Arkansas Plantation Politics - Plantation Master Beebe Speaks Out

By Bill Smith, Ozark Guru: In November,  "We The People" conservative patriots in Arkansas sent a message to Little Rock politicians.  The message: The days of Arkansas Plantation Politics were numbered.  Unfortunately, many establishment politicians refused the message.  Under "plantation politics,"  a "master" is required.   In Arkansas, that position is occupied by the most influential Democrat, Governor Mike Beebe. In the past few weeks, as he wielded power and influence in his usual manner,  it has become noticeable evident that he is frustrated by numerous newly elected legislators who choose to represent their constituents verses making backroom deals or yielding to the pressure by the governor. In the article that follows, the author used the term "ruler" verses plantation master.  She said:

So what really is the difference between rulers and representatives? Maybe the biggest and most profound difference that hits oh so close to home is that rulers insinuate things like only their ideas will work and everyone else should just go along to get along. Representatives, on the other hand, continually look for ways to aide those that elected them.

In Arkansas, hope burns bright for representative government. Growing numbers of Arkansans are refusing to turn from their commitment to conservative values. While formulating positions on numerous issues and responding to the politics of Little Rock, they note that the Governor does not represent them when acting as a master or ruler.

Fortunately, the days of plantation politics are waning but not fast enough for an awakened citizenry who are also not interested in exchanging political labels in lieu of ending politics as usual. Arkansans want the size of government programs reduced and streamlined and some programs or processes ended. They want the full restoration of their rights and very limited government access to their property and resources. As the legal owners of their property, they do not want their state or the federal governments taking and redistributing their property and wealth to others. They are very concerned that the Governor and others in Little Rock have refused or failed to protect the rights and independent actions of Arkansas as a sovereign State under the 10th Amendment of the US Constitution.

Governor Mike Beebe would be wise in his final term of office to cease all aspects of "plantation politics" and to become the chief servant of the people of Arkansas. He should cease all efforts to control the people or their elected representatives. The days of the Clintons are past! For the welfare of Arkansans, Gov. Beebe should lead in standing for Arkansans against the attacks of Federal progressive socialism.

ICYMI: Mike Beebe On Tax Cuts: 'Everybody's Got To Be Responsible'
By Elizabeth Almond: So what really is the difference between rulers and representatives? Maybe the biggest and most profound difference that hits oh so close to home is that rulers insinuate things like only their ideas will work and everyone else should just go along to get along. Representatives, on the other hand, continually look for ways to aide those that elected them.

In Arkansas, we have such an example. In an article featured in Arkansas Business, Governor Beebe seems to imply that because those pesky Representatives want to give the people what they want (i.e. tax cuts and the chance to make Arkansas more competitive in business) he might just let it happen to teach us all a lesson that he knows best.

Essentially our Governor just doesn't get why in the world those pesky Legislators aren't blindly falling in line. Maybe Arkansas Legislators understood the mandate voter's made in November. The voters are, after all, who hired them all in the first place. And maybe - just maybe - the Governor and those of a like mind should be reminded of that.

Mike Beebe On Tax Cuts: 'Everybody's Got To Be Responsible'Arkansas lawmakers recommended cutting taxes on manufacturers' utility bills, capital gains and single parents' income on Tuesday, defying Democratic Gov. Mike Beebe's warning that such cuts would reduce state revenues by $60 million over the next two years and hurt state services.

Beebe said he was considering allowing the tax cuts, if they pass both chambers, to go into law without his signature to force lawmakers to decide which programs to cut to pay for them. "This is not an exercise for somebody to vote to cut taxes and hope that somebody else fixes it for them. Everybody's got to be responsible," Beebe said. "My inclination is probably if that's what they want to do and they want to make the cuts, the only way the people are ever going to know what that really means is to let it happen."

The tax cuts advanced by the House Revenue and Taxation Committee would reduce state revenue by $7.5 million in the fiscal year beginning July 1 and $52.5 million the following fiscal year. They now head to the House for a vote.

The most expensive of the proposals would eliminate the capital gains tax on new investments in Arkansas companies and property. The Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration said the proposal would cost the state $44.5 million when it went into effect in the 2012 tax year. State officials have said it would cost $68.5 million annually in the following years.

Rep. Ed Garner, the capital gains tax cut's chief sponsor, said he thinks the state is overstating the revenue impact and officials haven't taken into account jobs he says would be created by cutting the tax. "This puts us in a competitive situation with our surrounding states to move out of this slow economic environment with job growth," said Garner, R-Maumelle.

Garner's proposal had the backing of the state Chamber of Commerce, which also advocated for the cut in the manufacturers' tax on utility bills. Advocates for low-income Arkansans, however, opposed the cut, saying it would benefit only the state's most wealthy. "Do we really want to undermine our ability to serve our most vulnerable citizens at a time we can't afford it?" said Rich Huddleston, executive director of Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families. "Now is the wrong time to do this."

The cut on the sales tax manufacturers pay for natural gas and electricity would cost the state $3.8 million in the coming year and $4.2 million the following year, according to the state finance office. It would reduce the rate from 3.25 percent to 2.75 percent. The panel also advanced legislation that would provide tax relief for head of household taxpayers with two or more dependents, a cut that would cost the state $3.7 million the coming fiscal year and $3.8 million the following year.

That proposal is designed to fix a flaw in a 2007 law designed to substantially exempt families with children and incomes below the poverty line from state income taxes. The law did not provide comparable benefits for single parents with two or more children.
Beebe has said there is little room in his proposed $4.6 billion budget for additional tax relief beyond a half-cent cut in the grocery tax that he's proposed for the coming year. His tax cut proposal would cost about $20.8 million.

"I don't know where they want to cut it, but it's going to require some significant cuts because you have to a balanced budget," Beebe said. "We're not going to do like the feds. We're going to live within our means."

The votes signal that lawmakers are prepared to move on the tax cut ideas abounding this year after a slow start to the session, which began Jan. 10. Republican lawmakers in the Democratic-controlled Legislature say they're eyeing part of the increased spending Beebe has included in his proposed budget as an area to cut to pay for their proposed reductions. A Senate panel could take up Beebe's grocery tax cut and a used car tax backed by that chamber's leaders as early as Wednesday.

"They need to be vetted, not only in this committee, but on the House floor and in the Senate. We might as well start the process now," said Rep. Davy Carter, R-Cabot, chairman of the House panel.

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