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Between The Lines: Hutchison Takes The Reins

New governor set to focus on arkansas’ economics

And so it begins, this historic session of the Arkansas General Assembly, complete with Republicans in control of both chambers and Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson at the helm of state government.

The 64-year-old Hutchinson was sworn in Tuesday as the 46th governor of Arkansas and delivered an inaugural address that reflected his campaign promises.

"My top priority is to grow the economy of this state," Hutchinson pledged, focusing on job creation and greater economic power and influence for Arkansas.

He is convinced a $100 million cut in annual Arkansas income taxes will help the state compete for jobs and has made that tax cut the immediate focus of his legislative agenda.

Importantly, he has the leaders of both legislative chambers -- Senate President Jonathan Dismang and House Speaker Jeremy Gillam -- supporting his tax cut; other lawmakers seem a little less anxious to cut taxes until they know more about Hutchinson's overall budget plan.

The new governor has promised a balanced budget, which is required in Arkansas, but he hasn't answered critical questions, including what is to happen with Arkansas' unique private option for buying health insurance with federal Medicaid dollars. More than 213,000 Arkansans are enrolled in the program, but Hutchinson has not yet said whether he will support its continuation.

Hutchinson has hinted his answer will be wrapped into a plan for broader health care reform. He said on Tuesday he'll speak to that plan next week and asked legislators to await his ideas.

Hutchinson talked briefly to the lawmakers after he was formally sworn in, encouraging them to "embrace the energy of change and growth."

Sometimes change is resisted, he said, because people are content and comfortable in the status quo.

"The status quo for Arkansas is not acceptable," he said, because the state must adopt new technology and adapt to the global marketplace.

Acknowledging the political and demographic change evidenced in the Legislature and his administration, Hutchinson said everyone in the room nevertheless reflected the "new day" for Arkansas.

"What has not changed is why we are all here," he said, emphasizing that they are there for the people of Arkansas.

Governing is not about which political party is in the majority, he said.

"Governing is about setting aside differences and searching for common ground." Hutchinson made the point to lawmakers and repeated it later in his inaugural speech from the state Capitol steps.

"As we search for the common ground, we realize that our differences are smaller than we thought and our hearts are larger than we imagined."

Hutchinson's inaugural message was a good one, the sort most new governors give and lacking detail for the new administration's agenda.

That will come later, although he did give lawmakers a bit more detail earlier in the day.

The $100 million income tax cut, he said, will be for middle-class Arkansans and will be part of the balanced budget he will present by the end of January.

That budget, he said, will include "savings and efficiencies" but will fully fund education and reflect other priorities.

He mentioned again his initiative to have computer science offered at every high school in Arkansas and a push for economic development that will allow private-sector dollars to "help us."

He also suggested the need for new prison space and a more effective parole system but emphasized changing the behavior of those coming out of prison.

There is, as Hutchinson said, much to be done.

Whoever was elected this year was going to have to deal with a divided legislature, particularly on that private option question.

Its continuation, in any form, will require a three-fourths vote of both houses. That has been hard to come by in the past two years, and should be harder yet, given the number of lawmakers elected on pledges to kill the program.

Someone, presumably Gov. Hutchinson, will have to have persuasive arguments to bridge the division. That work should begin in earnest when the governor offers his thoughts on the private option next Thursday.

This week was mostly about ceremony -- Monday's convening of the Legislature and Tuesday's inauguration of the new governor.

There was also the early filing of bills for legislative consideration, but the real work will start when Hutchinson reveals more of his plans.

Brenda Blagg is a freelance columnist and longtime journalist in northwest arkansas. Email her at [email protected].

Commentary on 01/14/2015

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