House Republicans have begun filing bills as part of their Simple Plan for governing Arkansas.
Legislation specifically named as part of the plan includes:
House Bill 1041, sponsored by House Republican leader Bruce Westerman of Hot Springs, would cap state general revenue spending increases to no more than 3 percent above the previous year’s state general revenue expenses.
State general revenue spending growth couldn’t outpace the growth of the state’s gross domestic product - the value of all the goods and services produced in the state - over the previous three fiscal years.
HB1037 by Rep. Andy Mayberry, R-Hensley, would make it a Class D felony to perform an abortion 20 or more weeks after conception. The bill has an exemption for when the health or life of the mother is in danger. It also states that a doctor who performs an abortion after 20 weeks should do it in such a way that the fetus has an opportunity to survive. The bill doesn’t describe that process.
A class D felony is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. The House Public Health Committee approved the bill Thursday.
HB1040 by Rep. Mark Biviano, R-Searcy, would create a commission to regulate charter schools instead of the state Board of Education. The governor, president pro tempore, House speaker and the chairmen of the House and Senate education committees would each appoint a member of the commission.
SB38 by Sen. Jeremy Hutchinson, R-Benton, would require drug testing for people who apply for and receive unemployment benefits.
SB2 by Sen. Bryan King, R-Green Forest, would require photo identification from anyone attempting to vote.
The plan calls for income and other tax changes that haven’t been filed yet.
House Revenue and Taxation Committee Chairman Rep. Charlie Collins, R-Fayetteville, said he and others in the House are still trying to decide which taxes to reduce.
He said members need to set their 2013 priorities, before individual lawmakers can move forward with legislation.
Collins said he wants to lower the income tax for middle income Arkansans to 4 percent or 5 percent, but said it will likely take more than one year.
The current income tax rate for Arkansans making more than $25,000 is 7 percent.
Westerman said he expects the tax bills to be filed toward the end of the legislative session once members have decided other issues like Medicaid.
The 89th General Assembly is expected to focus on a projected $61 million funding shortfall to the current state Medicaid program in fiscal 2014 and whether to accept a proposed Medicaid expansion that would give an estimated 250,000 Arkansans access to the program.
The federal government has offered to cover 100 percent of expansion costs initially; the state would eventually bear 10 percent of the bill.
Front Section, Pages 4 on 02/04/2013