Le Vieux Carré

I'm in the French Quarter with a few thousand other marathoners getting ready for tomorrow morning's Mardi Gras Marathon. If we weren't in a hurry to get down here and pick up our race bibs this morning, we would've stopped at the Pistol Pete Center at LSU to watch the Razorbacks (glad we didn't now). There are a dozen other Texarkana runners down here.

Grassroots advocacy by e-mail

Flooding legislators' inboxes with messages to support or oppose specific legislation is nothing new. However, there are several new sites popping up on the 'net (mylegislators.com) where anyone can enter any name and email address and send a message of their choice to legislators of their choice. I've received over 800 e-mails in the last week on several issues, but most have focused on (1) the cigarette tax, (2) illegal immigration, and (3) worshipping with guns, and many of them have come from advocacy@mylegislators.com.

I respond to each message, but I was much quicker to respond to one fairly touchy e-mail that arrived last night from an old family friend in opposition to the cigarette tax. I picked up the phone and called her, and she had no idea what I was talking about. "You can add as much tax to cigarettes as you want -- I hate 'em," she said. "Plus, don't take this the wrong way, but I have never thought about e-mailing you." Kinda makes me wonder who I'm responding to in many of these e-mail messages.

Back to New Orleans for the weekend

For the third time in two months, I'm headed back down to the bayou, this time to run in the New Orleans Marathon on Sunday morning. On one hand, I have a lot of pent up energy to release on this course from avoiding running in the cold weather this week, but on the other hand, I've lost a lot of fitness since the session started. My Texarkana running partner is in the shape of his life and has been running everyday day through the winter. He's on a disciplined diet and just ran the Phoenix Marathon two weeks ago. I may just put him on a leash and hope I can hold on.

The first few miles ought to be entertaining, as I understand it's akin to "running with the bulls" by trying to elbow your way in the narrow streets of the French Quarter with 5,000 other runners. The 7:00 a.m. start also gives the party-goers from the night before something to yell at as we go by.

Providing for the electronic publication of the Arkansas Reports

I'm presenting one of the two bills on today's House calendar. HB1033 is a cost-saving measure, which gives the Supreme Court Reporter the authority to publish and distribute opinions in the format directed by the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals. It will also require that the reports be made publicly available for viewing at no charge via the Internet. The result will be that the official reports will be published electronically rather than in book form. Other private companies will continue to publish the opinions in book form. It'll save approximately $225,000 annually in taxpayer funds, and it is supported by the Administrative Office of the Courts. The downside is that these books (dating back to 1836) make a pretty nice looking library, but for the vast majority of the 100 or so subscribers across the state, that's the only purpose they serve.



Update: Bill passes 98-0.

Slovak Oyster Supper

The annual oyster supper will take place tonight in Prairie County. The governor has it on his schedule. Here's the only picture I can find (from 2006).

McDaniel, Reep, Maloch, Beebe, Berry

Governor to make aerial tour of north Arkansas Friday -- DELAYED

Governor Beebe will make an aerial tour of ice-damaged counties in northern Arkansas tomorrow, stopping along the way to speak with local leaders about recovery efforts. Tentative stops are Fayetteville (Drake Field) at 8:45 a.m., Harrison (9:45 a.m.), Mountain Home (10:30 a.m.), and Piggott: 11:45 a.m.

Update (6:50 a.m. Friday): Spokesman Matt DeCample says that the tour of ice damage in north Arkansas has been delayed by fog and frozen fog in the northern part of the state. A new tentative itinerary will be issued once the fog lifts.

Update II: New tentative itenerary:

Fayetteville (Drake Field): 10:45 a.m.
Harrison: 11:45 a.m.
Mountain Home: 12:30 p.m.
Piggott: 1:45 p.m.
Jonesboro: 2:45 p.m.

Interior designers are out of $$

The Arkansas House just failed to pass the $10,635 appropriation to the Board of Registered Interior Designers. The funds that were to be distributed to them are collected through registration costs of the board's members. Rep. Dan Greenberg took this board on last summer and spoke against the appropriation request. He'll now seek to have the board abolished. The bill received 60 votes for (30 votes against), but it needed 2/3's approval from the full body.

Update: And yes, as I always do, I voted against the War Memorial Stadium Commission appropriation. If we're against wasteful spending in government, nothing is more wasteful than spending $5,000,000+ in taxpayer money to play two football games annually in a dilapidated stadium (and one is normally against some double directional non-conference gimme). That's 500 times the size of the interior designers' budget.

Update II: Paul's Law, the proposal to prohibit texting while driving, passed by a vote of 78 for, 12 against, and 1 voting present. Rep. Mark Martin spoke against the bill on the basis that it is a primary offense, meaning that drivers can be specifically pulled over for texting while driving. Drivers can only be cited for secondary offenses when stopped for another valid reason.

Today in House Judiciary

We have a special order of business beginning at 10:30, and there are a few controversial items of note that could be debated.

