Saturday, April 4, 2015

Jeremy Hutchinson on HB 1228 vote: 'I honestly was a coward and voted party line.'

Posted By David Koon on Sat, Apr 4, 2015 at 7:47 PM

click to enlarge

Jeremy Hutchinson

Sen. Jeremy Hutchinson, who eventually broke a tie that let HB 1228 out of the Senate Judiciary committee after it had failed there three times, continues to publicly regret his role in advancing the bill to the full Senate, where it passed 24-7 after being bottled up in committee for two days. The bill was eventually replaced by the narrower SB 975 after Hutchinson's uncle, Gov. Asa Hutchinson, asked the legislature to recall HB 1228 to bring it more in line with the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

Yesterday, Sen. Hutchinson told Huffington Post that though he knew the bill would have unintended consequences for Arkansas, he cast the tiebreaker vote to send HB 1228 to the full Senate out of cowardice after Democratic Sen. David Burnett unexpectedly flipped his vote to a yea. Said Hutchinson to HuffPo:

I had yet to vote on it, period, because as chairman you don't vote unless you're needed to make the fifth vote, which is the passing vote. And so when this Democrat switched his vote, I was surprised, as was everybody else, and in that moment, I honestly was a coward and voted party line and voted to send it out."

Honesty! What a concept. I can think of a few Arkansas politicians who should try it.

From the ArkTimes store

Tweet

Instapaper

    Favorite
  Saving…
Share

    Comments
    
      (24)
    
Email

Comments (24)

Showing 1-24 of 24

Add a comment

Subscribe to this thread:

By Email

With RSS

Showing 1-24 of 24

More by David Koon

Both sides rest in federal civil suit over 2011 police beating, to the jury tomorrow

Attorneys for both the plaintiff and the defendant have rested this evening in a federal civil suit by a man who was beaten in October 2011 by an off-duty LRPD Lieutenant outside a restaurant in the Heights. After closing arguments tomorrow morning beginning at 9 a.m., the case will go to the jury.
- by David Koon
- Jun 13, 2017
Alleged LRPD brutality civil suit in federal court: Day One

Some tense moments in federal court today as attorneys squared off for a federal civil trial sought by a Little Rock man who was pummeled by a Little Rock police lieutenant in October 2011 outside a restaurant on Kavanaugh Boulevard. As seen in a bystander's video of the incident, Chris Erwin was struck at least 7 times in the face by Little Rock Police Lt. David Hudson outside Hillcrest's Ferneau restaurant on Oct. 29, 2011. Hudson was working off-duty security at the restaurant at the time.
- by David Koon
- Jun 12, 2017
Federal judge dismisses lawsuit over Sherwood's hot check court

A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed last August against the city of Sherwood over a hot check court attorneys say operated as an unconstitutional "debtor's prison" that trapped poor defendants on a treadmill of debt and incarceration for years and in some cases, decades.
- by David Koon
- Jun 8, 2017
More »

Readers also liked…

From Dallas, creative thinking about the Interstate 30 project

An urban planner in Dallas says freeways are not always the answer. Incorporating some creativity already being used in Dallas and looking at the Interstate 30 project from a broader perspective, here are ideas that Arkansas highway planners have not considered. But should.
- by Max Brantley
- Nov 6, 2015
'How to decimate a city' — a big freeway

Reporting from around the U.S. continues to illustrate the folly of the Arkansas highway department and construction boosters like the chamber of commerce and Vice Mayor Lance Hines in advocating ever wider freeways through the heart of Little Rock. Syracuse, N.Y., is looking for a better way in a debate remarkably similar to the debate about widening Interstate 30 in Little Rock.
- by Max Brantley
- Nov 20, 2015
Jason Rapert vs. Wikipedia

Sen. Jason Rapert against the world: Wikipedia edition.
- by Max Brantley
- Jan 23, 2016

Most Shared

Hutchinson lobbyist moves to Teacher Retirement System

Rett Hatcher, director of legislative affairs for Gov. Asa Hutchinson, has left the governor's staff to go to work Wednesday as deputy director of the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System.
Obamascare

Republicans at long last may be about to see their most fervent wishes and wildest predictions materialize — millions of people losing their medical and hospital coverage, unaffordable insurance, lost jobs, a Medicare financial crisis, mushrooming federal budget deficits and fiscal crises across state governments.
Megyn vs. Alex

As vigorously hyped broadcast events go, Megyn Kelly's televised confrontation with internet conspiracy cultist Alex Jones proved something of a dud.

RT @KATVToddYak: Lightning near Marvell near The center of Cindy #arwx https://t.co/zFEE25gnvQ
KATV News

How It All Turned Out: A Kindergarten Story, 13 Years Later
KUAR Newsroom

Flash Flood Warning for Bradley and Drew County until 7:30am Friday. https://t.co/svbix1I6Vo
Fox16 News

Flash Flood Warning for Bradley and Drew County until 7:30am Friday. https://t.co/3U0QUVqaC2 #arwx
KARK4News

AR Dept. of Transportation needs your opinion
KAIT8.com

More Headlines...

Most Recent Comments

Re: Facebook gives virtual reality gear to Arkansas schools
- Hello, I want the world to know that there is a doctor with 100% guarantee…
- Posted by Nicole Richard
- on June 23, 2017
Re: Former Arkansas Democratic legislator lands on Trump vote fraud commission
- David Dunn should politely inform Comrade Trump that he has other priorities at this time…
- Posted by DeathbyInches
- on June 23, 2017
Re: Facebook gives virtual reality gear to Arkansas schools
- I was cured of HIV with the used of natural herbs. My name is Sarah…
- Posted by Katrina Alexis
- on June 23, 2017

Top Commenters

Slideshows

March for Science, April 22, 2017
Pictures at an execution
Photos taken Thursday night by Brian Chilson and David Koon, at Cummins Prison in Grady, the State Police barricade away from the prison and in front of the Governor's Mansion, before and after the execution of Ledell Lee.