House Caucus

Posted on November 4th, 2009

12:00 pm – The Arkansas House of Representatives is meeting today for a Caucus meeting. We are in the House Chambers for the first time since the session ended.

12:01 pm – The House was called to order by Speaker Robbie wills. We have offered the prayer conducted by House Chaplain, Pastor Cornell Maltbia. The Pledge was led by Representative Bill Abernathy.

12:07 pm – The House Chambers have been restored and look amazing. Repairs have been made and years of tobacco smoke plaque removed from the walls. Secretary of State Charlie Daniels is being recognized for the ongoing restoration on the State Capitol. Our State Capitol is one of the most historic and beautiful in the country.

12:10 pm – Capitol Historian David Ware is presenting a history of the construction of the State Capitol. Apparently the building of the State Capitol was not without controversy. You can read about it here

12:18 pm – The House is to consider rules. The house is now in recess with HR1034 is referred to House Rules.

12:51 pm – We are back in the Chambers. It has been reported to me that the House Rules committee does not want the people to have more time to review bills coming out of committee. Rep Andrea Lea will probably present her amendment to the whole chamber since it failed in the Rules Committee.

12:53 pm – After significant public pressure, Speaker Wills restored the rule to prevent taking campaign contributions during the fiscal session.

12:56 pm – Rep. Ann Clemmer is presenting a amendment that requires legislators are only reimbursed for the least expensive route of travel to meetings out of state. Representative Hyde spoke against the amendment. He made the claim that it is a matter of the house management committee. Since the Speaker totally controls the House Rules Committee it makes no difference. Rep. Clemmer said that the people are getting tired of the lack of accountablity of our Representatives. The Democrats clearly do not want to be held accountable.

1:01 pm – Rep. Clemmer is presenting another rule change to allow the house to vote 2/3 in favor of a rules change that it cannot be over ruled by the Speaker dominated House Rules Committee. Rep. Harrelson asked a staged question of the House Parlamentarian. Democrats don’t want the rules to be created and evaluated outside of the formerly smoke filled back room (find out where the rules committee meets.) The want to continue to mislead and decieve the people of Arkansas with back room rules tricks.

1:05 pm – Rep. Dan Greenberg is presenting a rules change to make sure the TAXPAYER FUNDED House Communications Office be conducted in a non-partisian manner. Rep Hyde spoke against the amendment. Speaker Wills is taking an unprecidented step of speaking against the bill. He is making the claim that it is going to be non-partisian and he “gives us his word”. Apparently he does not consider that there may be others who may not. The opposition to this rule means that Democrats do not want to be held accountable by the rules to expend taxpayer fund in a non-partisian manner. If at any point they decide to breech the”policy” they will claim it is not against the rules. In fact the most likely source of the breech of policy will be from those who can author the policy in the first place. Again, this is an instance of Arkansas Democrats refusing to be held accountable.

1:19 pm – I will post the vote record as soon as it gets posted.

1:20 pm – Rep. Burris is presenting a rule change that require at least two sides for debate before a motion to end to debate. He is making the point that school children asked why in Arkansas government does it not work like they learn it should work. They noticed the unfairness of preventing anyone to speak against an issue by calling immediate consideration. Rep. Green is asking for what if no one wishes debate. Rep. Burris said this does not force debate, but at least one side have the opportunity to speak against the debate. I think Rep. Green is parsing the text to the bill to make it mean differently than what is intended. Rep. Garner is asking clarification that makes it clear that there has been misunderstanding about the meaning of the text, he is absolutely correct. Rep. Harrelson is asking questions again muddying the water. This is a typical practice to make excuses for being held accountable for voting against a bill they know the people want.

1:34 pm – I wish the people of Arkansas could see this farce of democratic process.

1:35 pm – Rep Dan Greeenberg is now presenting an amendment that would make it easier to record how members voted in committee. Again the Democrats in Arkansas do not want to be held accountable to the people of Arkansas. This bill like all others are being voted down.

1:38 pm – Representative Lea run the bill to allow an extra day before a bill is considered. This would allow more time for the voters to hold legislators accountable for what they are voting on. Again, Arkansas Democrats refruse to be held accountable to the people of Arkansas.

1:41 pm – The House in recess for 15 minutes

2:03 pm – We are now considering the completed rules. Rep. Lea is asking questions about rule changes regarding electronic testimony. She asks if someone gets a text during testimony if they could ad that to their testimony? Rep. Moore said that would not be prohibited. What I wonder if what specific incident prompted this change to the rules. Good. Rep. Dismang asked that question. I asked the question of what this new rule would prevent that the rule that prevents pairs and proxies that has not prevented in the near half century since the technology of tape recorders had been invented, and even then, why is it necessary now.

2:30 pm – Rep. Garner is asking an avalanche of questions to try to determine what that change does. Rep. Pyle did the same. Rep Burris spoke for the bill saying that he understoond how irrelevent hypothetical questions could sink a bill pointing out that it had happened six times today. I have problems with what that one rule change MIGHT do but it did not justify voting against the overall House Rules Resolution.

2:35 pm – House stands adjourned. Vote tally coming soon.

Filed under Uncategorized |

2 Responses to “House Caucus”

1. Sarea Says:
   November 4th, 2009 at 2:04 pm

   Are you kidding me??? I am actually shocked that this was talked about in a public forum. I need not ask where you stand on this issue, but I am angry. . . not just angry that they are even thinking about this, but the fact that they are waisting time talking about instead of making the OBVIOUS right choice and getting on with the ‘important’ issues . . . I commend you for all you have done and do for Arkansas voters . . you truely have OUR best interests at heart!!!!

2. Linda Says:
   November 11th, 2009 at 4:51 am

   Dems better get with it because they are going to be voted out in the next few elections. Good riddance. I have never seen such blantant disreguard to the wishes of the American People as I have seen lately. You would think we all embrace communism or socialism. We are going in the wrong direction and the voters will speak. No Job in government is a sure thing now. All seats are up for grabs.