Arkansas Journal

UPDATE: Back To School Sales Tax Holiday...On The Right Track

2008-11-21T13:25:00.001-06:00

I've been talking about the need for the state to stop bilking Arkansas taxpayers, especially in this slowdown. No sooner were the words out of my mouth than I came across this story about Sen. Denny Altes, R-Fort Smith, who is proposing to some of the many nickel and dime taxes that most Arkansans don't know they pay because they're hidden in the cost of manufacturing.

Way to go, Senator. Let's work on finding all these hidden taxes and eliminating them. The state has a surplus. It'd be nice if the taxpayers could say the same thing.

Here's the link.

UPDATE: While Senator Altes is working to help alleviate the burden on taxpayers, his colleagues are not so eager. Even this modest concession has drawn lukewarm response from Senators on the Revenue and Taxation Committee.

An official with DFA estimated that Altes' proposal would cost a mere $1.6 million. Apparently, that's just too much for these greedy politicians to part with. Let me take this opportunity to remind them that this is OUR money, not theirs. It's time that politicians came to grips with the fact that it's better for the government to cut back than the taxpayers. After all, we pay all the bills: those we freely agree to and those that politicians force on us.

In the meantime, thank you, Senator Altes for remembering that politicians work for us and not the other way 'round.

Here's the link.

Act 1 "Anti-Family"?

2008-11-21T12:38:00.000-06:00

Talk about a bastardization of the term "family".

Here's the link.

Highway Department STILL Asking For "Stimulus Package"

2008-11-21T11:21:00.008-06:00

These idiots pretend that the money they're asking for comes from the federal government, but it's stupid, greedy people like this who are the reason why the federal government keeps taxing us so much and will be the justification for further budget cuts for American taxpayers.

I don't appreciate the governor pretending to be fiscally responsible with our money while his highway department is pushing for more of OUR federal tax money, money that WE, the average joes, need now more than ever.

Here's the link.

Another Story Max Won't Touch...NYT: Obama May Not Close Club Gitmo

2008-11-21T11:21:00.007-06:00

Here's the link.

State Budgets in Shortfall: Cut Services or Raise Taxes? Uh, Cut Services

2008-11-21T11:21:00.005-06:00

Why don't politicians ever ask what will happen to taxpayers if taxpayers are forced to cut their services? They always trot out this argument that it will be horrible if the state has to cut services, that, therefore, they raise taxes. The government can't afford a budget cut. Somehow politicians think taxpayers can afford a household budget cut while the economy is languishing.

This just goes to show what I always say, that "public servants" don't want to serve the public, rather to have the public serve them.

Here's the link.

Fun c/o the Federal Government

2008-11-21T11:21:00.001-06:00

Legislators Discuss "Economic Development"...No Mention of Significant Tax Cuts

2008-11-21T10:58:00.002-06:00

First, I have to give Tracy Pennartz, D-Fort Smith, credit for suggesting tax credits for certain construction projects and the mayor of Starr City's suggestion that clean coal is a good idea, but the other proposal was just boondoggle.

Robert Moore, D-Arkansas City, has the crazy idea that what this state needs is a walking trail...

I'm serious. He wants $3 MILLION for a walking trail, no doubt in or near his district. How many hundreds of miles of trails does Arkansas already have? Has anybody measured the return that these walking trails bring for the money we've invested? Now, don't get me wrong. I love nature and Arkansas's trails just as much as the next guy, but there are a handful of obvious reasons why this is a bad idea.

1. We're in an economic slump and building a walking trail in an area where people are not likely to go on vacation, anyway, is not a good use of taxpayer money. It would be far better if that money was returned to the taxpayers than wasted on a supposed economic development trail.

2. It would not generate as much revenue for local businesses than it would cost, especially once you consider the ongoing cost of maintaining it. Dressing up his walking trail boondoggle as economic development is an insult.

Rep. Moore should've had the guts just to say that he wants a walking trail for his district and he wants the taxpayers to pay for it. He's trying to make it sound like we need it, though, and that it will generate business for the state. Whatever business it generates will be negligible. Most of the use will, no doubt, come from people who already live in the area. The South is dotted already with trails that snake through similar terrain. It is highly unlikely that anybody other locals and the very small group of people who like to tick off trails on a list will utilize it.

Rep. Moore's boondoggle is another serious misuse of taxpayer money and another violation of trust we put in our legislature to be good stewards of our money. Under normal economic circumstances, I might be more inclined not to oppose something like this, but pretending it will have economic benefits that outweigh the cost, initial and ongoing, in tumultuous economic times is an insult.

Rep. Moore is running for the speakership and this reflects poorly on his judgment and scruples as a candidate.

If he and the rest of the legislature are serious about economic development, especially in such troubling times, I suggest that they do the right thing and drastically cut taxes, especially the many nickel and dime taxes that choke various businesses and hide costs from consumers. The taxpayers of Arkansas desperately need and deserve a massive budget increase. I think it's only fair that the state government take a massive budget cut to accommodate that. If politicians are actually interested in being public servants, it's time that they serve the public and stop treating us like we exist to serve them and provide them with revenue.