Update: Action taken by the committee is in bold.

Special order of business - 10:30 a.m.
HB1015 (Abernathy): An act concerning registration of arsonists. Pulled down

Regular agenda
HB1008 (R. Green): To amend statute regarding grandparents visitation rights. Moved to deferred
HB1027 (Cole): An act increasing the penalty range for voyeurism for persons over the age of 18. Pulled down
HB1030 (Harrelson): Authorizes closing of unlicensed trans. housing for criminal offenders. Moved to deferred
HB1033 (Harrelson): An act to provide for the electronic publication and distribution of the Arkansas Reports. Passed
HB1051 (Greenberg): An act concerning the dissemination of criminal history information. Passed over
HB1058 (Creekmore): Removes the statute of limitations for rape, Kidnapping, and sexual assault. Passed over
HB1093 (Sample): An act concerning illegal immigration. Moved to deferred
HB1097 (Stewart): An act concerning carrying a concealed handgun on college campuses. Moved to deferred
HB1116 (Adcock): Makes it unlawful to reproduce, paint, or alter temp cardboard buyer's tag. Passed as amended
HB1161 (L. Smith): Creates offense of fraudulent filing of a UCC financing statement. Passed over
HB1213 (Patterson): Clarifies provisions of the Ark Residential Landlord-Tenant Act of 2007. Passed over
HB1215 (Hyde): On penalties for forbidding unsafe discharge of a firearm. Passed as amended
HB1227 (Nix): Lowers the BAC level threshold for repeat DWI offenders on suspended license. Passed over
HB1252 (Everett): Creates a community-based providers task force for juvenile services/treatment. Passed over
HB1255 (Greenberg): Concerns the burden of proof required to corroborate a defendant's confession. Pulled down

Also, HB1261 was referred to us late yesterday afternoon and didn't make it to today's agenda. Because of the lack of notice, we won't hear that bill today.

Bill prohibiting texting while driving on the House floor today -- UPDATE II

HB1013 has my support on its basic mission -- I do have some technical questions about the bill (see below). I think it's something that's hard to enforce, and I believe that it's probably already a violation of the reckless driving statute (Ark. Code Ann. § 27-50-308) to text while driving. Still, I believe it complements a theme of this legislature to put traumatic injury in the spotlight and should be explicitly prohibited. Here are my questions:

(1) I've read the bill as amended (it's been amended twice) and can't find a penalty. Like any other violation of the Transportation Code (speeding, running a stop light, etc.), it should have penalties, and they should be similar to the reckless driving statute referenced above or careless driving (Ark. Code Ann. § 27-51-104). It could be referenced somewhere else in subchapter 14 where it is being codified (and not in the bill), so I'll pull the code before voting in case I can answer my own question; and

(2) The language on p. 3, line 7 seems misplaced and disjointed (emphasis mine):

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the driver of a motor vehicle shall not use a handheld wireless telephone for wireless interactive communication while operating a motor vehicle.

hone for wireless interactive communication in emergencies.

Update: The penalty is an unclassified misdemeanor with a maximum fine of a hundred bucks. The language I raised in part two looks to be resolved in the official version of the amended bill.

Update II: The bill passed by a vote of 78 for, 12 against, and 1 voting present. Rep. Mark Martin spoke against the bill on the basis that it is a primary offense, meaning that drivers can be specifically pulled over for texting while driving.

Governor to sign SB77 next Wednesday

The signing ceremony for the legislation creating a first offense felony for aggravated animal cruelty will take place next Wednesday at 2:30 in the governor's conference room.

For those about to rock

I have an old fraternity brother with a box at Alltel, and I called in a favor and met him at tonight's AC/DC concert in North Little Rock. Kinda strange to go to a rock 'n roll show with a crowd that was almost exclusively 30 and up, but not when you consider that some of the band members are 60+. Besides Grant Tennille, I think I was the only guy there in a tie.

Committee fails to congratulate President Obama on his election

The most controversial matter before the State Agencies committee today ended up being the debate on a resolution from Rep. Stephanie Flowers congratulating Barack Obama on his election as the 44th POTUS. Some of the language ("WHEREAS, we're a nation founded by slave owners") was interpreted as somewhat inflammatory. Read it here. I thought it would hold up to questioning and merely generate a similar resolution thanking our former president for his leadership in the Middle East and keeping us safe. Fine -- just keep us off the Headline News ticker.

However, the resolution failed. I moved for its adoption, and it failed by a vote of 6 for, 11 against, 2 abstaining. Here's the roll call:

For (6): Me, Rep. Rick Saunders (D-Hot Springs), Rep. Eddie Cheatham (D-Crossett), Rep. Gene Shelby (D-Hot Springs), Rep. Donna Hutchinson (R-Bella Vista), Rep. Uvalde Lindsey (D-Fayetteville).

