Arkansas Blog

The link sends you to the Gonzales story. Not that it matters. I have a pretty good idea how the reps from Fort Smith voted.

Yes, I'd like to see that link fixed.

I'm afraid there aren't many deep thinkers in the legislature, but there are several deep thinkers among corporate boards, the Farm Bureau, and their lobbyists.

ARK. BLOG: I think I got it fixed.

Damn, I'm so proud of my legislators!!! Both of them have voted "correct" on all the issues I really care about this session. And yes, I have written them with my praise (hope they don't get a big(ger) head).

It doesn't look to me that the environmental groups getting any meaningful help from Beebe or the East Arkansas Leadership of the Legislature this session. Have they been able to stop a single bad bill this session? Have they passed any good ones that they backed?

Isn't Darrel Pace such a good Christain?
His bill just expects industry to step up to the plate and give their lives to the Lord, and never retaliate against another person. Darrell, be sure to remind yo grand kids what a christain thing you accomplished.
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What Mister Pace and his pig-farming partner in this piece of legislation don't seem to recognize is that what they've managed to do is make every one of these instances a Federal case.

ADEQ may not be able to accept anonymous complaints, but EPA can, and will. When the inspector shows up in your driveway to follow up on a complaint it won't be the district guy from DEQ, but one of los Federales from Dallas, and he or she won't be subject to or deterred one whit by whatever Act number HB 2653 might become. They aren't as obliging about negotiating on penalties, either, and these penalties can be higher than provided under state law.

And it ain't just the pig and chicken farmers who will be affected, it's every business or industry that emits into the air, pumps wastewaters out of a pipe somewhere, generate waste, or run a gas station.

Mr. Beebe's previous record hasn't shown him to be much of a friend or champion of the environment or environmental regulation, so it's unlikely he'll veto this really bad idea since the Farm Bureau is all behind it.

We'll all be sorry.