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.