Arkansas Blog

Could it be possible that there is a nationwide Democratic sweep in the works? Are people tired of a party that thinks rights begin with conception and end with birth?

Another poster brought this issue up yesterday, on another thread, about Jim Holt and his possible participation on the Arkansas Public Retirement System. This issue intrigues so I did some checking.

It is my understanding, from a very reliable source, that Jim Holt is a member of APRS since he is a state legislator.

An online search led me to this Jim Holt quote from the El Dorado Times from a few weeks ago.

"If you want to fix Social Security, you take the politicians off their retirement system and put them on Social Security just like every American."

But Jim Holt is a politician who is on the retirement system. Jim Holt is a hypocrite.

Holt is member of APRS and close to being fully vested in the system. I guess he has no problem denigrating politicians who take retirement benefits, just as long as it doesn't apply to him.

Someone should call him out on this one.

What's scary is that Jim Holt, who is the most conservative and considered to be a "religiofacist" (credit to whoever on the blog who came up with that) has the most votes among any republican candidate?

First of all how do you know that he did not opt out of the system as some legislators do?

Second, are you aware that legislators are only state employees that require 10 years to vest in the system while everyone else will vest after 5 years. I think Holt only has six years in.

Third, are you aware that nearly every other elected official in the state gets at least two years of credit for every years served but legislators only get one for one.

Finally, are you aware that even if a legislator is able to piece together 10 years of service in the term limits era, that when they reach retirement age they only draw $35 for each year of service...therefore a legislator who serves 10 years will, upon reaching retirment age, draw $350 per month.

You may have been aware of all this. But if not I wanted you to have the facts. I know they, the facts, often get overlooked on this blog.

"an interested observer" - I am aware of these facts that you pointed out.

I hear Jim Holt has not opted out of the system, but the only way we'll know for sure is for Holt to tell us what is status is.

It's a fair question and easily answered. If Holt opted out of APERS, then bully for him. If not, then I stand by my statement of calling him a hypocrite.

Most importantly, if Jim Holt wins the race for Lt. Guv, he will be fully vested at the end of his first-term and will eventually receive retirement benefits that Holt believes politicians should not have.
As Lt. Guv, he'd also get 2 for 1 credit - 2 years credit for everyone 1 year of service.

Who cares how much it is since Holt has said it's wrong for elected officials to receive any public retirement benefits besides Social Security?

Jim Holt: surely someone from your campaign reads this blog. Tells us the truth, what is your status with public retirement system? Are you a member, yes or no? Do you practice what you preach or not?

It's an easy question to answer and since you believe in openness in state government, you should have no problem answering this basic question of how taxpayer dollars are being spent.

Alright, alright, now my curiosity is piqued, (or is it peaked?) on whether or not Jim Holt will get retirement paid by state government. Never thought about that one before.

Every time Jim Holt talks, it's something about government spending too much money on something or other.

Holt doesn't have a real job and supports his 9 kids and spouse with his $12,000 a year government salary, plus inflated mileage. How is that even possible?

Someone should indeed ask him the retirement question. It could be a very enlightening answer.

Keep dreaming.... Jim Holt is just another typical politician and either won't answer the question or will give some mealy-mouthed answer. Holt is just like the rest of them.

This is the part that is hard to believe:
Lt. Governor
Halter 48
Holt 42

Holt at 42% tells me that there are more rednecks in Arkansas than I thought.

Holt doesn't have a real job and supports his 9 kids and spouse with his $12,000 a year government salary, plus inflated mileage. How is that even possible?

I also would like to see the answer to this question. I'd bet he's a "consultant" of some type, getting money from some 527 or barely legal organization.

Not according to his campaign workers, Roalnd, they say that the family "eats lots of beans and potatoes." And, that all their cars have at least 100,000 miles on them.

They couldn't tell me how much rent they pay, how much their utilities are, or where the cars came from in the first place.

I smell a rat.

Sorry, typo, ROLAND

Attack Holt for being extreme all you want, but it's not fair to attack him regarding money. They guy is not rich and doesn't desire to be rich. It's the one thing I do like about the guy so give him credit where it's due. He's not in politics or anything else for the money.

"And, that all their cars have at least 100,000 miles on them."

Cars? Plural? On $12,000 a year? Do they have car insurance? With teen boys driving?

I smell a rat.