Good ideas
Arkansas hasn't always lived up to its motto, Regnat Populus (The People Rule), but there's a group of reformers who'd like to. The group calls itself, deservedly enough, Regnat Populus, and its goals are not only noble but well thought-out, which is not always a strong point with reformers.
Last week, Attorney General Dustin McDaniel certified RP's proposed initiative to raise the ethical bar in Arkansas politics and government. McDaniel's action allows the proposal's supporters to begin collecting signatures to put the measure on the ballot at the 2014 general election. The proposed initiated act would prohibit corporations and unions from donating directly to candidates. (But not to political action committees. The U.S. Supreme Court has already said that corporate and union contributions to PACs are kosher.) It also would prohibit lobbyists from making gifts to legislators and the state constitutional officers, and would require that legislators be out of office for two years before they can become lobbyists.
The legislature, which convened this week, could take up these same issues and eliminate the need for the initiated act. It's possible that the legislators will in fact do something about lobbyists. But limits on corporate contributions are highly unlikely to get through. Corporations account for a big chunk of political contributions in this state, which is clear evidence that limits are needed.
Speaking of Regnat Populus
-
Regnat Populus plans lawsuit over petition restrictions
April 25, 2013Regnat Populus, the grassroots group that succeeded in putting its ethics initiative in a legislatively proposed constitutional amendment heading to the ballot in 2014, has circulated a statement touting its achievement and defending some of the items grafted onto that amendment to achieve legislative approval, particularly an extension of term limits and a mechanism to raise legislative pay. /more/
-
Greed rules
April 11, 2013The Arkansas legislature earns its low regard daily, last Friday with committee approval of a constitutional amendment labeled "ethics reform." /more/
-
Ethics group fights measure to limit referendum process
April 3, 2013I wrote yesterday about the effort backed by Arkansas's duopoly casinos at Southland and Oaklawn, Attorney General Dustin McDaniel and others to cripple the referendum process by, among others, severely limiting signature gathering by paid canvassers. /more/
-
A call to arms on initiative legislation
March 18, 2013Regnat Populus has issued a rallying cry for good government advocates to fight Sen. Keith Ingram's bill to make it far more difficult to qualify popular initiatives for the ballot. /more/
-
The people rule: looking ahead to 2014 initiated acts
March 14, 2013Last week, a proposal by state Rep. Butch Wilkins (D-Bono) to raise the state's minimum wage was easily, and unsurprisingly, defeated in a House committee. However, thanks to Arkansas's initiative process, Arkansas voters may yet see the proposal again in the fall of 2014. /more/
- More »
Latest in Editorials
-
Misquoted
There's embarrassment in the young gubernatorial campaign of state Rep. Debra Hobbs of Rogers. Announcing her candidacy last week, Representative Hobbs said "I feel like this is what God wants me to do." But sources close to God say that He gave her no encouragement and was at most indifferent to her campaign.
- May 23, 2013
-
Say goodbye
It's kind of piling on, admittedly, but we feel compelled to join the call for state Treasurer Martha Shoffner to resign. Awkwardly compelled, that is. She has not yet been convicted of the criminal charges filed against her, and that's an important point. The presumption of innocence has not been repealed.
- May 23, 2013
-
Listen, UA
Any public-university trustees considering merger of their tax-supported teaching hospital with a Catholic hospital should ponder these wise words from Americans United for Separation of Church and State.
- May 16, 2013
- More »
Event Calendar
-
Re: Syrian war: Iraq redux
The U.S. abandoned Afghanistan after the Soviets were driven out. The Taliban drove in from…
- on May 22, 2013
-
Re: Defending 'The Dog Whisperer'
I get along with almost all dogs. But, there was one basset hound that didn't…
- on May 22, 2013
Site Index
News
Cover Story / Arkansas Reporter / The Week That Was / Smart Talk / The Insider / The Observer / Editorial / Max Brantley / Ernest Dumas / Gene Lyons / Bob Lancaster / Words / Guest Writer / Letters
Entertainment
A&E Feature / To-Do List / In Brief / Movie Reviews / Music Reviews / Theater Reviews / A&E News / Art Notes / Graham Gordy / Books / Media / Dining Reviews / Dining Guide / What's Cookin' / Calendar / The Televisionist / Movie Listings / Gallery Listings
This Week's Cover
Quick Links
Special Publications
RSS
Facebook
Twitter
