Arkansas Blog

Talk Business reports today on the beginning of a coming effort to alter the timing of the now-annual legislative sessions.

Sen. Bill Pritchard would do a swap and have the short budget session in odd-numbered years and the regular session in even-numbered (or election) years. He thinks this gives legislative newcomers more time to learn the ropes before a full session. But it also throws them into budget talks first thing. And it would heighten the opportunity for political mischief to have the regular session immediately before primary elections. There's plenty of political demagoguery in bill filings already.

BELATEDLY, I note that Brummett offers some critical commentary on the idea, which he sees as further evidence of Republican fixation on less important issues, however dear they may be to the faithful.