Category Archives: Uncategorized

Legislators adjourn sine die

By Steve Brawner , © 2025 by Steve Brawner Communications, Inc.

The 2025 Arkansas General Assembly returned from its recess at 10 a.m. May 5 to adjourn “sine die.” Pronounced “sigh-nee die,” that’s Latin for “without a day” planned to return.

Lawmakers had not been in Little Rock since April 16. As is typical, they had planned to return for one day in case they needed to tie up loose ends. 

There were very few. Lt. Gov. Leslie Rutledge banged her gavel and declared the Senate adjourned at 10:18. Speaker of the House Brian Evans, R-Cabot, did the same in the House at 10:26.

The session was noteworthy both for what legislators passed and for the one major piece they left undone. 

Lawmakers proposed 2,652 bills, of which Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed into law 1,026. Continue reading →

Trump will win Arkansas anyway, so vote how you want

By Steve Brawner, © 2024 by Steve Brawner Communications, Inc.

I guess one of the Electoral College’s upsides is that if you live in a solidly red state like Arkansas or in a blue state, you don’t have to stress too much about your vote.

The corresponding downside is, neither will the campaigns. 

Arkansas’ six Electoral College votes aren’t in play because they will certainly go to former President Donald Trump. A  September poll by Talk Business & Politics and Hendrix College confirmed what everyone already knew. Trump was leading Vice President Kamala Harris, 55%-40%, while 3% favored other candidates and only 2% were undecided. 

The survey was conducted Sept. 5-6, two months before the election. Trump elicits such strong emotions that it’s unlikely his or Harris’ numbers will move much. If they do, it would probably be in Trump’s favor. No Democrat has polled above 40% in a statewide race in Arkansas since 2014. The Biden-Harris ticket four years ago only received 35%. Maybe she’ll gain a few points from some voters’ “Trump fatigue.” 

The Electoral College combined with the country’s division into red and blue states means we no longer really have national presidential elections. Arkansas being a solidly red state makes it politically irrelevant. Trump will take the state for granted while Harris will write it off. In fact, the entire election will come down to seven states: Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Nevada and Arizona. Continue reading →

College sports: Pay’s the American way

By Steve Brawner, © 2023 by Steve Brawner Communications, Inc.

“Congressional “ and “action” are two words that aren’t used together much these days, but that’s what University of Arkansas Athletic Director Hunter Yurachek was hoping to help make happen June 7.

Yurachek was scheduled to travel to Washington, D.C., as part of a group of Southeastern Conference leaders seeking to create a uniform NIL national standard. 

For non-sports fans, NIL is the newfound reality where college athletes can be compensated for the use of their name, image and likeness, although that compensation can’t come from the university. It has opened the doors for college athletes to be paid big bucks to endorse products and engage in other activities.

How big? The website On3 calculates the valuation of Bronny James, son of LeBron James, at $6.8 million. That doesn’t mean the incoming University of Southern California freshman basketball player is being paid exactly that, but that’s what the site says he’s worth. The second highest valued athlete is LSU gymnast Olivia Dunne, who is valued at $3.4 million. Third is incoming University of Texas quarterback Arch Manning, nephew of Peyton and Eli. He’s valued at $2.8 million. 

The top ranking Razorback is running back Raheim “Rocket” Sanders, who is 48th with a value of $750,000.  Continue reading →

‘We have all, on both sides of the aisle, failed’

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

What has been expected is now pretty much official: the federal government will spend $1 trillion more this year than it will collect, and it will continue to do so for the foreseeable future.

Whose fault is that? Everybody’s, according to Rep. Steve Womack, who represents Northwest Arkansas in Congress.

The $1 trillion forecast – equal to about $3,000 in red ink for every American – came from the Congressional Budget Office Tuesday. The CBO said Uncle Sam will spend $4.6 trillion this fiscal year while collecting only $3.6 trillion in taxes.

That $1 trillion will be added to the cumulative national debt, which has reached $23.2 trillion and counting, or about $70,000 for every American. Continue reading →

Change the oath, and impeach less often

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

Arkansas’ two senators will inevitably vote the same way on impeachment – against it, if they haven’t already done so by the time you read this.

Their approaches and rhetoric leading up to the vote has been as different as they are. While Sen. John Boozman has made it clear where he’s headed, his tone has been measured. Sen. Tom Cotton, on the other hand, has been all over the airwaves blasting Democrats and defending President Trump.

But the results will be the same and will come as no surprise, just as there will be no surprises coming from virtually all the other 98 senators. In the final vote, the only questions will be whether any Democrats – maybe Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia – vote to acquit, and whether any Republicans vote to convict, which is highly unlikely. And then we’ll see how it all plays out in this year’s elections. Continue reading →