Legislator’s Paradox

Having attended numerous political campaign “boot camps” of different political parties and having worked on several successful and a couple of not so successful campaigns I can tell you that the vast majority of politicians run for office with the intent of making life better for the people. This is also true for most who seek re-election.

A relative few run out of pure ego, mainly bored rich kids or those who hang on forever because they like the perks and the power. The perks and power folks are mostly limited to U. S. Senators whom I’m sure each of us can name without straining many brain cells.

One of the first things you’re taught as a candidate is that you can’t do a darn thing unless you are elected and you can’t keep doing good unless you’re re-elected. Very true, but they don’t tell you is don’t sell your soul for a vote. Remember, my friends, the soul answers to a higher authority than the voter.

Having said that, I want to mention an area of need in Arkansas that has received a fair amount of press over the last few weeks. Our children, specifically poor children and our poor families.

Before I proceed further I want to acknowledge the Arkansas Democrat Gazette, two reporters, Andrew DeMillo and Philip Reese and Columnist Mike Masterson. Much of the information in this column is from their work. The commentary is, of course, ours.

In Arkansas, children in grades K through 12 who qualify for free or reduced costs lunch programs have increased by 17% over the last four years. If the base percentage was low, while unacceptable, the problem could be studied over time and long-term solutions applied. In Arkansas, however, it is no small percentage. 240,500 students qualify while 215,000 pay full price. No minor percentage and needs action today.

Statewide about 510,000 of the 2.7 million who live in Arkansas are below the poverty level. That is 18.8 percent; well above the national average of 12.3%.

Our Governor, same one over the past six years, has just bullied a measure to allow the state to increase it’s debt for better highways…. "Better roads mean more business"… "means better wealth less poverty". He helped pass a $400 million raise in taxes to support K-12 education and asked for over $100 million more this session for our colleges… Additionally, they are looking for $2.3 billion to make physical improvements to our K - 12 schools this year. "Better education means better jobs, lower poverty" or so they say.

Our legislators and one of our most respected children and family charities, Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families, are seemingly on the same page. "Better roads and more money for education means", you guessed it, "less poverty".

My question is this, who is going to provide the funding and services needed by the poor between this morning and 15 or 20 years from now when these lofty very long term solutions are seen to pay dividends, if in fact they do. My research indicates, quality of education and cost per student does not corelate and great roads do little for the poor. They do help two or three of the largest truck companies in America which happen to be big donors and headquartered in Arkansas. One thing we do know is roads and massive school projects will benefit the Corporations and wealthy donor/voter now.

Today, our Department of Health, by the admission of its’ Director is so far off course neither the Department itself nor he can fix it. Our Department of Human Services is short over $100 million to provide basic needs for the poor.

Knowing children can not vote and the poor rarely vote, have these Legislators and the Governor for the past six years spent more effort and continue to spend effort on helping those who do vote or have they been caught in the paradox? Do I butter the bread of the corporations, special interests and wealthy donor/voters to get into office and stay there and abandon those my heart tells me I’m here to help or do I do what is right and risk defeat at the polls? Only you, Mr. and Ms. elected official can answer that… and of course... the child who is going to bed hungry tonight.

What's wrong with this picture?

As we write this there is an ongoing debate in the Arkansas Legislature over the definition of marriage in our school text books. Makes us wonder where parents and our faith community lack the wisdom and ability to foist their beliefs on our young. Arkansas needs a law. Where 'oh where do they get all this energy for these types of debates. But, that is not what this issue is about.

It is about something that truly disturbs us as advocates for children and families that is not having so much as the light of one candle shed upon it.

Arkansas Law classifies "Incest" by the usual definitions and then proscribes the penalty if you get convicted. All is Ok so far. The penalty is a Class "C" Felony. For you who don't frequent the halls of justice that carries a sentence of from three to 10 years in the pen.

Now let's look at Rape. Again the usual definitions including when you have guardianship and/or control over a person under 18 years old. OK so far. Now to the penalty. It is a Class "Y" Felony. That carries a sentence of not less than 10 to 40 years, now get this, or LIFE.

Let's look this one over. If your live-in boyfriend has sexual intercourse with your 9 year old daughter he could get life. We're for that. However, if your husband has sexual intercourse with your 9 year old daughter he could get as little as three years.

What Mr. and MS. Arkansas, 85th General Assembly Legislator are you telling the people of the state? A child raped by her father is damaged less than a child raped by a stranger???

You can spend days debating the definition of marriage as written in our children's text books and then saying it is a far less crime for a father to have intercourse with his child than it is for a stranger or live-in boyfriend.

As child and family advocates we must say... SHAME on you. How about doing something important and seriously think about the messages your sending to our citizens.

Capitol Observations

When I lived in a large city I would go to the Mall, get a great cup of coffee, find a comfortable place to set and watch people. It is so very interesting to see how diverse America has become and how many different cultures and degrees of wealth there are in just one Mall. It is truly a humbling experience to realize just how narrow our single point of view and focus on life can be. How little we actually know about each other.

