove (D) and challenger John Van Gorder (R) in the closely watched District 67 race.

We’ve actually covered this race pretty extensively, for some reason, but here are a couple of last minute notes:

A Van Gorder supporter sends along this audio clip of former Gov. Mike Huckabee’s GOTV call in support of Van Gorder:

Click to here Huckabee call for Van Gorder

The incumbent Breedlove, meanwhile, has the support of Gov. Mike Beebe and other state Democratic honchos. I looked for his ads on YouTube and didn’t find anything, so, uh, here’s his website, for the sake of balance.

And now, to the poll:

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Today’s Poll: House District 38, Eichler vs. Edwards

By David Kinkade - November 3, 2008 9:54 am

I was going to do a whole series of these polls, but then I had to travel out of state last week unexpectedly and blogging was curtailed, so I didn’t get around to it. But hey, they’re kind of fun, so let’s do another, with a look at House District 38 in Little Rock:

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By the way, both sides appear to be doing some television advertising in this race. Eichler’s ad is available at her website, so click here to watch.

Edwards’ ad goes a little something like this:

Dobbins Skips Rehearing Request

By David Kinkade - October 30, 2008 5:44 pm

Former Democratic Rep. Dwayne Dobbins will not request a rehearing from the state Supreme Court to get his name listed on the ballot, the Arkansas News Bureau’s Rob Moritz reports.

And thus it appears that we are finally coming to the end of the long saga of Dwayne Dobbins, which began with his resignation in 2005 as part of a plea bargain to avoid a felony prosecution for fondling a 17-year-old girl.

When asked what he was going to do next, Dobbins said he intended to spend more time with his family, and that he might go catch a movie, maybe an afternoon matinee of “High School Musical 3.” Hmmm. I’m not sure if I like where this is headed.

Arkansas Legislative Races: A Few Things

By David Kinkade - October 29, 2008 8:32 am

Just rounding up a few things that have come across The Arkansas Project threshold the last few days:

Republican Kelly Eichler and Democrat John Edwards are fighting it out for the open seat in Little Rock’s District 38, in a race that’s been dubbed “too competitive to call” over at Under the Dome. A correspondent sends along a sample mail piece, one of several, that Eichler has sent out to voters in the district, reproduced here:

I would say “Click images for larger view,” but the larger versions aren’t displaying. I’ll fiddle with them a bit more, but if I don’t fix them, they’re about education. She’s for it.

Also happening in Pulaski County: The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette endorses Republican challenger Phil Wyrick over longtime incumbent Buddy Villines in the closely watched race for Pulaski County Judge. (Subscription required to read the whole thing.) Yes, I know this isn’t a “legislative” race, but I’m sticking it here nonetheless. Quoth the editorialist:

Phil Wyrick sounds like just what Pulaski County has needed for some time-someone you could trust to balance budgets, hire competent help, keep the lights on, and finally, finally, finally provide the law-abiding public in Little Rock, North Little Rock and Pulaski County with the kind of well-run jail that’s long been needed. At last, a local official who might put public safety first instead of concentrating on tourist attractions, study committees, multiple excuses and other diversions from the basic business of local government.

In other races: In District 87, GOP Rep. Mark Martin is in a tight race with Earl Hunton, son of Washington County Judge Jerry Hunton, to hold his seat. Scott F. Davis at the Northwest Arkansas Times, my journalistic alma mater, sizes up the race here.

But wait, there’s more from Northwest Arkansas: Davis also has a look at the District 89 race between incumbent Democrat Jim House and GOP challenge Gene Long.

And in District 50 over in White County (open seat), Republican Kyle Reeves has to run not only against Democrat Monty Betts, but also the Searcy Daily Citizen newspaper. Reeves better up that radio ad buy.

We’ll have another legislative poll later today.

Arkansas Project Poll: Bock vs. Malone

By David Kinkade - October 28, 2008 12:07 pm

We’re down to the last seven days, with several state legislative races in the “highly competitive” or “too close to call” categories. Over at the “Under the Dome” blog, Rep. Steve Harrelson has listed the most competitive races for House seats, with a dandy interactive map, that is well worth review.

So let’s try an Arkansas Project series of polls on state legislative races—straight-up, head-to-heat match-ups of some of the top races in Arkansas, based on Harrelson’s list.

First up: District 64 in Fort Smith! Republican Stephanie Malone vs. Democrat Mike Bock! Who’s the favorite? Which party will be more effective at e-mailing supporters to vote in this highly unscientific absurd joke of a poll? Take it away:

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Endgame for Dobbins?

By David Kinkade - October 27, 2008 5:46 pm

Dwayne Dobbins: Time is tight.

Unstoppable groping machine Former Democratic legislator Dwayne Dobbins took it on the chin once again today as the Arkansas Supreme Court told him to “buzz off” in his quest to get listed on the ballot, the AP reports. With eight days to go until Election Day and early voting in full swing, Dobbins is running out of plays and this is just starting to get kind of sad.

OK, one more time for those just joining the Dobbins Saga (*long Kinkade sigh*): Dobbins resigned from his House seat in 2005 as part of a plea bargain with prosecutors to avoid felony charges for groping a 17-year-old girl and his wife was elected in his place and then when he filed to run again this year in a surprise move the Democrats declined to certify him for the ballot so he’s been fighting to get back on the ballot but even if he were to win it would not matter because members of the Arkansas House overwhelmingly passed a rule in August that would bar him from being seated so I’m not really sure where he’s going with all this. Whew.

And I say it’s a crime, what’s being done to Dwayne Dobbins. The man just wants to legislate! Won’t you let him legislate? Damn you! Damn you all to hell!

Bock vs. Malone: District 64 House Race

By David Kinkade - October 27, 2008 8:33 am

Mike Bock

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette continues its look at key races for the state legislature, here focusing on the District 64 race in Fort Smith between Democrat Mike Bock and Republican Stephanie Malone.

She’s a spunky young go-getter who claims extensive knowledge in local economic development issues. He wears a yellow V-neck cable-knit sweater under a leather jacket, like some kind of unholy amalgamation of The Fonz and Stuart Smalley. Advantage: Malone.

How Will Presidential Race Affect Arkansas Races?

By David Kinkade - October 26, 2008 3:07 pm

Is this an association Democratic candidates in Arkansas want?

Over at Blake’s Think Tank, my Democratic leaning counterpart Blake Rutherford picks up on a discussion we had last week on “Unconventional Wisdom” (I’ll quit mentioning that now) about the potential for GOP pick-ups in the state legislature. Rob Moritz at the Arkansas News Bureau explores the same question in a story today.

Arkansas Republicans look poised to pick up at least a few seats in the House. While that would not change the complexion of the overwhelmingly Democratic legislature dramatically, it would certainly be a morale-builder for state Republicans—particularly should it happen in a year when Democrats nationwide appear to have the wind at their back.

As Blake points out, John McCain’s double-digit lead in Arkansas could be helpful to Republicans. The flip side of that observation raises a question: Is it possible that Barack Obama could be a drag for Democratic candidates down the ballot in Arkansas? If you’re Democratic Rep. Steve Breedlove in District 67, do you really want your signs sitting next to Obama-Biden signs, as in the photo above?

While John Brummett points out that the state’s Congressional folks and constitutional officers are getting behind Obama, one doesn’t see a lot of Democratic House candidates rushing to throw their arms around the senator from Illinois, does one?