Members of the Arkansas General Assembly
meeting in special session voted separately Thursday to approve House Bill
1001and Senate Bill 1, identical measures popularly known as “Arkansas Works”,
which is Governor Hutchinson’s plan for Medicaid expansion in Arkansas. The House voted 70-30 in favor of the
measure. Benton County Representatives
Jana Della Rosa (Rogers), Dan Douglas (Bentonville), and Sue Scott (Rogers)
voted in favor of passage.
meeting in special session voted separately Thursday to approve House Bill
1001and Senate Bill 1, identical measures popularly known as “Arkansas Works”,
which is Governor Hutchinson’s plan for Medicaid expansion in Arkansas. The House voted 70-30 in favor of the
measure. Benton County Representatives
Jana Della Rosa (Rogers), Dan Douglas (Bentonville), and Sue Scott (Rogers)
voted in favor of passage.
Senator
Jim Hendren presenting SB1 to the Arkansas Senate
Jim Hendren presenting SB1 to the Arkansas Senate
Representatives Robin Lundstrum (Springdale),
Jim Dotson (Bentonville), Grant Hodges (Rogers), and Rebecca Petty (Rogers) all
voted against the Governor’s plan.
Senator Cecile Bledsoe (Rogers), and Senator Bart Hester (Cave Springs) also
voted against Senate Bill 1 which was sponsored by their fellow Benton County
Senator, Jim Hendren (Sulphur Springs).
Jim Dotson (Bentonville), Grant Hodges (Rogers), and Rebecca Petty (Rogers) all
voted against the Governor’s plan.
Senator Cecile Bledsoe (Rogers), and Senator Bart Hester (Cave Springs) also
voted against Senate Bill 1 which was sponsored by their fellow Benton County
Senator, Jim Hendren (Sulphur Springs).
The
Arkansas Senate Chamber “Tote Board” indicating how Senators voted on SB1
Arkansas Senate Chamber “Tote Board” indicating how Senators voted on SB1
A simple majority is all that was required to
pass the measure in both houses, but a ¾ majority will be required to pass the
appropriation for funding the program. That appropriation will be debated in
the regular fiscal session which begins next week in Little Rock. Failure to fund the measure will have a
serious impact on the Arkansas state budget. All of the legislators were
presented with numbers projecting a possible budget shortfall of at least $150
million dollars should the program go unfunded. Legislators were also informed
that number will grow exponentially in the coming years without the proper
funding of Arkansas Works included in the budget going forward.
pass the measure in both houses, but a ¾ majority will be required to pass the
appropriation for funding the program. That appropriation will be debated in
the regular fiscal session which begins next week in Little Rock. Failure to fund the measure will have a
serious impact on the Arkansas state budget. All of the legislators were
presented with numbers projecting a possible budget shortfall of at least $150
million dollars should the program go unfunded. Legislators were also informed
that number will grow exponentially in the coming years without the proper
funding of Arkansas Works included in the budget going forward.