Week 6 Legislative Scorecard

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Conduit for Action Legislative Session Weekly Scorecard:

Week 6 – February 20 – February 24, 2017

Occupational Licensing

HB1551: SUPPORT

Protections against unnecessary regulation and misuse of occupational licensing

Sponsor: Rep. Richard Womack (R-H18)

The intent of this bill is to “(1) ensure that a person may pursue a lawful occupation free from unnecessary regulation; and (2) protect against the misuse of occupational licensing regulations to reduce competition and increase prices to consumers.” The bill states it does not repeal any laws regarding licensing and regulation of occupations, specifically for those owing a duty of good faith, listing attorneys, accountants, and real estate brokers. The bill provides a person the opportunity to defend against the regulations e or she believes are a substantial burden on their ability to earn a living. Public health and safety protections are to remain intact. Supporters of HB1551 would argue that it helps to free Arkansas from its burdensome regulations and uses free market and limited government solutions. We agree with the intent of the bill. Additional clarification may be needed to inform the public what the bill is protecting and what it is not protecting.

Appropriations/Budget

SB331: OPPOSE

$50 million to Governor’s Quick Action Closing Fund ($30 million increase from last year)

Sponsor: Joint Budget

This is an appropriation bill for “economic development” projects, including the Governor’s Quick Action Closing Fund. This fund is a discretionary fund that gives taxpayer money to private businesses. The governor has discretion on when and how the funds are used. In the 90^th General Assembly, this appropriation gave the Governor’s Quick Action closing fund $20 million. This appropriation increases that to $50 million. So, what has this money been spent on in the past? Conduit for Commerce has looked at how this money was spent previously in depth and can be found HERE. From that report, taxpayer money was spent on “parking/road”, “research salaries”, “investment”, “rent”, “rent reimbursement” and other projects for private companies such as $950,000 to the American Taekwondo Association. This is simply a corporate welfare slush fund. Why is $30 million MORE needed right now and where will this money be spent? What is the cost per job actually created, sustained, and not simply shifted away from an existing Arkansas company? These questions need to be asked and answered before blindly giving the governor an additional $30 million for a discretionary fund to give to private companies for questionable purposes. How does paying the rent and paving a parking lot of a private company actually provide a public benefit?

When proposing tax cuts, the Governor says it is not conservative to do so without offsetting with new tax increases. So, we ask, where are the increased revenues coming from to provide this corporate welfare to private companies ?

Healthcare

SB355: SUPPORT

Ends Obamacare Medicaid Expansion (Private Option / Arkansas Works) on December 31, 2018.

Sponsor: Sen. Bryan King (R-S5)

Clearly the federal government will soon repeal Obamacare which will impact Arkansas’ choice to implement Obamacare Medicaid Expansion now called Arkansas Works (previously the Private Option). This bill is proactive in planning and preparing Arkansas for the change SB335 ends the Obamacare Medicaid Expansion on December 31, 2018, giving time for the wind-down and eventual repeal of this port of Obamacare in Arkansas. It would transfer all persons enrolled in the Private Option/Arkansas Works program to coverage under the traditional fee-for-service Medicaid program beginning July 1, 2017 and prepares Arkansas for the coming federal changes. Until very recently with Louisiana’s expansion of Medicaid under a new Democrat governor, Arkansas was the only state in the south and only state that borders Arkansas to expand Medicaid under Obamacare. This bill ends expanded Obamacare in Arkansas.

