Nonprofit coalition pushes back against attacks on citizen-led ballot initiatives
April 9, 20214:45 pm Some Arkansans are pushing back on attacks to citizens rights to engage in the legislative process. Brian Chilson
A coalition of citizens’ groups is getting loud about two Republican-sponsored measures that will make it much harder for grassroots campaigns to get citizen-led initiatives on the ballot.
Sen. Breanne Davis (R-Russellville) and
Rep. Michelle Gray (R-Melbourne) would outlaw paying canvassers based on how many signatures they gather. The measure already passed out of the Senate on its way to the House.
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Rep. David Ray (R-Maumelle) and
Sen. Bart Hester (R-Cave Springs), would move the goalposts substantially on what it takes to get a citizens’ ballot initiative passed. HJR 1005 would require a 60% favorable vote, rather than the simple majority currently required.
Senate passes petition killer bill
Senate passes petition killer bill
April 7, 20212:39 pm
The Senate voted 26-7 today to approve SB 614 to cripple paid canvassing to put constitutional amendments and initiated acts on the state ballot.
The bill would require canvassers to be citizens of the U.S. and Arkansas. It would prohibit paying them per-signature. It would prohibit using canvassers with even a misdemeanor criminal record. (Sen. Breanne Davis, the sponsor, said she hoped to clarify this on the House end.)
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David Couch, a lawyer who’s long been active in petition campaigns, said he will sue if the law is passed. He said it’s a simple assault on the ability of citizens to put legislation on the ballot.
Democracy all-stars fight back against Arkansas voting rights attacks
April 6, 20212:30 pm Voting rights advocates rallied against bills that will make it harder to cast a ballot. Brian Chilson
As lawmakers inside the Capitol juggled a laundry list of attacks on voting rights, a lively lunchtime crowd of voter advocates rallied outside for ballot access and fair elections.
“Am I too old for civil disobedience?” asked
Harvey Joe Sanner, a leather vest-wearing election commissioner from Prairie County who kicked off the rally. Sanner said he’s never been more ashamed of his government as he is today, as lawmakers push forward a raft of measures to effectively shrink the pool of eligible voters.
Head-scratcher bill on Racing Commission director
RACING COMMISSION BILL: Sen. Jane English (left) and Jan Bartlett testify.
In a Senate committee last week,
Sen. Jane English failed to muster sufficient votes for approval of her SB 596 to allow the
director of Finance and Administration, currently Larry Walther, to
appoint the director of the state Racing Commission, a division of DFA.
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The Racing Commission director, John “Smokey” Campbell, currently serves by gubernatorial appointment. So does the director of Finance and Administration. The Racing Commission itself is appointed by the governor.
Why change the appointment from the governor to his hand-picked DFA secretary?
Arkansas lawmakers reject bid to end coronavirus emergency
By ANDREW DeMILLOMarch 29, 2021 GMT
FILE - In this July 20, 2020 file photo, Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson removes his mask before a briefing at the state capitol in Little Rock. Hutchinson has signed into law a measure that would allow doctors to refuse to treat someone because of moral or religious objections. Gov. Hutchinson on Friday, March 26, 2021, signed the legislation, despite objections that it would give medical providers broad powers to turn away LGBTQ patients and others. (Staci Vandagriff/The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette via AP, File)
FILE - In this July 20, 2020 file photo, Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson removes his mask before a briefing at the state capitol in Little Rock. Hutchinson has signed into law a measure that would allow doctors to refuse to treat someone because of moral or religious objections. Gov. Hutchinson on Friday, March 26, 2021, signed the legislation, despite objections that it would give med