Arkansas Blog

We told you that the bill to crack down on usurious payday lenders has a critical hearing at 10 a.m. today in the Senate Insurance and Commerce Committee. A check of the secretary of state's on-line records indicates payday lender Arkansas Financial Services dropped a couple of thousand dollars in financial contributions on committee members in October. Not that we're suggesting a legislator would trade a vote for a campaign contribution.

Recipients of $500 each were Sens. Paul Bookout, Barbara Horn, Bob Johnson, Paul Miller and Terry Smith. That's five, enough, if they are so inclined, to move the bill out of committee. Sens. Percy Malone, Jim Argue and Jack Critcher were not on the ballot in 2006 and thus ineligible for contributions.