 

Scorecard Year-To-Date

Bill #	Description	Score
HB1011	prohibiting PAC-to-PAC contributions	OPPOSE
HB1012	prohibiting PAC-to-Candidate contributions	OPPOSE
HB1018	Annexation procedures amended	SUPPORT
HB1034	Licensing of hearing instrument dispensers	OPPOSE
HB1035	Restricts use of SNAP benefits to the purchase of foods with sufficient nutritional value	SUPPORT
HB1126	Exempts hate offense litigation in an employer-employee relationship	SUPPORT
HB1161 & SB119	Creates new earned income tax credit	OPPOSE
HB1182	Authorizing advanced practice registered nurse recognized as primary care provider under medicaid	SUPPORT
HB1222	School Choice and Education Savings Accounts	SUPPORT
HB1227	Reduction of income tax rates if revenue from those rates is greater than 3% from the previous year	SUPPORT
HB1272	Microbrewery production caps increased	SUPPORT
HB1335	Allows annexed landowners to vote to get out of annexation	SUPPORT
HB1387	Prohibits seat belt violations as only cause for stopping a vehicle	SUPPORT
HB1395	Income tax credit for small businesses hiring recently returned veterans	SUPPORT
HB1405	Unemployment tax cut and incentives to seek employment	SUPPORT
HB1427	requiring electronic filing of campaign finance reports; provides searchable database for campaign contributions	SUPPORT
HB1442	Personal and family finance class requirement for public school graduation	SUPPORT
HB1462	Restricts SNAP benefits waiver requests; protects current SNAP benefits work requirement	SUPPORT
HB1465	Freezes Obamacare Medicaid Expansion (Private Option, Arkansas Works) enrollment	SUPPORT
HB1551	Protections against unnecessary regulation and misuse of occupational licensing	SUPPORT
HJR1019 / SJR13	Loser pays tort reform; caps on punitive damage; alternative to SJR8	SUPPORT
SB101	prohibits game warden from entering private property without a warrant	SUPPORT
SB102	Limits the max fine for not wearing a seatbelt to $25	SUPPORT
SB112	Income tax deduction for homeschool expenses, private school tuition	SUPPORT
SB115	Reduces income tax rates on lowest tax bracket; creates Tax Reform Task Force	SUPPORT IF AMENDED
SB120 & HB1162	retired military income tax exemption; new tax on digital products; tax cut for soda syrup; tax increase on candy/soda;	SUPPORT IF AMENDED
SB140	New Internet Sales Tax	OPPOSE
SB175	Disclosure of benefits received by government officials from medicaid providers	SUPPORT
SB24	Decreases number of juvenile criminal detention facility review committees	SUPPORT
SB331	$50 million to Governor’s quick action closing fund ($30 million increase for corporate welfare)	OPPOSE
SB4 & HB1010	Publishing PAC reports, exploratory committees, Independent Expenditures	SUPPORT
SB5 & HB1009	Prohibits constitutional officers from forming more than one PAC	OPPOSE
SB86	Adds continuing education program for HVACR licensees	OPPOSE
SJR10	Fair Ballot Titles; 3/4th majority vote for legislative proposed constitutional amendments	SUPPORT
SJR4	A constitutional amendment to move from elected supreme court justices to appointment process	OPPOSE
SJR8	Tort reform; giving General Assembly power over certain court matters; caps contingency fee agreements	OPPOSE

 

 

Week One Scorecard

Week Two Scorecard

Week Three Scorecard

Week Four Scorecard

Week Five Scorecard

 

Purpose:

Conduit for Action, Inc. (CFA) promotes the reduction in the size and scope of Arkansas state government with the belief such reduction would proportionately increase individual freedom and liberties and economic prosperity for all Arkansans.  During the Arkansas 91^st General Assembly regular legislative session, CFA will issue weekly of relevant bills filed by the legislature.  CFA will take a position on those bills and either support or oppose them using the CFA Economic Freedom Filter. This filter looks at whether a piece of legislation promotes more freedom or less freedom by considering: (1) If it grows or shrinks government, (2) Increases/Decreases dependency on government, and/or (3) Spends money the state does not have.

CFA will be highlighting the bills (by topic) recently filed and which may be considered for either a committee or full chamber vote. CFA will additionally be tracking and scoring those bills mentioned. These scores will assist in rankings for the annual Calvin Coolidge Heroes of Freedom awards, highlighting those state legislators promoting legislation which promotes reducing the scope and size of government.

 

*This scorecard, its contents, and positions on legislation is policy only and does not indicate any personal support for or against a specific legislator-sponsor.