Against (11): Rep. Ed Garner (R-Maumelle), Rep. Clark Hall (D-Marvell), Rep. Duncan Baird (R-Lowell), Rep. Tiffany Rogers (D-Stuttgart), Rep. Dan Greenberg (R-Little Rock), Rep. Andrea Lea (R-Russellville), Rep. Jonathan Dismang (R-Searcy), Rep. Butch Wilkins (D-Jonesboro), Rep. Karen Hopper (R-Mountain Home), Rep. Davy Carter (R-Cabot), Rep. Mary Slinkard (R-Gravette).

Abstain (2): Rep. Larry Cowling (D-Foreman) and Rep. Linda Tyler (D-Conway) didn't vote when the roll was called.

Rep. Lindsley Smith was running a bill in the House Committee on City, County, and Local Affairs and wasn't present when the roll was called.

In other news before the committee, members voted unanimously to abolish and move the Arkansas Board of Cosmetology over under the Department of Health. Even though this bill generated a fair amount of email, no one showed to debate the bill.

'Beyond a garden-variety recession'

Friend and former Razorback roundballer John Engskov sends along this commentary from Merrill Lynch's chief economist for North America, David Rosenberg, who says we're already in a depression. Here's an excerpt:

Clearly, we have gone beyond a classic recession when the yield on the three-month Treasury bill falls to zero. This has happened only in the 1930s and in Japan in the 1990s, and is emblematic of an economy that has structural, not merely cyclical, imbalances to work through. It is clear that we are beyond a garden-variety recession. Even after nearly a year-and-a-half of unprecedented interest rate relief, multiple liquidity backstops, banking sector capital injections, loan modifications and record tax rebates, there is still no end in sight for the contraction in credit, bear market in financial stocks, decline in real economic activity, peaking unemployment, or any signs of normalcy returning to credit. This despite a moderate narrowing in spreads from Armageddon-type levels.

Policy will become more interventionist

The expansion in the government balance sheet is necessary to offset the contraction in private sector balance sheets (keeping in mind that expansions and contractions of balance sheets refer to taking or paying off debt). Accelerating growth in the money supply is also vital as an antidote to the decline in money velocity (the turnover rate of money in the real economy). Simply put, an economic depression occurs only once it becomes painfully obvious that the markets and the economy are failing to respond to repeated bouts of policy stimulus. That we have reached a point where de facto nationalization of some of the banks is even under discussion attests to the view that government policy is becoming that much more dramatic and interventionist.

Clingin' to my guns and my religion

HB1237 has been assigned to my committee, which allows for concealed carry in churches. I'm from south Arkansas, so therefore I have guns -- a lot of 'em. Still, the thought of carrying one into the sanctuary has never crossed my mind.

I suppose it's the principle of not having control over one's own property (the most valid point), and this is obviously reactionary to the 2008 shooting at a Unitary Unitarian Church in the hills of Tennessee. This'll be an interesting debate, because members on the committee know it'll be the first bill on the 2009 NRA scorecard.

Update: The first message on the bill comes from a preacher at a Fordyce Baptist Church. He's for it, he says, on the basis that each church should be able to choose for itself whether concealed carry inside the building is appropriate. Update II: My pastor is less enthusiastic and points me to the church discipline, which prohibits firarms at events associated with the church.

Governor declares winter weather state of emergency

State Inclement Weather Policy to remain in effect Wednesday

Governor Beebe has declared a state of emergency to speed the response of state agencies to the ice storm continuing to have an impact on Arkansas. The declaration allows state agencies to more easily coordinate with the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management. Beebe has also signed an emergency proclamation to assist in the movement of utility trucks to areas affected by the storm.

In addition, the Inclement Weather Policy for state government in the Little Rock area will remain in effect for Wednesday. For now, State offices are scheduled to again open two hours late. The situation will be reassessed in the morning once the full impact of tonight's weather is known. Legislative business will proceed as scheduled tomorrow.

Thomas Paine Day fails in Senate committee

HB1086 by Rep. Lindsley Smith passed the House last week but failed in a Senate committee today. The bill would commemorate Thomas Paine Day in Arkansas. The Senate Committee on State Agencies and Governmental Affairs failed to give a second to Senator Bryles' motion to pass the bill out of committee. It will remain on the active calendar, and Rep. Smith has one more opportunity to present the bill.

Other bills passed out of House Judiciary this morning

Besides the animal cruelty legislation, four bills were endorsed by House Judiciary this morning:

HB1171 (Rep. Maloch): This bill converts the prsoecuting attorney's position in the 13th Judicial District from a "B" to an "A" (part-time to full-time). Robin Carroll is the current prosecutor there, and he has a geographic area larger than Rhode Island and Delaware combined (and the 7th highest caseload). If this bill becomes law, he'll be the 24th of 28 full-time prosecutors in the state.

HB1011 (Rep. Hutchinson): This is the voyeurism bill that was debated last week and amended over the weekend.

SB69 (Sen. Madison): Makes corrections to Title 23 of the Arkansas Code.

