Day 2 of the 2015 Tuesday Regular Session January 13, 2015 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The state’s new slate of constitutional officers was sworn in Tuesday, and newly-elected Governor Asa Hutchinson addressed the state from the steps of the Capitol in his inaugural speech. He said he would “embrace the energy of change and all the opportunity it brings without forsaking our foundation.” The other new constitutional officers also took their oath of office – the lieutenant governor, attorney general, state treasurer and state auditor. The secretary of state and land commissioner, who are incumbents re-elected in November, were also sworn in Tuesday, All of the constitutional officers in Arkansas are now Republicans. They also hold significant majorities in both chambers of the legislature. In the House of Representatives there are now 64 Republicans and 34 Democrats. In the Senate there are 23 Republicans and 11 Democrats. One Senate seat is vacant, and it will be filled by a Republican to be chosen in a primary election being held today in District 16. No Democrats filed to be candidates in District 16. A few decades ago the Democrats held a dominant majority in the legislature. In the 1985 session, there were 126 Democrats and nine Republicans. The shift in political power is a reflection of changes at the national level, especially in the Democratic Party. In the past, the Democrats who controlled the Arkansas legislature were very conservative. For example, they enacted the balanced budget act that limits spending to the amount of available revenue, and prohibits deficit spending. Fortunately for Arkansas, partisan politics is not an important factor at the state Capitol. Lawmakers vote their conscience and their values, and they maintain a healthy respect for those who disagree with them. Washington could learn a lesson from the way things operate in Little Rock.
Posted on: Tue, 13 Jan 2015 20:59:21 +0000
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