SILOAM SPRINGS -- Voters should repeal the bi-annual fiscal sessions of the state Legislature and he'll propose a constitutional amendment to do that, the state Senate majority leader said Monday.
"The fiscal sessions have turned into general sessions where we're trying to legislate through the budget process," Sen. Jim Hendren, R-Sulphur Springs, told a crowd of about 30 at a legislative forum. The Siloam Springs Chamber of Commerce and the hosted jointly by Siloam Springs Chamber of Commerce and the Siloam Springs Republican Women.
The Legislature can put amendments on a general election ballot for voter approval by passing a resolution. Hendren "will have to get his filed before I get mine," said Rep. Dan Douglas, R-Bentonville. Hendren, Douglas and state Rep. Robin Lundstrum, R-Elm Springs, were the three appearing at the forum at the chamber. Hendren and Douglas agreed to work together on a fiscal session repeal amendment during the forum.
Voters approved fiscal sessions in 2008. The budget is passed for a two-year period in general sessions of the state Legislature, which take place in odd-numbered years. Fiscal sessions are held in even-numbered years and are supposed to be limited to budget matters only.
Having to set a budget for a two-year period made lawmakers more cautious and conservative, Douglas said. Having a fiscal session encourages lawmakers to take more risks and is an added expense in its own right. "It cost $750,000 to $800,000 to hold a fiscal session," Douglas said.
Former state Sen. Bill Pritchard, R-Elkins, was a sponsor of the 2007 resolution putting the fiscal session on the 2008 ballot. He has since said the sessions haven't worked as intended, and expressed fears it was helping to turn the lawmakers into full-time legislators.
In other issues, all three lawmakers at the forum said they had no desire to impinge on the independence of the state Highway Commission but they do want to be better informed on what decisions the commission's making and why. More legislative oversight of the commission was part of the $50 million road package that was the major purpose of the special legislative session that concluded earlier Monday.
The state should look at more revenue for highways other than a flat-rate fuel tax that's not growing as cars become more efficient. Hendren said he wasn't inclined to support a tax increase while Arkansas fuel taxes are higher than surrounding states. Douglas replied in turn that surrounding states put more taxpayer money from other sources into their highways, so the fuel taxes don't reflect the whole picture.
NW News on 05/24/2016