HB1041 (Rep. Creekmore): This adds a section in the code to domestic battery in the third degree to include aggravated assault of a family or household member.

These bills will be debated on the floor of the House tomorrow.

Debate on SB77: Animal cruelty bill

We're now in House Judiciary debating the bill that creates a first offense felony for aggravated animal cruelty, and Attorney General Dustin McDaniel is explaining the bill.

Update (10:15): General McDaniel is now responding to questioning from Rep. Terry Rice (R-Waldron) on two issues: (1) whether this is the first in a series of legislation enhancing penalties for animal cruelty and (2) the number of misdemeanor charges filed in 2008.

Update (10:20): General McDaniel is now responding to questioning from Rep. Ann Clemmer (R-Bryant).

Update (10:25): We're now hearing testimony from Anna Slavin from Scott County, who is speaking against the bill.

Update (10:30): We're now hearing testimony from Desiree Bender with the Humane Society, who is speaking for the bill.

Update (10:35): We're now hearing testimony from Marvin Childers with the Poultry Federation, who is speaking for the bill.

Update (10:40): Rep. Lindsley Smith moves Do Pass, and the bill passes with one "no" vote -- Rep. Terry Rice of Waldron voted against the bill.

Post Script: Man, I am having the time of my life. The one thing that makes serving as a chairman in the legislature preferable to serving as a judge on the bench is the ability to be the referee and player on the field at the same time. Throw in the fact that I also get to sit in the press box and cover the game, and that makes this position one that I'm going to miss now that term limits is kicking in for me.

Inclement weather policy in effect today

Capitol at 6:45 this morning

Under the state's Inclement Weather Policy, State operations in the Little Rock metropolitan area will be delayed two hours due to icy conditions in parts of Central Arkansas. Conditions will be reassessed later this morning with temperatures still at or near freezing and more precipitation expected. State Agency directors may authorize additional delays prior to that reassessment for employees who live in areas that have become especially treacherous due to the ice.

Legislative business and committees will proceed as scheduled, and House Judiciary will still meet at 10:00 a.m.

Ross to host "telephone" town hall

Congressman Mike Ross will hold his first ever telephone town hall conference at 7:00 p.m. Arkansas time from his Washington office. While members of the media can listen in, the call is for 4th District residents. Ross will discuss the nation’s current economic situation and the stimulus package being debated by Congress among other issues.

The town hall should last approximately 60 minutes. Any resident throughout the Fourth Congressional District can connect into the telephone town hall by dialing the following toll free number and using the included PIN: (877) 229-8493, PIN: 14573. Anyone may listen to the call and specific instructions will be given to callers if they want to ask questions.

Texarkana Chamber reception

The Texarkana Chamber of Commerce hosted a legislative reception tonight at Next Level Events at Union Station here in Little Rock. We had a good contingent from southwest Arkansas, and most decided to leave fairly early because of the weather. Here I am passing out door prizes alongside Chamber President Jeff Sandford.

The governor's healthcare initiatives

Many have asked what the proposed tobacco tax funds other than the trauma system. The governor has unveiled this website that details the proposed projects. He also lays it out in this speech made earlier today. Besides the trauma system, here are some of the other key components of the proposal:

Other key components of the governor's healthcare proposal include:

• New funding for home health care
• New funding for community health centers
• New funding for prevention and treatment options for a wide range of diseases affecting thousands of Arkansans
• New funding for adult dental care improvements
• Additional funding for coordinated school health
• Expanded flu shot campaign
• New options for care for children and families living with autism
• Additional support to fight hunger
• Expanded health coverage for children
• Ongoing support for a new medical school in northwest Arkansas

Now lest you think the trauma system is merely a "hospital" for Little Rock, you ought to take a look at the impact trauma systems have in other surrounding states. I routinely travel through east Texas and see first hand how the network of facilities work together to save lives. Even in small towns such as Gilmer, they participate by having a Level IV Trauma Center (see picture).

The Texas trauma system was established by the Texas Legislature in 1989. The Texas Legislature recognized that trauma is now recognized as the number one killer of children and young adults, and that the effects of trauma morbidity and mortality also contribute to its being the most expensive disease for all people of all ages in terms of hospitalization and disability. Their legislation divided the state into 22 Trauma Service Areas that account for the 254 counties in Texas. The levels of care are divided into four types of facilities:

• Level I: Comprehensive Trauma Facility
• Level II: Major Trauma Facility
• Level III: General Trauma Facility
• Level IV: Basic Trauma Facility

As you can see above, communities like Gilmer (about the size of Nashville or Ashdown) have facilities and personnel that participate in the system. If the level of trauma is such that the patient requires additional trauma resources, a patient in this facility can be transported 40 miles to the region's Level I trauma center in Tyler. With the passage of HB1204, Arkansas can have this as well.

