Closing Out 2013 Politics

STATE GOP IN CONTROL, AFFORDABLE CARE PASSES

As we prepare to close the books on political activity in 2013, the final days of a Republican controlled state House and state Senate, seems dulled by the voracious appetite that spring GOP primaries are spawning.

There are few in either the GOP led House of Representatives or the GOP majority state Senate, who voted for the Arkansas version of the Affordable Care Act who don’t already have stiff opposition within the Grand Old Party for the spring. Will it be political payback? Or a Tea Party outrage? How about revenge retribution?

Or outright philosophical differences in the Republican Party, once only seen at the National level has somehow found its way (and its own set of political challengers) to Arkansas.

Democrats on the other hand, seem slow and calculating in its selection of candidates.

But let’s go back across the last year.

After GOP attempts in November 2012 to win two “safe” Democratic House seats in central Fayetteville, state Rep. Greg Leding and candidate David Whitaker, both won. Leding was a major player in the election of State Rep. Davy Carter, R-Conway, as the House Speaker, thwarting a run by State Rep. Terry Rice, R-Waldron.

With a Republican Speaker of the House and a dual majority in both the House and Senate in over 100 years, Arkansans experienced an onslaught of conservative bills becoming law. Among the GOP majority was Charlene Fite of Van Buren, House Dist. 80, who served with distinction as a freshman legislator.

Notable laws were the tightening abortion restrictions to 20 weeks viability; an Act requiring each college campus leadership to once a year consider allowing staff to conceal carry handguns on campus; and an attempt at thwarting the regulatory authority of the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality on storm water.

A lawsuit over the abortion bill looms; not a single campus board approved the carrying of concealed weapons; and the ADEQ’s regulatory authority was returned in a Special Session.

The Arkansas version of the Affordable Care Act passed by only two votes in the Senate and only three votes in the House.

A “pie box” scandal caused former Democratic State Treasurer Martha Shoffner to resign last spring.

Democrats saw Bill Halter announce a gubernatorial run, but he dropped out as futile fundraising and a groundswell of support surfaced for former Congressman Mike Ross.

Ross set back-to-back quarters of fundraising records in 2013.

When 4th District Congressman Tom Cotton announced U.S. Senate bid against Mark Pryor, state Rep. Bruce Westerman and other GOP candidates will seek that seat. Democrats are fielding James Lee Witt, former FEMA director under President Bill Clinton.

Locally, Tyler Clark was re- elected as Washington County Chair of the Democratic Party. Washington County Republicans went through three chairmen within eight months, Lance C. Johnson, now heads the county GOP.

Gov. Mike Beebe remains strong in his approval ratings.

Rep. Charlie Collins, R-Fayetteville has announced for Lt. Governor. Justice of the Peace Candy Clark will seek that House seat as a Democrat.

Former State Senator Paul Bookout, D-Jonesboro, resigned in a scandal over campaign funds. GOP Lt.Governor Mark Darr, once a 4th District Congress candidate, dropped out and now faces his own ethics dilemma.

Whew! Bring on 2014.