Week 7 Legislative Scorecard

Tweet

Conduit for Action Legislative Session Weekly Scorecard:

Week 7 – February 27 – March 3, 2017

Taxes

SB362: SUPPORT

Repeals InvestArk; phases in sales tax exemption on purchases for manufacturing equipment repair parts

Sponsor: Sen. Lance Eads (R-S7) / Rep. Andy Davis (R-H31)

This bill would phase out the InvestArk tax credit program and begin a phased in sales-tax exemption for repair parts on machinery and manufacturing. While it may appear that an “exemption” is some type of special carve out this is not so. Repair parts on machinery and manufacturing are not a “final consumption” product and therefore can have multiple taxes applied throughout the process in creating a final product. A sales tax exemption on the repair parts process would be phased in and the tax eventually eliminated by 2022. The Tax Foundation estimates that this change could move “Arkansas’ rank on the corporate tax subcomponent from 40^th best overall to 34^th best overall.” This legislation could help prevent double taxation and help reduce prices for consumers on final consumption products.

Other

SB425: SUPPORT

Takes Treasurer’s investment work and puts under Board of Finance oversight

Sponsor: Sen. Terry Rice (R-S9)

The State Board of Finance selects the Chief Investment Officer who is in the Office of the Treasurer of State. This bill bolsters the investment work of the Chief Investment Officer by moving three investment related positions in the Treasurer’s Office to employment under the Chief Investment Officer.

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
HB1267	Tire tax	OPPOSE
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 searcable 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 unneccessary regulation and misuse of occupational licensing	SUPPORT
HJR1019 / SJR13	Loser pays tort reform; capts 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 detentiuon facility review committees	SUPPORT
SB331	$50 million to Governor’s quick action closing fund ($30 million increase for corporate welfare)	OPPOSE
SB355	Ends Obamacare Medicaid Expansion (Private Option / Arkansas Works) on Dec. 31, 2018	SUPPORT
SB362	Repeals InvestArk; phases in sales tax exemption on purchases for manufacturing equipment repair parts	SUPPORT
SB4 & HB1010	Publishing PAC reports, exploratory committees, Independent Expenditures	SUPPORT
SB425	Takes treasurer’s investment work and puts under Board of Finance oversight	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

Week Six 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.