Tomorrow in House Judiciary

Tomorrow's agenda will be made available shortly after 2:00 p.m. today (the rules require the agenda to be available 18 hours prior to the meeting), and there are a couple of changes. We'll begin with a special order of business on SB77, the first offense animal cruelty bill. Rep. Pam Adcock (D-Little Rock) will present the bill, and Attorney General Dustin McDaniel will accept questions from the committee (as will others in the audience).

Due to weather concerns, we are removing the special orders of business requested by Rep. Donna Hutchinson (R-Bella Vista) on voyeurism and registered sex offenders (two different bills), and they will now be heard on February 3. Several witnesses may not have been able to make the trek to Little Rock tomorrow. Rep. Randy Stewart (D-Kirby) is likely to present his bill regarding concealed handguns on college campuses, so it could be a pretty lively meeting. Stewart's bill merely requires that if specific institutions prohibit firearms on campus that they conspicuously post signs saying so. We convene at 10:00 a.m. in Rm. 149.

Update: Rep. Stewart will not run his bill in the morning due to an amendment to add sponsors. He's also making a modification to appease an aginner, and he'll likely run the bill next week.

Running buddies

Roby Brock published an article late last week that I failed to post about Greeg Reep and me titled "running buddies." Gregg and I were seatmates in our first session in 2005, and he now sits directly across the aisle from me in the front row in the House chamber (picture).

He's chairing the House Committee on Public Health and is the lead sponsor of the bill that will fund the trama system and other parts of the healthcare package being proposed by the governor and legislative leaders. I lean on him on issues pertaining to municipal governments (he was the mayor of Warren for 18 years) and health issues, and he leans on me on issues pertaining to the judiciary.

Here's a link to the Talk Business article.

Governor, legislators unveil healthcare package

I'm just returning to the Capitol from Arkansas Children's Hospital, where a rally was held in support of HB1204, which was filed this morning. The bill, of which I am a sponsor, raises the cigarette tax by 56 cents per pack in order to bring in sufficient revenue to fund the trauma system and provides funding for other healthcare related projects. The bill also increases taxes on snuff/chewing tobacco.

Kudos to Robert McLarty for the professional setting -- it looked like a presidential press conference. Here are some pictures:

Pinch hitting

Lori, Camille and I attended the 4th Annual Stompers Drumline banquet last night at Kilpatrick Elementary in Texarkana. The featured speaker didn't show, so I happily agreed to give the address for the night.

This group of kids performs at different activities, events, and parades throughout the year, and they take a trip once a year to learn the importance of civic involvement. Last year, they traveled to the U.S. Capitol and participated in a rally for then presidential candidate Barack Obama.

Cooper Tire celebration

A good crowd turned out to celebrate the retention of Cooper Tire and its 1,400 jobs at the Texarkana plant. Cooper President/CEO Roy Armes spoke, as did Governor Beebe, Congressman Ross, Senator Horn, Mayor Shipp, Steelworkers 752L President David Boone, and Chamber President Jeff Sandford. We had a good contingent of current and former legislators in attendance, including my Texas-side colleague Stephen Frost (D-Atlanta). Here are a few pictures:

Rally For Healthcare Package Monday

By Rep. Robbie Wills

We will hold a rally on Monday, January 26 at 11:30 a.m. at Arkansas Children's Hospital in support of the tobacco tax increase to support the healthcare package. For more details, read this. For more on my position on this and other issues, please visit www.robbiewills.com.

House leadership retreat

We've been in work sessions and reviewing rules and procedures here on Petit Jean since the House adjourned yesterday. The sessions will continue today, but I need to get down the mountain for a banquet with the governor in Texarkana that begins at 11:00 this morning.

Animal Cruelty Bill (SB 77)

By Rep. Robbie Wills

Thursday we read the Animal Cruelty bill, Senate Bill 77, across the desk. It was originally assigned to the House Agriculture, Forestry and Economic Development Committee. This was in error. SB 77 will now be heard in House Judiciary Committee. The bill deals with making animal cruelty a first-offense felony and as I've previously stated, I believe new felonies and felony enhancements need to be vetted by the Judiciary Committee. I'm a co-sponsor of the bill and sit on the Agri committee; I'm certain it would have passed Agri just fine. However Judiciary is the appropriate committee.

Magnolia bound

I'm headed down to Magnolia tonight for a Leadership Arkansas program. I'm attending another leadership retreat tomorrow night at the WinRock Institute on Petit Jean before attending a celebratory banquet with the governor on Saturday for Cooper Tire in Texarkana. I'm ready to sleep in the same bed twice in a row.

Thursday on the House floor

Legislation of note on today's calendar includes a bill by Rep. Greenberg that rwuires express statutory cross-referece for all new exemptions to the Arkansas FOI Act. The bill failed by a vote of 49-17.

Rep. Lindsley Smith's bill to commemorate Thomas Paine Day passed this year by a vote of 66-21-3.

Update: Speaker Robbie Wills just sent the animal cruelty bill to House Agriculture. It will be reassigned to Judiciary in the morning, and I've already set it for a speacial order of business beginningat 10:00 a.m. Tuesday morning.

