Sunday, June 26, 2011
Arkansas Politics / Wackjobs The Ark. Kook Caucus has Perry's back
Posted by Max Brantley on Sun, Jun 26, 2011 at 7:22 AM
It is a standard Republican thing to want to cut income taxes in a way that would return most of the dollars to the richest people. But to want to do away with the income tax altogether — well, it will certainly net you a preemptive endorsement from the kook caucus of the state House of Representatives up in Arkansas.We’re talking there about people like the backslid columnist, David Sanders, and those Meeks boys from Conway and that Biviano fellow from Searcy who had that fender-bender outside the Capital Hotel one recent Saturday night.
Perry also has consented to all that churchifying of the school textbooks by his state’s elected Board of Education. He just appointed a member to the chairmanship of that board who insists on teaching creationism. Perry plans on hosting a mass Christian prayer rally in Houston in August.Perry also just vetoed a bill to make it against the law to drive a car and send a text message at the same time. He called this attempt at life-saving “government meddling.” Perhaps his free and independent nation of Texas would permit no silly seat belts, either.
Should you need a reminder, you'll find the Terrible 20 — Bourbon and Bacon Biviano and all (including at least one government watchdog) with a hot check rap, at this link.
Speaking of...
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How the Arkansas legislature has changed your life
May 9, 2013For better or for worse. /more/
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Diamonds in the manure of the Arkansas legislature
May 9, 2013Some legislators and legislation shone. /more/
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How the private option flipped the Medicaid expansion debate
May 2, 2013It took a group of clever and obstinate young Republican legislators who refused to go along with Medicaid expansion but weren't ready to close the door on other ideas. They helped force a crafty veteran Democratic governor who was eager to go forward with expansion to consider alternative approaches. Throw in tireless and creative state health officials who happened to have a cozy relationship with their federal It took a group of clever and obstinate young Republican legislators who refused to go along with Medicaid expansion but weren’t ready to close the door on other ideas. They helped force a crafty veteran Democratic governor who was eager to go forward with expansion to consider alternative approaches. Throw in tireless and creative state health officials who happened to have a cozy relationship with their federal counterparts. Probably some luck. And, among everyone involved, it took a slightly crazy, seemingly unjustified optimism that somehow a solution was possible. /more/
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UPDATE: Senate endorses Medicaid expansion
April 5, 2013The Arkansas Senate endorsed Medicaid expansion in Arkansas through a private insurance option. But the vote fell three short of what will be needed to approve an accompanying appropriation bill to spend the money. /more/
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Republican lawmakers weigh "private option" legislation
April 2, 2013After weeks of discussion following the "private option" announcement, the legislature finally has an actual bill to debate. /more/
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Big government: Now the Republicans like it UPDATE
March 29, 2013There's some self-back-patting on Twitter this morning about the Republican idea introduced by Sen. David Sanders to put an office of Medicaid inspector general in the governor's office. /more/
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Expand-o-meter holding steady
March 15, 2013Today’s chances of passing expansion: 75%Last week’s chances: 75%See here for previous entries on the Expand-o-Meter /more/
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Sorry, "private option" still likely to cost a lot more than Medicaid expansion
March 14, 2013In a post yesterday, I attempted to offer the perspective of Rep. Burris and Sen. Sanders—two of the key Republican leaders on a potential deal for expansion of healthcare coverage—quoting each at length. /more/
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Kaiser releases report on Medicaid and premium support
March 13, 2013The Kaiser Foundation released an overview this morning on Medicaid and premium assistance. Lots to digest if you're feeling wonky, but let's quickly highlight their findings that are relevant to the Arkansas "private option." /more/
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Ethics "reform" — Arkansas Republican style
March 3, 2013Max erupting from a volcanic atoll on the South Island of New Zealand:] E-mail arrives from Sen. David Sanders, touting a couple of pieces of so-called ethics legislation. /more/
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