Governor to suspend call-in shows during election season

With Governor Beebe preparing to file for re-election, both his radio and television call-in shows will stop airing until after the general election. "Ask the Governor" on the Arkansas Radio Network, and "Arkansans Ask: Governor Mike Beebe" on the Arkansas Educational Television Network have both halted production during previous elections to avoid giving any perceived advantage to a sitting governor. "Ask the Governor" is expected to return on Friday, November 5. Future dates for "Arkansans Ask: Governor Mike Beebe" will be announced as they are set.

Eight-Liner Machines

The Texarkana Gazette editorial took aim at Eight-Liner machines and the Chuck E. Cheese law in this morning's Texarkana Gazette. Locally, it's believed that many of these arcades that have eight-liner machines are paying out cash prizes in violation of Arkansas law, which in turn takes legal money away from local charities via the legal bingo parlors around the area (mostly on the Arkansas-side because of the setup of the two states' laws). There is some validity to this. These cases are difficult to prosecute, and there may be a tweak in the law to help clarify what types of machines should be legal (which includes, in my opinion, the arcade games in Chuck E. Cheese and other places), and what shouldn't. The problem comes when arcade owners pay out cash for winning prizes on any type of machine. The only way I know to curtail that activity is to increase the fines and/or the punishment for doing it. It is already a violation of Arkansas law, and perhaps the legislature needs to give law enforcement some teeth to use with these arcades. Ark. Code Ann. §5-66-103 already makes "keeping a gambling house" a Class D felony.

Arkansas Committee on Foreign Relations

I ran over to the Capital Hotel in between House Rules and the voting calendar to hear Dr. Steven Emerson discuss U.S. relations in Africa -- informative program. This organization, led by Warwick Sabin, brings well known speakers and interesting topics to Arkansas.

Political Animals Club

Columnist John Brummett was the featured speaker at today's Political Animals Club at the Governor's Mansion. I ran over there in between House Rules and Joint Budget. His best quip? "The 2nd congressional district is Pulaski County surrounded by Oklahoma."

Week 3 of the fiscal legislative session

We're beginning week three of the 2010 legislative session today, and it looks like we'll wrap things up this week. The Revenue Stabilization Act is on the own bill/own amendment calendar this morning, and the RSA spreadsheet was placed on members' desks Friday afternoon. It's required to be there for three days prior to a third and final reading of the bill. Here I am discussing the session and how technology plays a role in connecting with constituents on KATV's Daybreak this morning.

Today at the Capitol
• 11:00: House Leadership (Rm. 428)
• 12:00: House Rules (Rm. 151)
• 1:00: Special Language (Rm. 272)
• 1:30: Joint Budget (Rm. 171)
• 2:00: Senate convenes
• 2:30: House convenes

On today's House calendar:
• 16 budget bills

Elsewhere:
• 11:30: Political Animals Club w/ John Brummett (sold out)

Run the Line Half Marathon Relay: First Losers

Billy Lavender and I teamed up to run the two-man relay for this year's edition of the Run the Line Half Marathon yesterday in Texarkana. We finished in 2nd place behind my running partner David Cox and his teammate, Kelly Lusk. This was the third year for the race, and all proceeds go to benefit Partnership for the Pathways. This year, the race was also part of the Arkansas RRCA Grand Prix series, and a record 295 participants turned out. Here's coverage from today's Texarkana Gazette.

Criminal Justice Symposium -- Washington, DC

I'm here in Washington DC today participating in a criminal justice symposium sponsored by the U.S. Department of Justice. Here's Attorney General Eric Holder addressing the crowd:

Petrino makes stop in Texarkana

Billy Lavender sends in this picture by text from last night's Texarkana Razorback Club of his son Trey. Head Coach Bobby Petrino spoke to a sold out crowd.

Working afternoon

The governor carved out some time to discuss a local issue today with some local economic and government leaders. This governor can recite entire sections of code word for word. Language contained in a constitutional amendment was raised. He knows what it says because he wrote it. This is a guy who was born to be governor.

The House pushed through dozens more budget bills this afternoon, and we'll reconvene at 10:30 tomorrow morning.

Legislative Health Fair

I ran down to participate in the legislative health fair in the Capitol rotunda after Joint Budget this morning. The health fair is being sponsored by the Arkansas Pharmacists Association, the Arkansas Hospital Association, and the Arkansas Medical Society and is free and open to the public. It's going on until 11:30, so if you're in central Arkansas, come on down.

Here I am being stuck by Megan Wilson, a Pharmacy student at UAMS. I broke the rules and forgot to fast this morning, which apparently skewed some of my numbers with my Kashi cereal, but I fared okay. Blood pressure was 120/76, my blood glucose was a little high (117), and my cholesterol was in range. They're also giving prostate screenings, and guys, they're simply taking a little blood -- get it done!

Former U.S. Senator David Boren visits the Capitol

Here's a picture of former U.S. Senator David Boren (D-Oklahoma) making a point to Arkansas Secretary of State Charlie Daniels today as he signed copies of his book A letter to America. Former U.S. Senator David Pryor sits in the background. Boren now serves as the president of the University of Oklahoma. Boren's father and my grandfather served in the U.S. House together back in the 40s, and his son now serves the U.S. House seat in Oklahoma that adjoins southwestern Arkansas.

Boren told of one war story from his days of helping David Pryor on one particular campaign. Apparently, he had spoken at a Pryor rally in Texarkana and ended up flying through weather en route to Seminole, Oklahoma that was so bad, an inspection of the plane upon a forced landing showed some permanent warping to the plane's frame. They drove the remaining 80 miles in to OKC that night.