UofA creates commission to focus on college affordability, efficiency

A news release from the UofA this morning states that the university has created a commission to be chaired by Don Pederson, vice chancellor for finance and administration, to increase efficiency in all aspects of operations at the University of Arkansas with an eye toward affordability. The commission will review academic and administrative unit cost reallocation and reduction plans throughout the university. It will recommend to the chancellor, on an ongoing basis, ways to contain costs and make the university more affordable to future generations of students without compromising quality.

Many manufacturers not taking advantage of 2007 tax break

Roby Brock reports this morning on the large number of manufacturers that have not taken advantage of the tax break on energy consumption for manufaturers that was enacted during the 2007 legislative session. Roughly 18% of the 3,600 manuacturers in the state have applied for the reduced tax rate benefits. The tax now stands at 4%, and there is discussion of reducing it further. Most legislators consider it to be a lower priority than the governor's proposal to further reduce the grocery tax. Each percentage point taken from the manufacturers' sales tax on energy consumption is estimated to reduce state revenue by $15 million, according to DF&A forecasters.

Governor nominates Todd Turner candidate for chair of Democratic Party of Arkansas

Getting caught up on posting and see that Governor Beebe nominated Todd Turner of Arkadelphia to serve as the next DPA chairman. I've known Todd both as an attorney and through Clark County politics and know he'll make a great chair.

Turner is a DeQueen native and holds degrees from OBU and UALR Law School. He served as an officer in the Arkansas Army National Guard and has served as a deputy prosecuting attorney.

Inaugural Ball

We're headed over to the DC Armory for the Southern Ball. It starts at 10:00 Eastern, and it'll apparently be the Obamas last stop tonight. I'll check in by cell phone if able. Click the picture to the right for my report on KTBS-3 Shreveport/Texarkana tonight.

Update (1:45 a.m.): Here are a few pictures. We're catching the first flight out of Dulles, so I'm setting the alarm for 90 minutes from now. I'll check in midday Wednesday:

Inaugural parade

We watched the parade from the DLC event, which was held at the Old Ebbitt Grill at 15th and Pennsylvania near the White House and the end of the parade. My good friend Jennifer Mann of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives saved us a great window seat, and when the presidential motorcade drove by our area, Obama got out to walk. Here's a picture of him getting out of the limo.




Here are a couple of pictures from the DLC event itself:

Swearing-in ceremony

We're in our spots with a great view but can't get a very good signal. Posting may be spotty.

Live blogging the inaugural

Lori and I are bundled up and are headed down to the Capitol to find our places for the swearing-in. The event begins at 10:00 (9:00 Arkansas time), and the inaugural address will take place at noon eastern. We'll be in the standing area on the west front of the Capitol.

It will be challenging blogging from the west front of the Capitol without a laptop, so our plan is to blog from my iPhone (assuming I get service in the crowd) and post pictures by emailing them to my office in Texarkana from my phone. After the parade, I'll come back and post the pictures from my good camera.

I'm going to go ahead and embed my cell phone video camera here and will post live feeds throughout the day.



We're staying in far NW DC at the home of Linda Jewell, former ambassador to Ecuador. Linda is a Little Rock native and graduated from Hall High before going to Yale -- very gracious hosts.

Kudos to Drew Goesl and Congressman Mike Ross

Here's one guy who's glad it's Tuesday. Drew Goesl is chief of staff to Congressman Mike Ross, and he helped facilitate requests and getting tickets out to constituents in the 4th District. That office has been extremely busy for the last several weeks -- here's hoping things slow down in the office for a couple of days.

20 degrees

Lori found a hat that only Bon Scott of AC/DC could love (she says I look like Ins. Gadget). But, I think we've dressed warm enough to withstand the cold weather for the next several hours.

MLK Commemorative Service

Reginald Reid was the speaker at this morning's annual commemorative service held at the Lonoke Baptist Church in Texarkana. Click here for video. I'm en route to DC and will check in once I arrive.

2009 Day of Service

6th Annual MLK Gala in Texarkana

Raising funds for Arkansas Children's Hospital

Here's a recent picture with Melissa Pickens of Arkansas Children's Hospital and Lynn Jackson, chair of our local Circle of Friends for the ACH Foundation. I chaired the Kampaign for Kids to raise money for Children's Hospital. It was our first year to hold a fundraising campaign, and while we didn't raise as much as some of the other larger chapters in the state, we're hopeful that we'll be able to grow into one of the largest contributors to the hospital. Including figures from Bowie County, ACH treats hundreds of children from Texarkana annually.

Citizen journalism in DC

Updates:Arkansas Democratic Party National Committeewoman Krystal Thrailkill with Gloria Steinem


Jamie Darling with Doris Kearns Goodwin


Original post:

House Majority Whip Kathy Webb sends in this cell phone picture taken moments ago near the stage at the Lincoln Memorial, shooting back towards the Washington Monument. The official inaugural events began today with this concert featuring Beyonce, Sheryl Crow, John Legend, Bruce Springsteen, James Taylor, U2, will.i.am and Stevie Wonder.

