“Scheduled events” of the legislature today include a gathering at a beer hall.

Amendment 94, which nominally banned freebies, hasn’t prevent the House, Senate and committees deeming breakfast, lunch, cocktail hour and dinner as “scheduled activity” time so as to keep the freebies coming. (And what do you bet before the year is up they’ve found a way to drive a tractor through new loopholes on the curb on free travel, too? What do you bet Eddie Joe Williams will find a “national organization” who’ll invite him to go to Croatia or the like again?)

Anyway, today’s free swill at planned activities open to the public according to the Arkansas Constitution as formal meetings of the General Assembly:

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* MEET AND GREET: Noon, Capitol, Room 130, Citizen Initiatives. The only freebie here might be a speech from the leader of a group that favors single-issue constitutional amendments to give states power to reject federal government control.

* COCKTAIL PARTY: 4:30-6:30 p.m., Foster-Robinson House, 2122 Broadway, Arkansas Forestry Association.

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* PIZZA AND PRAYER: 6-7:30, Capitol, Room 19, Capitol Commission, a group that works to encourage religion in government.

* ROLL OUT THE BARREL; 6-8 p.m., tour and reception, Lost Forty Brewing.

* STANDING COCKTAIL PARTY, 5-7 pm., Capitol Square Apartments, #4, “Choo-Choo Room,” drinks by lobbyists representing:

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Arkansas Automobile Dealers Association
Arkansas Hospital Association
Arkansas Medical Society
Arkansas Pharmacists Association
Arkansas Podiatric Medical Association
Arkansas State Dental Association
Independent Insurance Agents of Arkansas
Pfizer, Inc.
Arkansas Community Colleges

* DINNER: 6 p.m., Ristorante Capeo, for the House Insurance and Commerce Committee by AT&T.

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