Boren to speak at Capitol

Former U.S. Senator and current President of University of Oklahoma David Boren comes to Little Rock to speak at the State Capitol Rotunda and sign copies of his new book "A Letter to America." It'll take place tomorrow (Tuesday) at 12:30 and is free and open to the public.

Gotta love Louisiana

I just called down to the Caddo Parish Clerk of Court to confirm that they're closed for business today for President's Day and learned that the courthouse, and as a matter of fact all government buildings, are closed tomorrow for Mardi Gras...state law. "Come down Wednesday!" the clerk laughed. "But not too early." Laissez les bon temps rouler!

Texarkana Chamber Friday Breakfast

The Texarkana Chamber brought in Christian Moreno with Cooper Corporate Solutions this morning to talk about employee wellness and cost implications of wellness in health insurance. The turnout was affected by the snowfall we had.

East bound and down

Ran home upon adjournment yesterday for an event, which is necessary when the primary is 14 weeks away. It's back to legislative business this morning, as committee meetings begin at 8:00 a.m. at the Capitol. State offices in the Little Rock Metropolitan Area were largely closed yesterday and will reopen today, although Governor Beebe has put the Inclement Weather Policy in effect to allow state employees an extra two hours to navigate potentially icy roads this morning, especially secondary roads, which likely had some refreezing overnight.

The federal budget and Arkansas

Here's a Fact Sheet on Arkansas from the Office of Management and Budget that includes the proposed budget from the White House as it pertains to Arkansas.

Key Investments for Arkansas:

- Tax cuts for 1 million families.
- $575.6 million for schools, students, and teachers.
- $629.1 million to fix and expand the state’s network of roads and highways, modernize airports, and expand water and sewer infrastructure.
- $378.6 million in new funding for Pell Grants to help families pay for college.
- $184237 (?) million for housing assistance.

Arkansas State offices closed today in Little Rock area

With a hard freeze of slush-covered roads last night with some snow and temps remaining below freezing until this afternoon, Governor Mike Beebe decided to close State offices on Tuesday in the Little Rock Metropolitan Area last night. As with all inclement-weather delays and closures, this decision only encompasses state offices in the Little Rock Metro Area.

Live blogging the opening session

We've just notified the governor that we've convened for our joint session, and he'll be upstairs to address the legislature in a few minutes. We're now reading bills across the desk for the first and second readings.

House Rules will convene upon adjournment to prohibit the acceptance of campaign contributions for any House member running for any elected office. After that, it looks like the Capitol may close. It's coming down hard now.

Update (12:55 p.m.): The governor is now speaking about our obligation to remain focused and brief in balancing the budget and setting the amount of scholarships from the Arkansas Lottery. He discussed in detail the budget and specifically the concerns about Medicaid services. He discussed the cooperation and trust that exists between the governor's office and the legislative branch and suggested that it is one reason that we've enjoyed some success as a state in staying out of many of the problems other states have recently experienced.

Arkansas State offices to open two hours late

Under the state's Inclement Weather Policy, State operations in the Little Rock area will be delayed two hours Monday morning due to snow accumulations in parts of Central Arkansas. State Agency directors may authorize additional delays for employees who live in areas that have become especially treacherous.

Session eve with the Texarkana Symphony Orchestra

I spent the evening before the session catching the Texarkana Symphony Orchestra on a tribute to African-American composers over at the Lonoke Baptist Church. I ended up sleeping briefly and drove in here to Little Rock at 2:00 this morning. The rain switched over to snow just north of Malvern. Be careful out there.

Session begins Monday

It's been a madhouse around here today and this week, preparing to be out of the office for the upcoming inaugural fiscal legislative session on Monday. Here's Monday's Under the Dome lineup:

6:15 a.m.: I'll appear on KATV's Daybreak with Jessica Dean to talk about the session and technology;

11:00 a.m.: House leadership meets

12:00 p.m.: Legislature convenes

12:30 p.m.: Governor's address

Upon Adjournment: House Rules Committee meets to interpret Rule 106 (House members accepting campaign contributions during the session)

2:30 p.m.: Joint Budget Committee

As to the House Rules vote: I'll vote, as I think others will as well, that Rule 106 prohibits members from accepting campaign contributions during a session of the General Assembly. I've already told supporters in a recent letter that I will not have fundraisers or accept donations during this period. I don't think we can interfere with federal races, which are governed by the Federal Election Commission. I don't know how that will play out.

Over 270 bills have been filed to date. The deadline for filing concurrent resolutions on non-appropriation bills is Monday. The only item I anticipate to be filed ahead of that deadline is the legislation fixing the scholarship amounts, which will likely be the only non-fiscal legislation debated during this session. It should be a quick session, and I anticipate that we'll be home by the first week of March. Here's the governor's weekly radio address on the fiscal session:

Punxsutawney Phil, Arkansas style

The Little Rock Zoo's two Red River Hogs are likely to predict winter's end this morning at 10:30. And this can't be a political site without a report from Gobbler's Knob. Punxu Punxsa The varmint is predicting six more weeks of winter. Clear skies in PA.

Pre-empting health insurance mandates in the states

A movement by conservative lawmakers in a majority of the states will seek to tack on constitutional amendments prohibiting government health insurance mandates, the AP reports this morning. Whether any potential constitutional amendments to state constitutions could actually prohibit a federal mandate is another matter. One proposal last fall being considered in the U.S. Senate, however, would've allowed states to opt out of any potential health care requirement.