Come January, 26 Republicans and nine Democrats will take their places in the Arkansas Senate.
As usual, a meeting of the Arkansas General Assembly will deal with thousands of legislative changes and budgets for state government.
What’s the point?
We applaud state Sen. Jim Hendren of Gravette for clearly speaking of a strong standard of conduct for lawmakers for the 2019 legislative session.
Northwest Arkansas' own Jim Hendren. Republican of Gravette, will serve as the president pro tem of the Senate, having been formally elected to the post by his colleagues on Nov. 30.
At that organizational meeting after the 2018 elections, Hendren offered outstanding advice to his fellow lawmakers as he encouraged them to conduct the state's business with four principles in mind:
• Be professional in representing their constituents.
• Act with integrity.
• Focus on operating efficiently, filling up their days at the Capitol with work.
• Treat one another with respect and civility, even during the heat of debate.
It's pure common sense, but if it were really common, would Hendren even have to say it? Like Martin Luther, perhaps he should nail his treatise to the doors of the Senate, with a carbon copy attached to the entrance of the state House of Representatives at the other end of the state Capitol. Maybe every day when senators say the Pledge of Allegiance, they should follow it up by reciting Hendren's advice.
Hendren has set a good example in the way he conducts himself. Maybe there's hope that the other 34 members of the Senate will listen and apply the principles he stated so clearly.
We'd say the subject is broadly covered in Hendren's four-point standard, but let's specifically add one more suggestion for clarity: Don't use the power of one's public office to engage in political retribution. Yes, Jason Rapert, we're looking at you. Yes, Bob Ballinger, that's a notion we'd like you to adopt.
Rapert, of Conway, last week lashed out at the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith and threatened to drag school officials before a committee of the Legislature after he learned an event called "Drag Queen Story Time" would happen on campus. Turned out it wasn't sponsored by the school nor was it involving any state tax dollars, details Rapert didn't bother with before using his elected position to threaten the school.
Ballinger led the charge recently in holding up the budget of the Arkansas Supreme Court because he was mad the court rejected a tort reform amendment from appearing on the Nov. 6 ballot. Ballinger doesn't much care for a judiciary that will hold the Legislature accountable to the state Constitution. In his mind, if the Legislature says it, that's enough checks and balances. And so he used his public office to throw a tantrum.
It's wishful thinking. It seems both men, and a few others, got into public service specifically so they can throw their weight around on issues unrelated to the real work of improving Arkansas.
We prefer Hendren's approach.
Commentary on 12/08/2018