Arkansas House Commentary: April 4, 2011 - 88th General Assembly Shortest Session In Two Decades

By Rep. Justin Harris: The final week of the 88th General Assembly took House members on a fast and furious flight through a thunderstorm of debate on the federal healthcare law, state-owned vehicles, and congressional redistricting.

The Legislature is not your ordinary rodeo. Midweek, House members wrangled over a $72.6 million state Insurance Department appropriation bill which included $1 million in funding for the federal healthcare overhaul. Concerned about tying the federal healthcare law to a bill that funds an essential state agency, House Republicans made several attempts to remove the $1 million from the budget bill.

Meanwhile, legislation to establish federally mandated insurance exchanges necessary to the implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act was en route to the House floor. As a result, a deadlock on passing the Insurance Department appropriation surfaced, with a majority refusing to strip the budget bill of $1 million in federal healthcare funding. Fortunately, Republican House members lassoed a compromise on Thursday, agreeing to pull down the bill to implement the insurance exchanges and send the legislation to interim study. Consequently, the Insurance Department appropriation garnered the 75 votes needed to pass the House. I was not one of them. Arkansans, in our district and around the state, are overwhelmingly against Federally Mandated Health Care.

I do, however, believe the compromise helps ensure a slow and deliberate process for examining a federal law that will drastically alter our healthcare system.

A congressional redistricting gerrymander slithered its way out of the Arkansas House, despite overwhelming opposition from concerned citizens, Democrats and Republicans alike. The “Fayetteville Finger,” does not respect our state’s regional communities of interest and will devastate the continuity of Northwest and Southern Arkansas. I opposed this partisan power grab by the State Democratic Party and hope our colleagues in the Senate will take a principled stand for the people of Arkansas. I spoke against this publicly in the House, and I wanted to voice your concerns. West Fork, Greenland, and Winslow have been moved back into the 3rd. By the time you read this, it maybe old news. I will keep you updated.

A $4.6 billion balanced budget for the 2012 fiscal year cleared the full House this week. This budget bill, known as the Revenue Stabilization Act, was cut back due to concerns from the Republicans. We were able to stop spending, but allow a 2% increase for adequacy in education. I am proud to be part of this Historic Session. I worked vigorously to cut your taxes, increase transparency, hold the line on spending and move our state forward economically. As of Thursday, 2 of my bills have been signed into law, and the numerous bills I co-sponsored. It is very hard for a freshman to even get one bill signed into law.

The 88th General Assembly held the shortest session in two decades, and because congressional redistricting is not complete, the House and Senate will have reconvened this past Monday to complete the process.

I will continue my work to serve as your voice in the Arkansas House of Representatives.
-----------------
Justin Harris is Arkansas State Representative (R-District 87). Although he directly represents Crawford and Southern Washington Counties, he also represents all Arkansans with his public stands for limited, transparent and responsible government. He is both a fiscal and social conservative and is the owner of Growing God's Kingdom preschool in West Fork, Arkansas.

---

Tags: Justin Harris, Arkansas, legislature, State Representative, Arkansas House, Congressional Redistricting, gerrymandering, pig trail, Fayetteville Finger, Insurance Department appropriation, Obamacare, Beebecare, budget, Revenue Stabilization Act To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!