Bentonville’s Douglas Seeks Second Term

Douglas
Douglas

— Rep. Dan Douglas, R-Bentonville, will run for re-election to the District 91 seat of the state House of Representatives, he announced Wednesday.

A cattle farmer and commercial real estate manager, Douglas served four years on the Benton County Quorum Court before being elected to his first term in 2012.

He voted for the so-called private option health care expansion in April, during the regular legislative session. Douglas continues to support the private option as it comes up for yearly budget approval, but said his support shouldn’t be interpreted as a blank check.

“I’ve heard of possible changes, and I need to read those changes before I make a final commitment,” Douglas said. “I’m not going to say I support something whatever happens to it.”

Profile

State House District 91

Dan Douglas (incumbent)

Republican

Age: 57

Residency: Lifelong resident of District 91

Family: Wife, Tara; three children

Employment: Cattle farmer and commercial office property manager

Education: Graduate of Benton High School; Attended the University of Arkansas

Military Experience: None

Political Experience: Benton County Quorum Court, 2009 to 2013; State House 2013 to present

The program takes about $915 million in federal taxpayer dollars intended for the expansion of Medicaid, a government program. Instead, the money is used to help poorer Arkansans who don’t qualify for Medicaid to purchase private health insurance.

The change required a waiver from the federal Department of Health and Human Services. A state spending bill appropriating money to the program requires a three-quarters vote in each chamber of the House in February’s fiscal session. The vote is expected to be close.

Douglas also is known as a supporter of expanding and improving broadband internet access for Arkansas public schools. He sponsored Act 1280 of 2013, with updates, streamlines and clarifies the standards for “digital learning” in schools.

A student who wants to study physics, for instance, should have the opportunity to study that subject wherever he goes to school in Arkansas, Douglas said. The most cost-efficient way to allow that is to allow the effective teaching of classes by digital video, audio and computer connection with a qualified teacher, he said. Arkansas ranks last among the 50 states in providing such access, he said.

“I think the supporters of this figured that if they could get the most tech-deprived guy in the Legislature to back it, they’d have a good chance of passing it,” Douglas joked when asked how he became the sponsor of the Act 1280. “But I consider everything with an open mind and couldn’t find a more cost-efficient way to provide these courses. If we’re serious about equality in education, it’s a no-brainer.” The bill passed 84-15 in the House and 33-0 in the Senate.

Douglas currently serves on the House Agriculture, Forestry, and Economic Development Committee, the House Transportation Committee and the Joint Energy Committee.

The work of the Northwest Arkansas delegation outside of regular lawmaking duties is vital as well, Douglas said. For instance, the region’s delegation supported upgrades to the Flint Creek Power Plant in hearings before the state Public Service Commission. Those improvements mean the coal-fired plant will meet new, stringent federal emission standards and still assure the region of a “dependable, economical, source of base load generation and affordable electric rates,” he said.

Douglas also played a part in helping the region draw Redman and Associates to relocate the company’s toy manufacturing business from Shanghai, China to Rogers over the next three years, an investment of $6.5 million, he said.

“The biggest challenge we have is to create more jobs in Arkansas,” Douglas said. “If people are working, all the other problems get much smaller.”

Upcoming Events