Letters

Who's fleecing whom

Congressman French Hill periodically awards a "Golden Fleece" award to highlight wasted taxpayer dollars. Recently, this paper described his Golden Fleece award as going to the Bureau of Indian Education, which had received $7.5 million to repair substandard schools in New Mexico, yet did not make the repairs. That certainly is a waste. All children deserve quality, updated school facilities.

But here is the hypocrisy. The same edition of the paper noted that Hill voted "no" to a proposal to scale back the 2017 tax breaks in order to save Medicare. The tax-break bill was enacted in 2017 with Hill's "yes" vote. Those massive tax breaks, mostly for corporations and the wealthy, are projected to add $1.9 trillion to the national debt over 10 years.

Republicans plan to let the wealthy and big business keep their huge tax breaks, and use the resulting deficit caused by their new tax law as an excuse to cut Medicare and Social Security.

But here is the kicker. Public records reveal that Mr. Hill stands to gain some $42,000 in tax breaks in 2019. Ironic because the median income in Arkansas is just about $42,000. The average Arkansas household will get around $870 in tax breaks in 2019. Mr. Hill voted for $42,000 of tax breaks for himself, but against a bill that would help to save Medicare.

The real "Golden Fleece" award goes to French. We don't have to continue to get fleeced by him. In November, vote for Clarke Tucker.

TERI PATRICK

Little Rock

Time to weigh anchor

Here's a transformational hint for the Guv's new Capitol lineup: Somebody (anybody), please decommission Johnny Thurston and give him a rubber ducky to play with--preferably somewhere on dry land and safely away from Arkansas' richest natural resources and vulnerable voters.

Then let's elect Susan Inman to pull double duty as both secretary of state and commissioner of state lands-- a much-needed role that is truly transformational. Susan is a proven performer, steady-handed, and game-ready.

Although that switch might be a bit controversial for wannabe Skipper Thurston, the deliverables to Arkansas' taxpayers are impressive: We'd combine safer and more efficient elections with stronger stewardship for our irreplaceable resources (not to mention savings of millions of tax dollars).

Although the Guv's new game plan looks like he might trim some fat, he'll have to lose a roster full of slow-footed legislators and Supremes. And we'll need the best of all of our blue and red voters pulling together to transform Arkansas and America.

So, Guv, please chalk up a brand new playbook to bring us all together again. (Mike Beebe could likely give you some good hints.) Heave ho!

JIM BEMIS

Rogers

Partisanship in court

SCOTUS will no longer be considered a "conservative" court. It will now be rightly considered a "Republican" court. There's a vast difference between the two.

McConnell gets full credit for the change. He decided years ago that controlling the federal court system would ensure control of the country for at least the next generation, even if the Democrats manage to win both the presidency and Congress. Any laws or executive orders issued by Democrats, in the future or in the past, will be challenged and are certain to be deemed "unconstitutional" by this undeniably biased Supreme Court. Conversely, Republicans and their wealthy benefactors can be confident that any and all of their efforts will be supported by the courts and, if necessary, automatically declared constitutional by SCOTUS.

Conquering SCOTUS is the holy grail, even if by hook or crook, and that's precisely why McConnell and his cronies are so proud. It's not the Roberts Court any longer. It has become the McConnell Court.

The founding fathers could never have anticipated such a partisan corruption of SCOTUS--much less the whole federal court system.

WILLIAM BRUTON

Little Rock

Reality of proposals

Issue 1 was just pulled by the Supreme Court for including unrelated proposals. Still, for a future election, voters need to understand the proposals.

Every state surrounding Arkansas has enacted tort reform, protecting the medical community and others from frivolous lawsuits and unwarranted jury awards. Many voters are misinformed about what Issue 1 will do--and won't do. Nothing in the language restricts compensation for a person injured through another party's negligence--medical costs, economic losses, lost wages, lifetime care, whatever is required to meet their needs.

There are four proposals within Issue 1, the first of which would limit to one-third contingency fees trial lawyers can claim from a court-ordered award. Could this be what's fueling the TV commercials and other propaganda?

The second directs the Legislature to define the terms "non-economic damages" and "punitive damages," and limits the amount granted in those types of awards. Again, nothing limiting compensatory awards for the victims' injury or death from gross negligence by a nursing home, large corporation or such, would be prosecuted under criminal law--example, the recent prison sentencing of a pharmacist.

Regarding rules of pleading and procedure, the Legislature doesn't write rule changes. The Supreme Court holds that power under the Rules Enabling Act passed by Congress; consequently, the Legislature reviews the changes for adherence to guidelines within the act.

Those supporting the legislation are Arkansas-based medical groups--hospitals and physicians--because of the ever-present threat and exorbitant cost of malpractice insurance. A significant number of doctors no longer deliver babies for that reason, and it discourages doctors from practicing in Arkansas.

Issue 3: Extremely short terms put too many experienced legislators out and inexperienced ones in at the same time.

BARBARA FOREMAN

Siloam Springs

Presidential etiquette

I see and take note of how the president of these United States of America, "The Honorable Donald J. Trump," wears his suit coat open. Proper etiquette is to button it while standing and to unbutton while sitting to avoid wrinkling.

As the president of the United States, his whole life is under a microscope.

P.S. What about the way he sits? His legs gaped wide open. He used the same words all of the time.

FRANKLIN FURLOUGH

Little Rock

Editorial on 10/22/2018

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