By Steve Brawner, © 2019 by Steve Brawner Communications, Inc.

A presidential election has come and almost gone, and the two major party candidates have not campaigned in Arkansas or given the state much thought. President Trump is assured of winning here, so both candidates placed it in his column and forgot about it.

This is because of the Electoral College, which divides the country into red and blue states when all should be a shade of purple.

Here’s a plan to fix it.

As we’re reminded every four years, the president is elected not by the popular vote but by the Electoral College. Arkansas gets six of the 538 electors. It takes 270 to win.

Many states including Arkansas are reliably “red” (Republican), while others are “blue” (Democrat). Candidates focus on the few “purple” states that can swing either way.

Defenders say the Electoral College protects small states like Arkansas, but that’s not necessarily so. In almost all states, the winner of the popular vote wins all of its electors. Because of that system, a candidate can be elected by winning the largest 11 states narrowly and not even be on the ballot in the other 39.

Also because of this state-by-state winner-take-all system, the loser of the popular vote nationally can be elected president. This has happened in two of the last five elections: President Bush in 2000 and Trump in 2016. Continue reading How to fix the Electoral College: Make every state purple →

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 →

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 →

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 →