Arkansas Delegation Looks Ahead to 2013

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

— With the 112th Congress about to conclude, the Arkansas delegation is looking forward to 2013 and a new start at tackling the major issues facing the nation.

    Here is what Arkansas lawmakers say they plan to tackle in the coming year.

    Sen. Mark Pryor, D-Ark., said there is a lot of work left over from the 112th Congress that will be taken up again, including a farm bill, energy policy and postal reform.

    He plans to focus his attention on “jobs and the economy” with an emphasis on providing help for small businesses. He will serve again on the Senate Appropriations and Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation committees.

    “We have a ton of small businesses in Arkansas that are the bread and butter of our economy,” Pryor said.

    He would like to see a tax credit established for investors in small businesses looking to expand.

    The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee — on which Pryor also will serve — plans to have more oversight of government bureaucracy.

    “We want to make sure government is run smoother and does better at stretching dollars,” Pryor said.

    Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., said the farm bill would be a top priority for him.

    “That will consume a lot of what we do to make sure that appropriate safety nets are in place for everyone,” he said.

    The Senate approved a farm bill in 2012 but the House did not. Arkansas rice growers were unhappy with commodity protections in the Senate version.

    Boozman expects to serve again on the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee as well as the commerce committee.

    Aside from the farm bill, Boozman said he hopes to help Arkansas farmers expand their exports. Several recently approved trade agreements offer new markets for them.

    “Arkansas has tremendous potential that is largely unused at this point,” he said.

    Rep.-elect Tom Cotton, R-Dardanelle, will serve on the House Financial Services Committee where he plans to focus on Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae.