Are Utility Companies & Others Buying the Arkansas Attorney General Race?

Utility companies and business lobby groups with whom Dustin McDaniel would have a conflict-of-interest if he were elected Attorney General are pouring money into McDaniel's campaign race. Why? Because they expect a return on their money! So far, McDaniel has raised roughly $ 1.4 million. His opponent Gunner Delay has raised a little more than $ 176, 000. This could the race where the voters "pay" dearly in the future.

Gunner DeLay has taken Dustin McDaniel to task for taking thousands and thousands of dollars in contributions from utility companies in an Arkansas Democrat-Gazette story. Delay makes the point that this is a clear conflict of interest since the Attorney General has the role of protecting Arkansas ratepayers from excessive rate hikes. Arkansas Code Annotated 23-4-302 states that it?s the attorney general?s responsibility to hold the line in hearings and other proceedings against excessive increases in utility rates.

Will the apparent buying of the Attorney General race get out to the general public? Will voters rise up to vote to protect their future? Haven't the utility companies and others in related industries made enough off the citizens of Arkansas in the last few years? If McDaniel wins this race, voters and their families can expect to pay higher utility rates and other fees. [P.S., the above did not address McDaniel's unwillingness to take action, if elected, to reduce the employment of illegal aliens in Arkansas - again Arkansas' legal voters and workers lose!]

Mike Beebe's Failure as Attorney General to Protect Arkansans

ARRA Blog Editorial: Mike Beebe is Arkansas' Attorney General is seeking the office of Governor. We can look at his prior legislative voting record and his performance as Attorney General. What is the responsibility of the Attorney General? Per the Arkansas constitution and the Arkansas Government website, the Attorney General is the chief law-enforcement officer of the State. In fact, on the Arkansas Government website, Mike Beebe states, "I work hard to safeguard the public?s interests."

Well what has Mike Beebe done in regard to safeguarding the public's interest with respect to "illegal" aliens invading Arkansas, taking government services falsely, and taking jobs of and reducing wages for legal residents of Arkansas? What did he do to stop employers from hiring "illegal immigrants? The answer so far is "nothing." Also, his prior legislative work reveals that he favored aid and benefits for 'illegal" aliens and their families while they are in Arkansas.

Asa Hutchinson is the only candidate with a plan to combat illegal immigration. Beebe opposes his proposal to train state troopers on immigration enforcement. Hutchinson also said he wants to ensure that the state and its contractors do not hire illegal immigrants (aliens)! Now when confronted repeatedly by Hutchinson's plan to reduce "illegal" aliens, Beebe responds (in a debate on Oct 4), that the state has had a law since the late 1980s prohibiting the hiring of illegal immigrants.

Then why didn't Mike Beebe as Attorney General fulfill his constitutional responsibility to enforce the law? In a prior debate, Beebe said illegal aliens are a federal responsibility and if elected he would use his "bully pulpit" to get the federal government to be more responsible. Beebe says he has "worked hard to protect the public interests," but what does he mean by "public interests." He has failed to protect Arkansas from illegal aliens and thereby failed to protect us from their performing illegal actions and crimes. Why should we trust him as Governor?

Beebe says he is there as "chief law enforcement officer" but then allows employers to violate the law and to hire illegal aliens. He allows illegals to roam our streets and communities and to commit additional crimes which low tiered law enforcement officers are then forced to clean-up after we as citizens have been harmed and violated. Even the illegals who keep a low profiles are taking benefits, services, jobs, etc. which is theft by deception. Illegals are driving Arkansas roads without legal driver's licenses or legal insurance. If by chance they are registering to vote with their driver's license, they are voting illegally. The list of illegal activities could extend for several paragraphs.

Beebe says we should elect him because he knows his way around the Government process. Well, what about protecting Arkansans! Mike Beebe -- as Attorney General you have failed to protect Arkansans -- why should we now elected you to the highest office in Arkansas?

Garland County short on voting machines

It appears that troubles continue to follow Charlie Daniels hand-picked election company - ES&S, which supplied hardware and software to most Arkansas counties for use this year, under a $15.9 million contract with the state. New voting machines in Garland County can't handle the number of ballots required for the November election, leaving officials without enough machines to handle early voting this month. Garland county's optical scan machines from Election Systems and Software (ES&S) can only be programmed for a maximum of 10 ballot styles whereas the Nov. 7 election requires 22 different styles. Read More

Bush signs Mexico border-fence bill

President Bush signed a bill in Arizona Thursday that provides $1.2 billion for fencing along the U.S.-Mexico border to curb illegal immigration. The $35 billion homeland security bill also includes an overhaul of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help the government better respond to emergencies and natural disasters by strengthening the capabilities. The bill also deploys nuclear detection equipment at our ports of entry, raise security standards at the nation's chemical plants, safeguard American cities against weapons of mass destruction and stop terrorists seeking to enter our country. Read More

How to reduce the amount of gas we use

The best way to stop using so much gas is to deport 11 million illegal immigrants! That would be 11 million less people using our gas. The price of gas would come down. -- and GOD BLESS AMERICA! [Truth in Humor from one of our blog readers.]

Huckabee says 1 school district per county may be Arkansas' solution

Today on his monthly radio program, a caller suggested Arkansas, which has 75 counties, should have 75 school districts. "That would be probably a help," Huckabee said in the show on the Arkansas Radio Network. Arkansas currently has 251 school districts. A House panel in 2005 rejected legislation that would have studied creating one school district for each county. Huckabee said later today that reducing the number of school districts to 75 would be difficult to accomplish. "I think is somewhat unrealistic to expect that we'd get there. In some counties it wouldn't work," Huckabee said. "What people have to understand is that it's not one school in one county, it's one administrative unit. We'd keep all the schools." He said Arkansas should focus more attention on children, classrooms and teachers, not necessarily the administrations.

Schlafly Details Issues to Protect Private Property

In an article today, Phyllis Schlafly detailed that the 2005 Supreme Court's 5-4 decision in Kelo v. City of New London has riled normally apathetic American people and motivated them into asserting people power over the twin powers of government and money. Thirty states have passed laws or constitutional amendments to limit the effect of the Kelo ruling and provide protection against abusive takings of private property for other private purposes. In addition, eleven states will have ballot measures this year to protect private property rights.

Since the Kelo decision, more than 5,700 private properties have been threatened by or taken over by this power of eminent domain, a tremendous increase over the preceding five years. The Kelo decision made local officials and developers bolder and bolder in the taking of private property.

In July, the Ohio Supreme Court made a unanimous decision against a $125 million development project in a suburb of Cincinnati. The City of Norwood had used eminent domain takings in hopes to get $2 million a year in new taxes from the new property owners. The developer had already bulldozed every house on the site except three. The Ohio Supreme Court concluded that "economic benefits alone," such as increased taxes, do not justify a taking of private property. The court stated that "Ohio has always considered the right of property to be a fundamental right," and that property rights are "Believed to be derived fundamentally from a higher authority and natural law . . ."

Schlafly relates that state legislation is needed in most states to prevent government from ruining private property while a dispute is going on. By the time Joy Gamble won her appeal, she had been barred from her property for over a year during which time the utilities were disconnected and the property vandalized and looted. State legislatures should be alert to draft their new laws against governmental takings to make clear that condemning authorities may not take possession of property until appeals are exhausted and the property is paid for, and that blight is defined as a danger to public health and safety (not mere underutilization or diversity of ownership). Read More

Grocery Tax, Surplus Need Resolution

Arkansas' surplus is in the $400 million range now and could grow to more than $700 million by the end of the fiscal year at the end of June. This would be a good time to get rid of the tax on groceries. Arkansas is one of only a handful of states left that tax groceries. Most states have recognized that sales taxes are regressive, hitting the poorest the hardest because a poor person spends proportionately much more money on taxes on groceries than someone better off. [Fort Smith Times Record 10/2/06] Note: ASA Hutchinson, candidate for Governor, is for immediate removal of the grocery tax. Mike Beebe is not!

Berry, Snyder & Lincoln Vote To Protect Terrorists

Marion Berry and Vic Snyder in the House and Blanche Lincoln in the Senate voted NO on the Military Commissions Act. It passed 250-170 in the House and 65-34 in the Senate.. The Act established procedures by which enemy combatants and terror suspects are to be interrogated and prosecuted and established trial by military commission for violations of the law of war. How do these people keep getting reelected?

Mike Ross, John Boozman and Mark Pryor voted YES. These men understood the need to protect our civilians and military members by defining procedures for interrogating and prosecuting foreign terrorists and that foreign terrorists, who have made war on the United States, are not be entitled to trial in US courts with the rights afforded US citizens.

Lincoln & other Democrats Kill Parental-Rights Bill as Senate Session Adjourns

Pro-life groups are lamenting the demise of a piece of legislation they say is supported by 80 percent of Americans -- a bill that would have required a minor girl's parents to be informed before she had an abortion, and that would have punished individuals who transported a minor across state lines for an abortion in order to circumvent parental notification laws in the girl's home state.

Senate Majority Bill Frist did all he could to bring Senate Bill 403 to a vote before that chamber adjourned this session -- but a cloture vote on the Child Custody Protection Act fell three votes short on Friday, falling victim again to Democratic-led efforts to prevent the bill from being sent along to the White House. Frist had hoped the procedural move would force a vote on a bill that the Senate had passed earlier on a 65-34 vote -- and the House had passed 264-153 -- but his filing of cloture required at least 60 votes. On Friday, he could only muster 57; fifty-one Republicans and six Democrats (see roll call vote). The bill will now go without a vote in this Congress, .. Read More By Jody Brown, AgapePress, October 3, 2006.
{Arkansas Senator Lincoln vote No to cloture & to kill bill but Senator Pryor voted Yes]

New Nonpartisan Polling Results on Immigration

Most Americans Don't Want Continuing Large U.S. Population Growth. As Nation Hits 300 Million Milestone, Voters Prefer Reduced Immigration Over Adding Another 100 Million. Passing the 300-million milestone for U.S. population this month apparently is no cause for celebration for the majority of American voters. A survey conducted for the Center for Immigration Studies by The Polling Company, Inc. reveals great discomfort about the rapid U.S. population growth being caused by federal immigration policies. 66% of likely American voters believe the population growth being caused by the present level of immigration will negatively impact the quality of life in America, such as causing more congestion, overcrowding and pollution.

Voters were asked how the quality of life where they live would be changed if their community's population were to grow at the same rate (one-third) as is expected for the nation under current immigration rates. The majority of American voters overwhelmingly say it would worsen their quality of life: By Race: Hispanics: By a 6-1 ratio - life would be worse; Blacks & Whites: By a 9-1 ratio - life would be worse. All Political Affiliations: expected life would be worse: Democrats: By 7-1; Independents: By 10-1; Republicans: By 14-1. Every Region of the Country: expected life to be worse. . Highest negative ratios: Mid-Atlantic states: By 13-1 & Northern Great Plains: 10-1
Regardless of Category of voter: professionals, white-collar or blue-collar workers, part-time jobs or no jobs, voter's age, income or marital status, over 88% voters expected their quality of life to be worse .

Voters were also asked: If immigration continues at its current level for the next 50 years, experts estimate that it will add approximately 100 million people to the United States population, which currently is 300 million. Knowing this, would you say the country needs to reduce the number of immigrants entering the U.S., increase the number of immigrants entering the U.S., or keep the number of immigrants entering the U.S. the same? Two-thirds of Americans would prefer that Congress reduce population growth by reducing annual immigration numbers which is the opposite of the Senate's attempts this year. Only 3% of all likely voters supported increasing the number of immigrants. While nearly all Democratic Senators voted to more than double annual immigration by more than a million, the poll finds only 2% of likely Democratic voters want higher immigration. While potential Republican candidates for the Republican presidential nomination have championed ever higher immigration levels, only 2% of likely Republican voters want higher immigration. Only 4% of swing-voting Independents want more immigration. Only 5% of likely Hispanic voters prefer an increase in immigration. Black Americans prefer immigration reductions by an astounding 72-1 ratio.

How a voter responds to a poll depends on the context. But, most polls, however worded, find little support for immigration increases; rarely more than 12 to 15% of voters. And this poll suggests that, when voters think about the population consequences of immigration, support for higher immigration almost disappears. Unfortuantely, the public hears almost nothing about population growth from major politicians, news media or non-profit groups. Learn More

Schwarzenegger Terminates Last Piece of Marriage

Sacramento, California - Campaign for Children and Families, a California-based pro-family organization defending marriage, children, and family values, is appalled that Governor Schwarzenegger has signed a bill putting the last nail in the coffin for marriage between a man and a woman in California.
On Sept. 30, the last day to sign or veto bills on his desk, the Governor signed SB 1827 by lesbian state Senator Carole Migden, a San Francisco Democrat. SB 1827 requires the state tax laws to award marriage status to homosexual couples. Specifically, the bill requires registered -domestic partners- to file personal income tax returns as either "married filing joint" or "married filing separate." This is in direct violation of federal law which recognizes marriage as only between a man and a woman. On Sept. 28 in the San Jose Mercury News, Migden openly admitted that SB 1827 is the last right of marriage taken by homosexual activists. "This is the final piece and I'm proud of it," she said. Read More

Good excuses for big government?

Ray Haynes, a CA Assemblyman, decided he would catalogue some of those excuses for bigger government? Starting with the environment the excuses for big government can be broken down into four major categories: air, water, soil and the globe. Next the is welfare. Then there is government education, child care, and children?s programs. Then its, government health care. It is worth reviewing the details of his list as they apply to most States' excuses for growht of bigget government, including Arkansas.. Read More

In Arkansasm we must add Secretary of State Charlie Daniles' top excuse - "more government jobs for my family and friends!"

Congress Supports Miltary Chaplains Right to Pray

A Navy chaplain court-martialed for wearing his uniform during a public event in which he prayed in Jesus' name is declaring victory after a congressional conference committee agreed on a compromise rescinding Navy & Air Force policies that barred "sectarian" prayers. "This is a tremendous victory for religious liberty," said Lt. Gordon James Klingenschmitt. "Chaplains are free again to pray in Jesus name." The conferees, working out differences between House and Senate versions of the Defense Appropriation Act, are directing the secretary of the Navy to rescind a Feb. 21 directive titled "Religious Ministry within the Department of the Navy" and a similar Air Force policy enacted Feb. 9. Read More

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Tags: chaplain, Gordon Klingenschmitt, prayer, religous freedom