Making the top 10

Dear editor:

It always warms my heart to see someone or something from Hot Springs near the top of any state ranking.

So when the state paper on Sunday printed last year’s legislative expense report, imagine my pride when I saw our two local senators, Alan Clark and Bill Sample, both make the top 10.

Yes, that’s right, Clark and Sample both in the top 10. Clark actually finished sixth, picking up $26,767 in expenses on his lengthy trek from Lonsdale to Little Rock during the 32-day legislative session.

No slouch, Sample ranked ninth, grabbing $24,624 in expenses to supplement his $39,400 salary.

Before readers judge this sarcastic, the legislator who ranked first in collecting taxpayer-paid expenses, Jim Dotson ($40,380), explained to Democrat-Gazette readers why higher reimbursement simply explain why he is working harder.

“I am one of the most active legislators here,” Dotson said.

So as Garland County taxpayers, we should assume that Sample and Clark are in the upper echelon of effectiveness during the grueling 32-day convening of the General Assembly.

In contrast, one only has to look at Linda Collins (Pochahontas) and Bryan King (Green Forest), who only tallied $12,999 and $9,956 in expenses, despite driving much further to the capital. Which obviously means they’re not nearly as effective lawmakers as Clark and Sample.

So all is well in our state Legislature and we’re in good hands with our local representatives. After all, what’s not to trust about a political body that’s had seven members either indicted or convicted over the past two years? Noah Little Hot Springs