Here's the link.

Good News: Brenda Blagg Declares Christian Conservative Vote Alive and Well in Arkansas

2008-11-20T15:43:00.000-06:00

She doesn't think it's good news, of course. Wah.

Here's the link.

2010 Speaker's Race, Already?

2008-11-20T13:27:00.002-06:00

Wow, ambition springs eternal. Good grief.

Here's the link.

Secret Ballot Good Enouch For Democrat Caucus in US Senate...Why Not For Unions?

2008-11-20T13:20:00.000-06:00

Max ran a story this week that Joe Lieberman will keep his chairmanship after a secret vote by the democrat caucus. Here's the link.

Brummett on Blanch Lincoln's Choice on Card Check

2008-11-20T12:38:00.000-06:00

Speaking with friend, recently, he informed me that he would close his business's doors if his employees tried to unionize his company. I've heard similar sentiments from a number of small business owners. Do we really want the rest of the country to become Michigan? They've been in a state of near depression for several years and Obama has tapped their governor, Jennifer Granholm, as an economic advisor. Her response to her state's struggling economy was to raise taxes. The real problem in Michigan is decades of union stranglehold. Now Obama wants to push it on us.

Senator Lincoln and Senator Pryor, while we're at it, need to take this opportunity to vote no and support a filibuster against it, not for political reasons but because strangling business is a bad thing for everybody.

Here's the link.

Democrat Culture of Corruption Continues...Sen. Boxer Aide Busted For Child Pornography

2008-11-20T11:53:00.002-06:00

Hey, guess what!!! Max doesn't have anything to say about this! Surprise, surprise!

Here's the link.

Iran, Apparently Not Afraid of Obama, Tests Missiles Near Iraq

2008-11-20T11:50:00.000-06:00

Here's the link.

Lottery Taking Shape

2008-11-20T11:20:00.000-06:00

Here's the link.

Gay Activists Trample a Cross to Demonstrate Love?

2008-11-20T10:58:00.000-06:00

I think hate is a more appropriate word for the atrocious behavior demonstrated by these gay activists as they scream at and belittle this poor woman, before trampling a Cross she made to express her opinion, rooted in the Bible that homosexuals cannot "marry".

I'm not surprised to see that Max, who is quick to describe anything that expresses the majority, traditional view of marriage as hatred, makes no mention of this.

State Looking For Business in China...Ever Consider Cutting All These Taxes On Various Businesses in Arkansas? Who Needs Home Grown Business, Anyway?

2008-11-19T13:19:00.000-06:00

I can't believe we really have a $200 MILLION fund to attract a business that brings just 500 jobs. We're actually going to pay $400,000 per job. Is that really a good deal for Arkansas taxpayers? Meanwhile the governor is going to give us a paltry $30 million tax cut. I'm sure he doesn't think he can afford any more than that.

Here's the link.

Sanders Nails Huck's New Book

2008-11-19T12:22:00.002-06:00

I brought you the story earlier in the week about Huckabee's glaring inaccuracy regarding basic Bible facts. Sanders covers that and more in his excellent column about Huckabee's attack book. So much for "Vertical Politics".

Andrew DeMillo has the story of Huck taking "Vertical Politics" to Romney.

Also, this is from a friend in reaction to Sanders' column about Huckabee's book:

"This is ONE of the reasons that I don't like Huckabee. I agree with him on pro-life and pro-gun issues and some other conservative issues. However, Huckabee is much tougher and harsher and vindictive with conservatives than he is with liberals. With liberals it is "we can disagree agreeably" but with conservatives it is "I am right and you are wrong and you must be punished and destroyed because you don't agree with me".

"I would like one time for him be as tough on pro-abortion, pro-gay marriage, and pro-gun control liberals as he is with conservatives. Or maybe better I would prefer that he treat conservatives with the same respect as he gives to people who believe it is ok to kill babies."

Another interesting question from my reader:

"When will Huck writing a book ripping Sarah Palin and telling us what a bad person and candidate she is?

"My guess is Christmas 2010!"

How Obama Got Elected...Hint: Stupid Obama Voters

2008-11-19T11:32:00.000-06:00

HowObamaGotElected.com

Republican House Candidate Kelly Eichler Falls Short

2008-11-19T11:22:00.004-06:00

Despite very difficult obstacles to her race for the state house, candidate Kelly Eichler ran one of the best races in the state this year. Her district includes much of the Heights, which is one of the most densely populated areas of the district. Here are the results her campaign sent out. I'd also like to point out her graciousness in the announcement.

