The Arkansas General Assembly
convenes for their regular session for the 89th time on Monday, January
14.
convenes for their regular session for the 89th time on Monday, January
14.
With Republicans in the majority in
the state House and Senate for the first time since the 1870s it has generated
lots of speculation on what changes or types of legislation the new majority
will implement now that they have control. With 51 seats in the House (out of
100) and 21 seats in the Senate (out of 35), Republicans will be able to pass
all but budget bills without getting any support from Democrats. Budget bills
require 3/4th approval so whatever budget is finally approved will be
bipartisan.
the state House and Senate for the first time since the 1870s it has generated
lots of speculation on what changes or types of legislation the new majority
will implement now that they have control. With 51 seats in the House (out of
100) and 21 seats in the Senate (out of 35), Republicans will be able to pass
all but budget bills without getting any support from Democrats. Budget bills
require 3/4th approval so whatever budget is finally approved will be
bipartisan.
The General Assembly utilizes a
committee structure to review and approve bills for votes on the floor of the
House and Senate. So to become law a bill must be approved by a committee first
before it can be voted on by the entire House or Senate (with, I think, one
rarely used procedural exception). Therefore if Democrats oppose a non-budget
related bill they will either need Republican support or they will need to stop
it at the committee level.
committee structure to review and approve bills for votes on the floor of the
House and Senate. So to become law a bill must be approved by a committee first
before it can be voted on by the entire House or Senate (with, I think, one
rarely used procedural exception). Therefore if Democrats oppose a non-budget
related bill they will either need Republican support or they will need to stop
it at the committee level.
In the 2011 legislative session the
Republicans appeared to be a very organized and mostly unified group on
legislative issues. So normally I would find it unlikely that many Republicans
would cross over to support Democrats in opposition to their party on
major issues. However, the recent race for Speaker of the House highlighted
that the Republicans aren’t necessarily unified on big issues. The Speaker’s
race saw a coalition of very conservative Republicans and presumably all the
Democrats in the House to elect Davy Carter (R, Cabot) over the presumptive
Republican candidate, Terry Rice (R, Waldron). If a coalition that diverse can
come together on an issue as important as the election of the Speaker of the
House, anything is possible.
Republicans appeared to be a very organized and mostly unified group on
legislative issues. So normally I would find it unlikely that many Republicans
would cross over to support Democrats in opposition to their party on
major issues. However, the recent race for Speaker of the House highlighted
that the Republicans aren’t necessarily unified on big issues. The Speaker’s
race saw a coalition of very conservative Republicans and presumably all the
Democrats in the House to elect Davy Carter (R, Cabot) over the presumptive
Republican candidate, Terry Rice (R, Waldron). If a coalition that diverse can
come together on an issue as important as the election of the Speaker of the
House, anything is possible.
The second option for Democrats is to
stop bills at the committee level. Republicans control all of the key
committees in the Senate. They also control Revenue and Tax, Education and
State Agencies in the House. So if it is related to schools, tax cuts,
elections or constitutional amendments Republican have a clear path to enact
their agenda if they are unified.
stop bills at the committee level. Republicans control all of the key
committees in the Senate. They also control Revenue and Tax, Education and
State Agencies in the House. So if it is related to schools, tax cuts,
elections or constitutional amendments Republican have a clear path to enact
their agenda if they are unified.
Democrats share control of Insurance
and Commerce and Public Health committees,
which are the two most likely to deal hot button issues like insurance exchanges
and healthcare. So any legislation related to these issues will require
bipartisan support for it to become law.
and Commerce and Public Health committees,
which are the two most likely to deal hot button issues like insurance exchanges
and healthcare. So any legislation related to these issues will require
bipartisan support for it to become law.
You can view a list of House
Committee assignments HERE. You can view a list of Senate Committee
Assignments HERE.
Committee assignments HERE. You can view a list of Senate Committee
Assignments HERE.
Like every legislative session, it is
going to be an interesting one so please visit www.rogerslowellvotes.com to find information on
important issues and stay informed in 2013!
going to be an interesting one so please visit www.rogerslowellvotes.com to find information on
important issues and stay informed in 2013!