Obama is due to appear at the Lincoln Memorial at 2:30 p.m. The first families will join him. He will give a speech at 4 p.m. The Associated Press reports that the crowd size is likely to reach 500,000 by that time. Lori and I are attending a local MLK gala tonight here in Texarkana and will be en route to the inauguration tomorrow.

Inauguration watch parties

If you're not going to be in DC, there'll be plenty of places to gather to watch the events. If you're at the Capitol or in downtown Little Rock, the Democratic Party will hold a watch party at its headquarters. Doors open at 8:15 (the ceremony begins at 9:00 a.m.; inaugural address begins at 11:00 a.m.; parade begins at 1:00 p.m. -- all times Arkansas time).

Governor's weekly radio address

Honoring Martin Luther King, Jr.
Click play on the console below:

Southern Political Report on Arkansas Republicans

Here's a report on the Republican Party of Arkansas from the Southern Political Report.

Ross Named to House Foreign Affairs Committee

Mike Ross has been selected to serve on the House Foreign Affairs Committee which considers measures about the relations of the United States with foreign nations, protection of United States' citizens abroad, the United Nations and NATO. Ross also serves on the House Energy & Commerce Committee and was again appointed by House leadership to represent the United States on NATO’s Parliamentary Assembly (NATO-PA), a bipartisan assembly that travels to other NATO countries to discuss issues of common interest and concern, such as strengthening global partnerships, improving trade relations, reducing drug trafficking, and working with our allies to stop terrorism.

Legislature to stand in recess Tuesday, January 20

SCR2 was approved by the House a few moments ago, which will put the legislature in recess during next week's presidential inauguration. The House vote fell largely along party lines 69-22-4. Rep. Dan Greenberg (R-Little Rock) spoke against the resolution, and Rep. Rick Green (R-Van Buren) spoke for the resolution. The roll call is on the jump.

Attorney General reiterates Farm Bureau's support for SB77

A message from Attorney General Dustin McDaniel:

Yesterday, I joined Senator Sue Madison and Representative Pam Adcock to announce the filing of SB77, which would create a first offense felony for aggravated animal cruelty.

The filing of this bill was heavily reported by news outlets across the State. One news organization, KARK in Little Rock, reported that the bill was being opposed by Farm Bureau. That statement was incorrect and, in fact, KARK has publicly corrected its error. KARK's correction can be found here. Furthermore, on the jump is the copy of the press release Farm Bureau issued on January 6, 2009 indicating its support of this legislation.

In sum, all organizations that were identified as supporting SB 77 at yesterday's press conference, including Farm Bureau, remain firm in that commitment.

If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact me.

Dustin McDaniel
Attorney General

Robbie Wills: Attack of the Robo Calls!!!

By Speaker Robbie Wills

(Note: Steve has graciously allowed me to post on Under the Dome during the legislative session, so I'll be checking in from time to time. Of course, the views expressed here may not reflect the views of the blog's owner, but that's ok too! [Steve Edit: yeah, they do] More can be found at my website www.robbiewills.com Thanks! Rep. Robbie Wills, Speaker of the House)

Well, that didn't take long. Apparently the tobacco lobby has unleashed the predictable and dreaded "automated phone calls" on poor, unsuspecting House and Senate members in an effort to inundate legislators with "calls from back home" opposed to the cigarette tax.

See, most lobbyists will tell you the most effective people to persuade a member are that person's constituents. The more calls a lawmaker gets opposed to an issue (any issue) the more likely that lawmaker will be swayed to vote "no." So, the name of the game is to generate the perception of a groundswell of opposition. It used to be that grassroots organizations would use good old fashioned (and effective) techniques like phone trees, letter writing campaigns, etc. to accomplish this goal. Nowadays, with auto-dialing technology and demographic microtargeting, an outfit simply hires (a) a telemarketing firm and (b) industry-generated consumer data, and wham, bam, you got yerself a grassroots groundswell made to order. Tobacco companies, like any other consumer-driven industry, have invested heavily in direct marketing and customer identification. In short, they know who buys smokes on a regular basis. They provide this to the telemarketing folks who autodial numbers of likely smokers. If they get an answering machine, they leave a prerecorded message urging the listener to call their legislator and tell them to vote no. If someone picks up, they are connected with an operator who tells them all about this tax increase and then asks "would you like to be connected with your state representative?" After being worked into a rolling boil by the telemarketer, the consumer, of course, says "well heck yeah!!" Next thing you know, the legislator's published phone number is ringing with an angry constituent calling up their elected official because they are madder than a wet hen about this cigarette tax increase. Pretty slick.