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The certified results for District 38 show the following:

John Edwards - 7,067 votes or 50.27%
Kelly Eichler - 6,990 votes or 49.73%
Under votes: 480
Over votes: 1

During the recount, the following vote totals changed:

Paper ballots:
Precinct 91 - increased by 2 votes for Edwards
Absentee Votes - decrease by 1 vote for Edwards

Electronic ballots:
Precinct 58 - 21 votes were not counted on election night. The results were 10 Edwards, 11 Eichler
Early Voting: Decrease of 4 votes for Edwards and decrease of 1 vote for Eichler

We congratulate John Edwards on his election as the Representative for District 38.

We also thank the Pulaski County Election Commission and the Pulaski County Clerk and their staff for their cooperation and hard work during this recount procedure.

During our review of the voting in our election we found the following issues that we have forwarded to the election commission as areas of concern for future elections:

1) In precinct 108, at least 10 voters were provided and voted the wrong ballot.

2) Instances during early voting of voters who provided out of district and/or out of county addresses and were still able to cast a ballot in District 38. Although we understand certain voters may list a different temporary address than a permanent address, we feel this issue should be closely monitored in the future to insure that voters receive the correct ballot during an election.

Thank you to all of you who have offered your support and help during the campaign as well as during these two weeks since election day.

"Patriotic" Michael Moore's New Documentary to Herald Death of Free Enterprise/America

2008-11-19T11:19:00.003-06:00

Here's the link.

Send Money: RPA Chairman Candidate Wants to Be Paid

2008-11-18T13:18:00.001-06:00

There's a lot of talk about the wisdom of paying the future RPA chairman. One candidate thinks he should get paid for what ought to be a volunteer position.

GLOBAL WARMING!!! STRIKES AGAIN...National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA): 2008 U.S. Temperatures Below Average

2008-11-18T11:28:00.000-06:00

Another story Max won't comment on. I guess it's one of those FACTs that Brummett talks about that don't speak to the "truth" of their agenda.

Here's the link.

"Garden Bridges" in Downtown Little Rock, But No Money For Jails or Tax Cuts...?

2008-11-18T10:37:00.002-06:00

The Big Dam Bridge, The Hoodlum Trolleys, and, now, possibly, Little Rock will waste millions more of taxpayer money, federal or otherwise, on a "Garden Bridge" over I-630.

Does this sound like something you want your tax dollars going to?:

"a 50-foot-wide, 1,250-foot-long garden bridge that will span Interstate 630, linking the SOMA (South Main) neighborhood to McArthur Park."

I begin to wonder if liberals see the irony of asking for bailouts and tax increases when they're spending our money so profligately...

The University of Arkansas design group that is backing this design project is also proposing a light rail for Northwest Arkansas. I can just imagine people from the sparsely populated NWA area riding a monorail from a commuter parking lot and then walking 3 miles from their stop to get to work. I'm sure that gem would be as widely used as Little Rock's trolleys, which, to date, has been most notable as transportation for armed robbers and carjackers.

Here's the link.

SURPRISE!!! US Postal Service $3 BILLION Deficit...FedEx, UPS Still Turning Profits

2008-11-18T10:14:00.000-06:00

And we have democrats preparing to do for private business what it's done for its own...

Here's the link.

Huckabee Needs To Go Back To Seminary...Gets Basic Bible Facts Mixed Up in New Book

2008-11-17T20:43:00.002-06:00

A reader sent me this just now and I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. As a Christian I am truly disturbed by the way so many Christians blindly follow Mike Huckabee because he was a preacher. I am even more bothered to find that Huck can't even get basic Bible facts right.

Thanks to the observant reader who was quick to catch the remarkable mistakes Huck made.

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I'm typing this from my blackberry so I apologize for any glaring errors you might see in this email. I should have waited until I got home to do this research, but the internet connection on my phone seems to have worked just fine.

Looks like Huckabee needs to go back and actually get that seminary degree he doesn't have. In his latest book Huckabee says,

“I lamented that so many people of faith had moved from being prophetic voices — like Naaman, confronting King David in his sin and saying, ‘Though art the man!’— to being voices of patronage, and saying to those in power, ‘You da’ man!’

The passage of the Bible that Huckabee is referring to is II Samuel chapters 11 and 12. Chapters 11 and 12 of II Samuel tell the story of David and Bathsheba. In case you are unfamiliar with the story I've posted it below.

Huckabee is getting the details of this story mixed up. Naaman didn't confront King David and say "though art the man". First of all, the phrase is, "Thou art the man", but excusing that mistake; King David was confronted in his sin with Bathsheba by Nathan not Naaman. Nathan came to David and told him a parable about a rich evil man and a poor loving man and used the moral of the story to convict King David of his sin. Naaman has nothing to do with King David and the story of Bathsheba.

Naaman was a Syrian general who had leprosy. God healed him when he bathed himself in the Jordan River. Naaman's story is told in II Kings and takes place many years after King David's death in the time of Elisha.

This is a link to some commentary and the story of Naaman.

This is a link to a commentary on the parable of Nathan and King David.