Category Archives: Elections

Last time: Here’s what those amendments would do

Elections

By Steve Brawner, © 2020 by Steve Brawner Communications, Inc.

With so many Arkansans already voting, is it too late for a column about the three proposed constitutional amendments that were submitted by legislators? For those who haven’t voted, here’s a fair and balanced review, with a bone to pick at the end.

Issue 1 would permanently extend a half-cent sales tax for roads that’s set to expire in 2023. The tax is projected to raise $205 million annually for state highways and $87 million that would be split between cities and counties.

Supporters including business groups and Gov. Asa Hutchinson say the money is needed to repair and expand roadways. Highways traditionally have been funded through user fees such as motor fuels taxes, but those revenues are declining as vehicles become more fuel efficient. They say the tax would make highways safer and reduce the need for auto repairs. The COVID-19 pandemic has illustrated the need for a strong highway network.

Opponents say the Constitution is no place for a permanent tax. If we must raise taxes for highways, it should be done through legislation that easily can be changed as circumstances change. Tax revenues should come through some type of user fee. Or, they should not be raised at all. If highways need more money, cut spending elsewhere. Some say government should instead encourage more environmentally sustainable forms of transportation. Continue reading Last time: Here’s what those amendments would do →

So far, so good: People are voting

Elections

By Steve Brawner, © 2020 by Steve Brawner Communications, Inc.

Let’s look at the bright side in this year filled with hardship, sorrow and acrimony. People are voting peacefully in high numbers, while two candidates in Utah are showing it’s still possible to treat an opponent – and the process – with respect.

By the end of Wednesday, 76 million Americans had already voted, according to University of Florida professor Michael McDonald and his U.S. Elections Project website. That’s more than 55% of the total votes cast in 2016. Almost 32 million votes had been cast by mail.

In Arkansas, 632,955 people had already cast ballots, 534,263 of them in person. That’s already surpassed the 590,667 early and absentee votes cast in 2016.

McDonald projects 150 million Americans will vote in this year’s election – about 13 million more than voted for president in 2016.

This could be the highest turnout election in many decades, which is a hopeful sign long term. We may argue with each other on Facebook and at the dinner table, but Americans mostly are still treating each other respectfully as they stand in line at the polls to cast their ballots safely and privately.

We should not take this for granted. In the United States, voting might require some patience. Elsewhere – and earlier in our own history – people have died for this opportunity. Continue reading So far, so good: People are voting →

The 2022 election has already begun

Elections

By Steve Brawner, © 2020 by Steve Brawner Communications, Inc.

The votes have yet to be counted in the 2020 elections, but in Arkansas, the 2022 campaign has already started.

Earlier his month, the state’s two confirmed candidates for governor announced their campaign hauls for the past quarter, and they were impressive. Lt. Gov. Tim Griffin raised $894,970 and has raised nearly $1.7 million this year. Attorney General Leslie Rutledge raised $838,340, with about $41,000 coming from carryover funds. This was her first quarter to file a report.

Griffin and Rutledge have been circling each other for years as they compete to be the Republicans’ alpha dog at the state level. Meanwhile, they are keeping an eye on the race’s potential alpha elephant.

That would be Sarah Huckabee Sanders, daughter of former Gov. Mike Huckabee and, more importantly, President Trump’s former press secretary. She left the administration on very good terms with practically a Trump endorsement. If she runs for governor, she would have star power Griffin and Rutledge couldn’t match.

However, she hasn’t announced anything, and she has reasons not to run. She can make a lot of money off her time in the Trump administration, and she has young children whom she cited as reasons for leaving the White House pressure cooker. So we’ll see. Continue reading The 2022 election has already begun →

Does Issue 3 fix the broken process?

Elections, Politics, State government

By Steve Brawner, © 2020 by Steve Brawner Communications, Inc.

Arkansas state legislators are proposing a constitutional amendment that would make it harder for citizens to pass constitutional amendments in the future. And yes, the process is broken. The question is, will this fix it?

Issue 3, which is on this year’s ballot, also would make it harder for citizens to pass initiated acts, which are voter-created state laws, and also referenda, where voters can overturn a law already passed by legislators.

Let’s start with what clearly needs fixing.

First, the Arkansas Constitution is amended too often – 100 times since it was adopted in 1874 versus 27 amendments to the U.S. Constitution since it was adopted in 1789 – and too easily. Sometimes it’s amended to create policy changes that should be made in less permanent ways, such as a law. Well-funded special interests and private businesses can write for themselves a permanent place in our state’s most important document.

Also, the current process is dominated by lawsuits that result in the Arkansas Supreme Court blocking proposals close to the election. This often occurs because of some technical issue regarding the voter signatures that citizen groups must collect to qualify for the ballot. For a constitutional amendment this year, for example, the groups had to collect 89,151 signatures.

The ruling often occurs too late for the proposal to be removed from the ballot. This year, voters will see a referendum to prevent optometrists from performing eye surgeries, but their votes won’t be counted.

Those are good reasons to reform the process. Here’s one that’s not as good: Some, including legislators, just don’t like how the people have voted lately. Examples include an amendment authorizing casinos, an amendment legalizing medical marijuana, and an initiated act increasing the state’s minimum wage. Continue reading Does Issue 3 fix the broken process? →