GOP promotes unity in session

Members of both parties want best, lawmakers say

Standing before Arkansas Chief Justice Jim Hannah, state Rep. Davy Carter (right) takes the oath of office Monday in the House chambers at the state Capitol in Little Rock. Carter’s colleagues selected the Cabot Republican to be their House speaker.
Standing before Arkansas Chief Justice Jim Hannah, state Rep. Davy Carter (right) takes the oath of office Monday in the House chambers at the state Capitol in Little Rock. Carter’s colleagues selected the Cabot Republican to be their House speaker.

— Though Medicaid issues could be divisive, lawmakers from both parties need to work together, the Republican leaders of the Arkansas House and Senate told newly sworn-in members Monday.

Members of the 89th Arkansas General Assembly took their oaths of office on the first day of the 2013 session.

For the first time since the 1870s, Republicans control both chambers.

In the House, they won 51 of 100 seats. They have 21 of 35 spots in the Senate.

Chief Justice Jim Hannah administered the oath to the House and most of the Senate. Justice Courtney Hudson Goodson swore in the rest.

House Speaker Davy Carter, R-Cabot, encouraged legislators to work together, regardless of party affiliation.

“Indeed, the 89th General Assembly has already made history. But today forward, history will be made because of what we do, not who we are,” Carter said. “This won’t be a cakewalk. We have serious issues ahead that will require vigorous debate.”

Along with deciding on Gov. Mike Beebe’s proposed $4.947 billion fiscal 2014 budget, lawmakers will spend much of their time dealing with a projected $298 million Medicaid shortfall in fiscal 2014. A proposal to expand Medicaid by adding 250,000 Arkansans to its rolls will also dominate the session.





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Beebe, a Democrat, will give his State of the State speech today at 10:30 a.m. in the House chambers.

Senate President Pro Tempore Michael Lamoureux, R-Russellville, told senators that this legislative session “is not all about Medicaid, but how we treat each other.”

He said he hopes to continue building on the bipartisanship established during the past two years under former Senate President Pro Tempore Paul Bookout, D-Jonesboro.

Lamoureux said he’s met with Democratic State Sens. Linda Chesterfield of Little Rock, Larry Teague of Nashville, and Bookout, who want to help the poor gain access to health care and are worried about the viability of hospitals in rural areas.

He said he’s also heard valid concerns from Republican state Sens. Cecile Bledsoe of Rogers and Missy Irvin of Mountain View about the potential harm that the proposed Medicaid expansion would do to the health-care system in the state. “I can promise you all [that] both sides have facts to support their views,” Lamoureux said in remarks that lasted less than two minutes.

Asked what he meant about the session not being all about Medicaid, but how senators treat each other, Lamoureux said he wants senators to respect each other’s opinions.

“If you start off, even if you disagree with somebody, realizing that they are trying to do the right thing as well, it is not good versus evil, but it is two different groups of people with views sometimes that are pretty far apart trying to get to a conclusion with a lot of hurdles in the way. ... We have a better chance of getting to some kind of fair resolution,” he said.

Some lawmakers have said a special session devoted to Medicaid may be necessary.

Lamoureux said he’s unsure whether the Legislature will reach a decision about expanding Medicaid during the regular session. “I don’t know the facts from the federal government allow us to do that,” he said.

“The sooner we know what the boundaries are, the sooner we can get to do our part,” he said, adding that he hopes the Obama administration won’t take a “take-it or-leave-it” position on Medicaid expansion.

“If it is truly all or nothing, and that is not going to change, then I think we need to let the membership know that and begin seeing if there is any room for discussion at that point. But right now, people are kind of waiting and hoping that that is not the case.”

Monday’s switch to Republican control attracted some party activists, including State Republican Party Chairman Doyle Webb.

“I am enjoying the swearing of the majority of the Republicans in the state Senate,” the photo-snapping former state senator said after he witnessed the transfer of power.

Although many Republican lawmakers, particularly in the House, campaigned against expanding the Medicaid program, Webb said it’s premature to decide.

“If we can afford it, then it should be expanded,” he said. “But if we can’t afford it, then we don’t need to be expanding it. I don’t know [the] answer to that yet,” he said.

Carter said he expects a week or two to pass before legislators begin substantive discussions on Medicaid, but he doesn’t have a timeline in mind.

“I think the membership will be getting their feet wet on being here, so I would expect a whole lot of stuff to happen this week,” Carter said. “I’ve said numerous times, we’re not going to get in a hurry. Today was day one.”

Rep. John Burris, R-Harrison, was appointed chairman of the House Public Health Committee. Burris has been a staunch critic of the federal health-care law and its implementation in Arkansas. Democrats hold a majority on the committee.

Carter said Burris, a past House Republican leader, was picked, in part, because of his experience working with the media.

Burris said some of the potential legislation changing the current Medicaid program or expanding Medicaid to more people will go through the Joint Budget Committee and will not necessarily be considered by the Public Health Committee.

“I think it’s pretty obvious the Public Health Committee will be involved in any discussions,” Burris said. “Even if there is no legislation that goes through that committee, I would expect the membership, not just me, but every member, to have a say.”

Carter has said he’s still gathering information and hasn’t made a decision on expansion or how to solve the shortfall.

First- term Rep. John Hutchison, R-Harrisburg, said he is still deciding how to vote. He said it is important to look several years down the road when considering expansion.

“The responsibility of this job is great, and I realize that, and I want to make the best possible decision I can,” Hutchison said.

Rep. Joe Jett, D-Success, said he supports Medicaid expansion because it would benefit rural hospitals, but he wasn’t sure it would pass if brought to a vote.

Jett said he expects a lot of debate because so many Republicans campaigned against expansion.

“Once the numbers start coming out, and the numbers start flowing, and their constituents start finding out that this thing can help rural hospitals and rural Arkansas, a lot of people are going to have to do a lot of soul searching in their heart,” Jett said.

House Republican Leader Bruce Westerman of Hot Springs said he doesn’t expect members to break their pre-election promises.

“I think that everybody’s been getting prepped and ready for the session, and if they’re like me, they’re just ready to get started.”

House Democratic Leader Rep. Greg Leding of Fayetteville said lawmakers likely won’t decide the fate of Medicaid expansion until late March.

“I think the odds are slim but I like a challenge,” Leding said. “I do think it’s possible. I think Speaker Carter and Senator Lamoureux have both made it clear that they’re willing to have that conversation, so I do believe that there is a chance.”

OTHER THINGS

Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee Chairman Jake Files, R-Fort Smith, told the committee members that “we must be prudent and responsible” and work with the House Revenue and Taxation Committee.

He described the House tax committee as “a whole ’nother animal.”

Afterward, Files said he wants the Senate tax committee to consider the financial implications to the state of any tax-cut legislation, adding “this is not just going to be wild and crazy.”

He said he wants to try to work with House Revenue and Taxation Committee Chairman Rep. Charlie Collins, R-Fayetteville, so “it is not competing interests on both sides of the building.” He said he’s interested in tax cut legislation that would create jobs.

The only House member not present Monday was Rep. Jonathan Barnett, R-Siloam Springs. Barnett is in the hospital under the care of a cardiologist, House spokesman Cecillea Pond-Mayo said.

Front Section, Pages 1 on 01/15/2013

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