Move over peppermints and butterflies,

I want to interject a quick discussion on the possessive spelling of our state. I've long smirked at some of the filings we have and have agreed that many of them suggest we may not have enough to do, and I may have made myself a target of this same circumstance -- and with a little flair.

I must say that I brought this on myself. I filed a bill as a small and quick gesture to an old family friend from Old Washington (Parker Westbrook, who was my grandfather's first hire in his 1948 congressional office). As you may know, Parker has been on a crusade for decades on the correct spelling of the possessive form of the state and considers it to have significant historical value (Arkansas's rather than Arkansas' -- we've had this discussion on this blog before). He refers to an 1881 resolution that dealt with the correct spelling and pronunciation of the state. I've worked closely with him in Arkansas politics for 10 years or better, and after lots of discussion, I gave in and told him I'd file a resolution for him so long as it wouldn't take time away from my other bills, and then I could get on to more pressing matters.

Lo and behold, I find out today after filing it that the state's largest newspaper doesn't adhere to Parker's beliefs! What is a man to do? I was hoping for a swift vote on a simple resolution, and it looks to have some significant opposition (and from others, including the Associated Press, only the world's largest news organization). I do have the Arkansas Times, Buzz Arnold, David Pryor, George Rose Smith, Vic Snyder, Dustin McDaniel and others on my side, but this is not a battle I'm prepared to wage right now with all the filings I'm trying to make. You know the old saying about what happens when you make your bed...

Update: oof - this made the Raleigh-Durham paper.