The past two weeks I've had an opportunity to take up my old habit of people watching with a cup of coffee, note I didn't say great cup of coffee this time, and take up temporary residence in the halls and meeting rooms of the Arkansas Capitol. For several hours at a time I would watch the people, mostly members of the Legislature scurry from room to meeting room sometimes laughing and others so very serious, even a few who appeared to be mad or frustrated. I've always had trouble distinguishing the difference between non-violent mad and frustration in others.

This took me back to my college days. The professors always wanted us to compare and contrast everything. Krishnamurti vs. Plato, Freud vs. Jung etc. So it came natural to begin to compare and contrast the diverse people, their culture, their dress and their wealth and on and on in the Malls to those in our Capitol. The many fine distinctions that make us individuals in a single and inclusive society.

Let's see... The Mall diverse, all wealth levels, more religions than I could count, women, hundreds of children, and families, a beautiful mix of people with a common goal, find something to make their lives better. The Capitol, over 90% male, dressed in suits, mostly dark with a "power tie" a lapel pin, the mandatory American Flag and often the "club" pin of the House or Senate making for a very weird look, two pins together. The only children were a couple of tour groups from the local schools, who by the way were always cautioned to stay out of the way of these VIP's. At no time did I witness a single legislator stop and talk with a student. The few women were made up of two classes. One class, the staffers and secretaries and the other, lady Legislators. The first group far out numbering the latter. As for religion, you might have guessed, just one, with the exception of a couple who won't list anything on their bio's.

Now, my question to you is this. How is it that a group of 135 legislators, who dress like clones, have nearly identical belief systems, have wealth far above poverty, ... have any idea what is best for all the rest of us?

Reminds me of the old joke... the difference between the inmates and the doctors in the psychiatric facility is that six guys in white coats could agree on the definition of reality. The sad part about the joke and the joke about our legislature is, just whose reality is true?

We can only hope our Legislators possess the intelligence and the courage to make every word they utter and every law they write inclusive of everyone in our state. There is no place for personal prejudice or bigotry in any form in our government.

The First Week of the Session

The first week of the Arkansas legislative session was as expected. The newly elected were full of excitement, the old timers were working their magic on the newer members. Making alliances and "deals".

New Bills were flying out of bill-drafting like dollar bills out of the US Mint. Of course, first out of the starting gates were the Bills which fund the legislators and their staff operations. It is very interesting how the bureaucracy has such an innate ability to protect itself.

The Governor has declared that Health, Highways and Higher Education are his priorities. As we said in our first post highways lead the priority pack. It should be noted that the legislature has, by court order, to find a way to fund billions in physical improvements for K-12 schools. It wasn't even on the Governor's list. He, the Gov., offered no suggestions on how to fund all this. Needless to say, we were very disappointed that such historic Republican agenda items, like improved government efficiency, smaller government size, less regulation and more economic opportunity were beyond this governor... a Baptist Minister and Republican?

A side note is due here. In the last legislative session and the special session the legislature after it, they (the legislature) voted and the Governor signed into law the largest tax increase in the history of the state, which included increasing the tax on gas and groceries which the poor can hardly afford... a Baptist Minister and Republican?

For those of you who are from another state, Arkansas is short $100 million to fund the Department of Human Services, due to federal cutbacks crime victims mental health care was recently reduced by nearly 50%, homeless shelters are closing or reducing services, Children's Advocacy Centers are having to lay off employees, the Department of Health (DOH) has slashed care for the elderly and rural clients, the DOH breast care program is out of funds and the list goes on and on. Reduction in services to people in need, American Citizens, while making sweetheart deals for the wealthy is never acceptable.

So much for compassionate conservatism.

Eventually, our elected officials will realize this is a State with far more poor people than middle and wealthy. More taxes on the poor, more government that does not directly improve the well-being of our people isn't why they are there. They are there to serve and make our lives better and that includes children, women and poor people not just highway contractors, trucking companies and corporations.

Website Construction

Over the next three or four weeks we will be making major changes to our website. We hope we can eliminate much of the scrolling and improve the navigation making it easier to get to the information you need.

We will be doubling the number of pages and increasing the information by about 45%. Whoever said that the computer age would reduce the need for people and workload was sadly mistaken.

Visit our site often, excuse any construction dust you may encounter and in a few weeks let us know what you think of our new look.

Thanks

Arkansas Legislative Session '05

On January 10th. the Arkansas Legislature will open for the 2005 session. It is anticipated there will be at least 4000 bills submitted and over 3000 passed in the next three months.

Arkansas has recently enacted term limits making for a mix of about one third experienced (meaning more than one term in office), one third with only one session under their collective belts and one third new as of January 1st. this year. There are 35 State Senators and 100 State representatives.

This situation, almost 2/3 of the Legislature both inexperienced and looking at a campaign to get re-elected in less than two years, makes for a lobbyist's dream. Even more so, if he or she has a fist full of PAC dollars in tow. Special interests could have their best session in over 100 years.

The Legislature only meets in full session every other year.

We realize many of you are not from Arkansas, but we believe when it comes to the quality of life, health and the welfare of our Women, Children and Families most States are in the same boat. These issues are under-funded, under-served and in a non-election year a "priority" right after new highways. If you're from the South you're also behind the Game and Fish Department.


We will keep you informed on legislation both national and state as well as health and welfare issued as they develop. We sincerely hope you visit often and give us your feedback.