The Long Con in Arkansas - Issue 3!

Bill Smith, ARRA News Editor: Some times, elections have consequences far beyond the voting for, or even against,  specific individuals for an office. Such is the case for Arkansans in the Nov. 2014 General Election. On the Arkansas ballot there are several referred ballot initiatives to be voted on.  In my opinion most of them have no merit.  However,  one ballot issue is politically immoral and deceptive.

In Arkansas, the legislature may submit three amendments to the Constitution which are not subject to judicial review before going on the ballot. Normally they are short and to the point.

However, this election the voters of Arkansas will be confronted by a devious ballot summary of an issue, aka, Issue 3,  which in reality grossly expands the  length of the Arkansas Constitution and which may well be the "biggest con job" in Arkansas' history. This referred ballot initiative distorts the truth and even violates the rules for referred legislative amendments. And, it's title is deceptive. It hides behind the words "Ethics Reform." And Ethics Reform of the legislature doesn't even require a passage of a Constitutional Amendment.

Issue 3 is a "we promise to be good 'boys and girls' if you will allow us to be in office longer than currently allowed" by the current term limits which they ignore mentioning. Yes, Issue 3 is that childish!  But at the same time, it is grossly deceptive and dangerous to Arkansas future.  By lengthening term limits and expanding their salaries  (anther hidden feature), they can build  "political war chests"  to such a degree that no opponent can afford to challenge them.  This may sound common place to voters  in other states, but the relatively break up of Arkansas plantation politics in recent years has allowed more opportunity for the people to send new voices to their State Capitol.

Some members of the Arkansas State Senate and House have reversed their positions after voting in favor of this initiative after facing their constituents complaints about the gross deception of Issue 3. However, repentance of their vote, does not prevent the consequences and the pending vote on the issue in the 2014 General Election.

Even the delegates of the Arkansas Republican Party 2014 Convention unanimously objected to Issue 3 in spite of the fact that a majority of establishment Republican legislators had joined Democrats to sponsor and pass Issue 3.  A few of these pro Issue 3 legislators have already paid the price in the primary by not being elected. And others are not running again for office because of the current Term Limits  set by the citizens of Arkansas.  Issue 3's longer term limits would enable career politicians to attempt to return to office in the future.

Issue 3 will be in the hands of the people of Arkansas in a few days starting with Early Voting and then on General Election Day. It is up to the people to save its present  Arkansas Term limits by defeating Issue 3 or to be swindled for generations to come.

Paul Jacob, noted columnist of defender of the people's right to petition their government for redress of rights and to voice their positions, prepared a video explaining what has happened within  Arkansas Issue 3.

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Liberty Initiative Fund president Paul Jacob discusses Issue 3, a state constitutional amendment in Arkansas designed to destroy term limits for state legislators, while telling voters that it is "setting term limits". The amendment is so long, that if passed, it would comprise of 1/8th of the entire state constitution -- including the previous 85 constitutional amendments. Below is his video review:
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Paul Jacob is President of the Liberty Initiative Fund and board member of Great Communicators Foundation, which sponsors Common Sense. Paul won the “ Courage Under Fire” award at the 2009 Conservative Political Action Conference. He received the Society for Individual Liberty’s “Phoenix Award” for “contributions to the advancement of liberty in America,” and was dubbed one of “The Best and the Rightest” by National Journal.

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Tags: Arkansas, long con, Issue 3, Ballot initiative, Term Limits.  ethics reform, Paul Jacob, video, The Long Con, Bill Smith, ARRA News Service To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. and "Like" Facebook Page - Thanks!