I am aggravated at our state Legislature. Really aggravated.
Which leads me to ask: You know it is time for the Legislature to go home when ...?
There are a lot of good answers this year when referring to the Arkansas Legislature.
They have done little of substance. They have dragged Arkansas back to the dark ages where women’s reproductive health is concerned. Then there is the action they took allowing those so inclined to carry a gun on a college campus or to a church service.
The abortion ban is, according to most experts, unconstitutional and as such will likely be overturned. Nonetheless, the move makes us look backward, and women will have to seek certain kinds of health care out of state until the courts rule.
The gun toting bills gave college and church officials the option to decide whether firearms would be allowed in those buildings. Luckily, most school and church officials appear to be leaning against doing so.
So the lawmakers — I shudder to refer to them as such — it would seem wasted their time.
So far, however, one of the best reasons I can see for sending the lawmakers home is a couple of them want to pass a law saying the Razorbacks of the University of Arkansas should play the Red Wolves of Arkansas State University.
I don’t really care whether the state’s top teams play one another, but I darn sure care about whether a law is approved to require it.
Laws should be made because they are needed to deal with important issues, not with a football game.
Pick up your toys, boys and girls, and get out of Little Rock.
Harold Copenhaver, a Democrat from Jonesboro, and Andy Mayberry, a Republican from Hensley, are the characters who put forth the idea.
At least this goofy idea shows some cooperation between members of opposing parties — that’s unique.
For years there’s been talk of such a game. University of Arkansas fans are not enamored of the idea, at least in part, because they see no value of such a game to the Razorbacks.
Red Wolves fans have been more supportive, after all it would shine a brighter light on their program and school.
Still, after this past Razorback football season, one does wonder why the Red Wolves still think a game is a good idea. Then again, the Red Wolves would have probably won.
The proposal could be dead by the time you read this, however, it is still reason enough to send the lawmakers home.
Meanwhile, in Washington, the word is sequestration — the biggest word most of those in Congress probably know.
Part of the fallout from sequestration — which is just a big word for budget cuts — is White House tours have been stopped. President Barack Obama is being blamed for this even though it was recommended by the Secret Service.
Secret Service officials opted to recommend the tour cuts rather than cut essential services like providing protection for the president, vice president, presidential candidates and visiting heads of state. They also investigate financial crimes, like counterfeiting.
I’ve always thought that was an odd combination of responsibilities, but that is neither here nor there.
If something had to be cut, cutting tours makes sense to me.
Politically, the Obama administration may have misstepped. Or maybe, they wanted people to see what could happen when our elected officials can’t grow up and work together for the good of the country.
Had I had a White House tour scheduled, I would be unhappy. Of course, I am not happy about anything going on in Washington these days so I don’t think a canceled tour would make much difference.
Here’s the deal: Many of the people barking about the canceled tours are the people who demanded budget cuts. Such cuts are never fun. I think they need to take their medicine and shut up.
The rest of us are tired of listening.
lll
By the way, did you know that in a recent poll, Congress was less popular than cockroaches? They did, however, beat out gonorrhea.
Why did Public Policy Polling ask such a question? A representative said they were trying to explain low approval numbers in easy to understand terms.
Other things more popular than Congress: Brussels sprouts, the NFL replacement referees and lice.
Embarrassing isn’t it?
Leeanna Walker is local editor of the Rogers Morning News and the Springdale Morning News. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/NWALeeanna.