The Warring Messages of the Private Option

38643_web_medicaid-signing

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...]

Et Tu, Republicans? No Meaningful Tax Cuts For Arkansans

promises_made

For many weeks, the people of Arkansas have been led to believe that once the legislature passed Medicaid expansion, it would then produce significant tax relief. We have documented these assurances in our previous coverage -- and repeatedly emphasized that the cuts were in no way linked to Medicaid expansion as a matter of policy, but perhaps only as a matter of politics. Boy, were we right. As you probably know, the Senate signed off on funding for Medicaid expansion yesterday, signaling … [Read more...]

The Legislature Is In Session. Yay.

263358_886676895941_1082925949_n

Today, the illustrious and magnificent 89th General Assembly convened for the first time. New legislators were sworn in. Tears were shed. Hearts were touched. Taxes raised. Sorry, I’m getting a little ahead of myself. Okay, but seriously, there’s hopefully some good stuff around the corner. Who knows, maybe tax reform, maybe school choice; maybe some actual solutions our state’s Medicaid crisis? A guy can dream. In addition to the swearings in, Speaker of the House Davy Carter … [Read more...]

Guns, State Sovereignty, & 2014

Here's a look at my weekly segment on The Paul Harrell Program from last week. We discuss my latest Advancing Arkansas interviews and the 2014 governor's race. Enjoy: … [Read more...]

Advancing Arkansas: Rep. Collins Aims for Gun Law Reforms

The latest entry in our series of interviews with returning legislators, “Advancing Arkansas,” is a conversation with Rep. Charlie Collins (R-Fayetteville). Instead of asking him about his entire legislative agenda (as I have with other legislators I’ve interviewed), I asked Rep. Collins about a specific policy area and his plans for reform -- gun laws. Rep. Collins made “headlines” of sorts a few weeks ago after the horrific shootings in Newtown, CT when left-wing blogger Max … [Read more...]

Let’s Arm Heroes

Armed Teachers

In response to the shootings in Connecticut last week, Texas Governor Rick Perry wants to allow teachers to carry weapons in their classrooms -- that is, if someone has obtained a concealed carry license, “you should be able to carry your handgun anywhere in this state” (with the exception of private property where property owners have said otherwise, he clarified). Yet Perry knew what the reaction from the rabid anti-gun Left would be before those words ever left his mouth: “Perry … [Read more...]

AAI Announces Freedom Scorecard for State Legislators

friends of freedom

Today, the Advance Arkansas Institute has unveiled its latest masterpiece: Arkansas’s Freedom Scorecard.  The Scorecard ranks the voting record of Arkansas legislators based on their support for liberty and good government. The report rates legislators on six different values: economic freedom, education reform, good government, personal liberty, small government, and tax/budget policy.  Then the scores for these six categories are combined into an overall score.  The report notes that … [Read more...]

John Brummett Is Not Ignorant

Brummett Taxes

John Brummett is not ignorant--he just knows so much that isn’t so.  Perhaps this has never been more evident than at a debate I attended yesterday in Fayetteville between himself and State Representative Charlie Collins about our state’s tax policy. Today, one day after the debate, Brummett has set fire to the blogosphere, demonstrating his ability to play fast and loose with facts by publishing this dazzling analysis of the debate that reads more like a red carpet review, with a tinge … [Read more...]