Taxpayers Win, For Now; Gas Tax Increase Proposal FAILS (VOTE BREAKDOWN)
Taxpayers had a win on Tuesday, March 14 at the Marble Palace (Arkansas Capitol) in Little Rock. The proposal (HB1726/1727) which could lead to a Gas Tax Increase FAILED in the full House of Representatives by a vote of 38-35-7. The measure would levy a new wholesale sales tax of 6.5% on gas and diesel. The proposal would be submitted to the people to approve new bonds to fund highways maintenance.
However, the bill could be re-considered and re-voted on later in the session so keep contacting your legislator and tell them to remain a NO on HB1726/HB1727, the Gas Tax Increase proposal. Call your legislator who voted Yes and ask them to change to a No. Also, do not assume that a legislator will not change from a No/Present/NV to Yes. Keep contacting your legislator to vote NO on the proposal to allow a Gas Tax Increase to occur.
Those voting AGAINST the Tax Increase Measure:
Bob Ballinger (R – Berryville)
Sonia Barker (R – Smackover)
Rick Beck (R – Center Ridge)
Frances Cavenaugh (R – Walnut Ridge)
Trevor Drown (R – Dover)
Les Eaves (R – Searcy)
Joe Farrer (R – Austin)
Lanny Fite (R – Benton)
Vivian Flowers (D – Pine Bluff)
Jack Fortner (R – Yellville)
Justin Gonzales (R – Okolona)
Kim Hammer (R – Benton)
Kim Hendren (R – Gravette)
Grant Hodges (R – Rogers)
Joe Jett (R – Success)
Jack Ladyman (R – Jonesboro)
Mark Lowery (R – Maumelle)
Robin Lundstrum (R – Elm Springs)
John Maddox (R – Mena)
Andy Mayberry (R – Hensley)
Austin McCollum (R – Bentonville)
David Meeks (R – Conway)
Josh Miller (R – Heber Springs)
John Payton (R – Wilburn)
Clint Penzo (R – Springdale)
Aaron Pilkington (R – Clarksville)
Brandt Smith (R – Jonesboro)
Nelda Speaks (R – Mountain Home)
Dan Sullivan (R – Jonesboro)
Dwight Tosh (R – Jonesboro)
DeAnn Vaught (R – DeAnn Vaught)
Jeff Williams (R – Springdale)
Carlton Wing (R – North Little Rock)
Richard Womack (R – Arkadelphia)
Those voting FOR the Tax Increase Measure:
Fred Allen (D – Little Rock)
Scott Baltz (D – Pocahontas)
Charles Blake (D – Little Rock)
Justin Boyd (R – Fort Smith)
David Branscum (R – Marshall)
Karilyn Brown (R – Sherwood)
Sarah Capp (R – Ozark)
Bruce Coleman (R – Mountainburg)
Charlie Collins (R – Fayetteville)
Carol Dalby (R – Texarkana)
Gary Deffenbaugh (R – Van Buren)
Jana Della Rosa (R – Rogers)
Dan Douglas (R – Bentonville)
Charlotte Douglas (R – Alma)
Jon Eubanks (R – Paris)
Ken Ferguson (D – Pine Bluff)
Michelle Gray (R – Melbourne)
Ken Henderson (R – Russellville)
David Hillman (R – Almyra)
Mike Holcomb (R – Pine Bluff)
Lane Jean (R – Magnolia)
Tim Lemons (R – Cabot)
Roger Lynch (R – Lonoke)
Mark D. McElroy (D – Tillar)
George McGill (D – Fort Smith)
Ron McNair (R – Alpena)
Reginald Murdock (D – Marianna)
Milton Nicks, Jr. (D – Marion)
Rebecca Petty (R – Rogers)
Matt Pitsch (R – Fort Smith)
Marcus Richmond (R – Harvey)
Laurie Rushing (R – Hot Springs)
Matthew Shepherd (R – El Dorado)
Jim Sorvillo (R – Little Rock)
James Sturch (R – Batesville)
Clarke Tucker (D – Little Rock)
Jeff Wardlaw (R – Hermitage)
Danny Watson (R – Hope)
Those voting PRESENT on the Tax Increase Measure (Equivalent to a NO vote):
David Fielding (D – Magnolia)
Michael John Gray (D – Augusta)
Douglas House (R – North Little Rock)
Bob Johnson (D – Jacksonville)
Stephen Meeks (R – Greenbrier)
Chris Richey (D – West Helena)
Warwick Sabin (D – Little Rock)
Those NON-VOTING on the Tax Increase Measure (Equivalent to a NO vote):
Eddie Armstrong (D – North Little Rock)
Mary Bentley (R – Perryville)
Leann Burch (D – Monticello)
Bruce Cozart (R – Hot Springs)
Andy Davis (R – Little Rock)
Jim Dotson (R – Bentonville)
Deborah Ferguson (D – West Memphis)
Charlene Fite (R – Van Buren)
Mickey Gates (R – Hot Springs)
Jimmy Gazaway (R – Paragould)
Monte Hodges (D – Blytheville)
Steve Hollowell (R – Forrest City)
Greg Leding (D – Fayetteville)
Fred Love (D – Little Rock)
Steve Magie (D – Conway)
Johnny Rye (R – Trumann)
John Walker (D – Little Rock)
Les Warren (R – Hot Springs)
David Whitaker (D – Fayetteville)
Jeremy Gillam (R – Judsonia)
Image of the vote on HB1726 from inside the House Chamber