So today, less than 48 hours after I suggested the House consider raising the cigarette tax and less than 24 hours after Gov. Beebe specifically asked for a 56 cent increase, members were swamped with dozens of phone messages urging us to vote against the cigarette tax. My mailbox only holds 20 voicemails and it is now full. (Please take me off the list. I'm not budging). I began to get skeptical when the first "vote no" caller called me "Senator Mills." A later message said something like "the man that forwarded me to you said..." Later, a member shared with me that a caller actually named the tobacco manufacturer that had placed the autocall and forwarded them to the lawmaker's phone.

I'm not suggesting these are sleazy, unethical calls. This is politics, and it's a full-contact sport. I am suggesting this is the type of tactic you have to resort to when you are afraid you can't win on the merits. The reality is Arkansas is spending hundreds of millions of dollars treating smoking related illnesses. Each smoker in Arkansas accounts for, on average, $1,300 apiece each year in additional healthcare costs to the state. The money the state spends treating smokers would pay for a Trauma System, Community Health Centers, UAMS/NWA, in-home care for seniors, etc. many times over. The tobacco tax would have to be $7 a pack for the state to break even. This is the reality of this issue. The robocall-generated perception of grassroots oppostition to this ambitious and bold healthcare proposal may momentarily give legislators pause, but facts are stubborn things.

Arkansas smokers and the double whammy -- UPDATE

The proposal to increase the tax on a pack of Arkansas cigarettes by 56 cents per pack is gaining steam, although the 3/4 threshold will still be tough to clear. The pressure has been on the legislature to finally agree on a funding mechanism for a statewide trauma system and other health-related proposals, and this is the only viable proposal with broad support currently. Passage would mean that the state tax on a carton of cigarettes would be $11.50, rather than the current $5.90. That's just the least of the worries for Arkansas smokers this week.

Today, the U.S. House voted to expand S-CHIP to four million more children. The funding for this project comes from an increase to the federal excise tax on cigarettes by 61 cents per pack. That would make the FET an even dollar per pack, or ten dollars per carton.

That means within a few weeks/months, Arkansans who smoke could see a pack of cigarettes increase by $1.17 per pack (or $11.70 per carton). The total tax on a carton of cigerettes would be $21.50 in Arkansas. I'm a firm believer that fewer smokers will significantly reduce our Medicaid obligations, but I've never bought the theory that a tax increase, even a sharp one, will cause many Arkansans to stop smoking. People quit smoking for reasons other than price. Maybe I'm a cynic, but I believe the main result will be a shift in sales from name brand cigarettes to generics. I guess that could be construed as a good thing if you're looking for a permanent stream of revenue to fund children's health insurance or a trauma system.

Update: The Mississippi House voted today to increase its cigarette tax from 18 cents to a dollar per pack.

Arkansas Times' Arkansan of the Year: Bill Halter

Here's the link.

State of the States: Arkansas and beyond

Roby Brock compares the current Arkansas landscape with a report released by Pew on stateline.org. The report suggests likely legislative trends that normally occur in an economic downturn.

Illegal immigration bill coming to House Judiciary

We're getting the Judiciary committee started off the right way with HB1096 HB1093 (oops, thanks, Mark), a radioactive bill on illegal immigration. Diametrically opposed interest groups are gearing up, and the Keep Arkansas Legal organization will be holding a rally at the Capitol tomorrow before sitting in the first House Judiciary meeting tomorrow morning (which will just be an organizational meeting, by the way). You can expect talking points to be distributed from both sides by the end of the week. With the legislature likely to adjourn for Tuesday for the inaugural, the earliest this bill is likely to be debated is next Thursday, January 22.

Greenberg withdraws in vitro bill

Rep. Dan Greenberg's bill to repeal the mandated health insurance coverage for in vitro fertilization is on today's "members' own withdrawal calendar." The bill garnered significant media coverage when it was prefiled on December 9.

The only other bill on the withdrawal calendar is HB1059, which sought to establish an investment tax credit for the rehabilitation and development of central business improvement districts by Rep. Tracy Pennartz.

As usual, the session is getting off to a slow start while bills work their way through committees. Joint Budget (9:00) and most of the "B" standing committeess (10:00) will meet today, and the only bill for consideration on the House floor is the Senate's expense bill for the session. That'll take place at 1:30. I have an early meeting with some constituents who are driving up this morning with concerns about raising the cigarette tax.

KATV's Choose Your News poll tonight

Tolbert points me to KATV, where the nightly poll for the Choose Your News segment includes blogging legislators as a choice. We're currently in the lead. Go vote.

Update: Oof. Beaten by DTV transition challenges. Talk about a blow to the ego.

Act 100 turns 100

Here are a couple of pictures from the Act 100 reception tonight at the Governor's Mansion. Act 100 of 1909 created four agriculture schools, one in each of the then Arkansas congressional districts. The schools are now Arkansas State University, Arkansas Tech University, Southern Arkansas University, and the University of Arkansas at Monticello. Governor Beebe will re-enact the signing of Act 100 at the Capitol tomorrow. I had to get back and log the five miles I avoided this morning before it hits the freezing mark tonight.