89th General Assembly

Arkansas Panel OKs Medicaid Money for Private Option

by Andrew DeMillo, The Associated Press 4/3/2013 02:31 pm

A proposal to use federal dollars to purchase private insurance for low-income Arkansas residents won the approval of a state Senate committee Wednesday, as the idea gained favor among Republicans who have opposed Medicaid expansion.

Mike Beebe: US Government Will Help With Private Insurance

by Andrew DeMillo, The Associated Press 4/2/2013 11:45 am

Gov. Mike Beebe's office says it has received a letter from the federal government expressing "conceptual support" for his plan to use Medicaid dollars to buy private health insurance for the state's poorer residents.

Arkansas House Finishes Veto Override on Voter ID Bill

by Andrew DeMillo, The Associated Press 4/1/2013 02:38 pm

The Arkansas House has completed an override of Democratic Gov. Mike Beebe's veto of a bill requiring voters to show photo identification before casting a ballot.

Big River Steel Proposal Gains Traction in Legislature

by Michael Stratford, The Associated Press 4/1/2013 10:14 am

Gov. Mike Beebe's plan to provide $125 million in state financing to help a new company build a steel mill in Mississippi County is gaining bipartisan support among legislators. But some conservatives still object to having the government help fund one of Arkansas' largest economic development projects.

Michael Lamoureux Hopes to Reach Deal Soon on Tax Cuts

by Mark Carter 4/1/2013 12:00 am

In this Exec Q&A, we visit with state Sen. Michael Lamoureux, who talks about working with Gov. Mike Beebe, tax cuts and his thoughts on using incentives to lure "super projects."

The War on Information (Editorial)

by Arkansas Business Editors 4/1/2013 12:00 am

Arkansas' Freedom of Information Act, one of the first and best in the country for creating transparent government and holding government officials accountable, is under unprecedented attack.

Health Care, Tax Cuts Issues Colliding (AP Analysis)

by Andrew DeMillo, The Associated Press 3/31/2013 06:32 pm

As Arkansas lawmakers approach what could be the final weeks of this year's session, it's becoming clearer that proposals to expand health insurance to low-income workers and to cut $100 million in taxes are colliding.

Arkansas House Delays Override Try on Voter ID Bill

by Andrew DeMillo, The Associated Press 3/28/2013 02:22 pm

Arkansas lawmakers on Thursday delayed an attempt to override Gov. Mike Beebe's veto of legislation that would require the state's voters to show photo identification at the polls.

Arkansas Chamber of Commerce Backs Health Care Insurance Expansion

by Andrew DeMillo, The Associated Press 3/28/2013 09:52 am

The Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce is backing a proposal to expand health insurance to thousands of low-income residents by purchasing private coverage with federal Medicaid funds.

Arkansas Lawmakers Advance Social Media Privacy Bills

by Michael Stratford, The Associated Press 3/27/2013 07:32 am

Arkansas employers and colleges would be prohibited from asking their employees or students to turn over passwords to personal social media accounts under a pair of bills that state lawmakers advanced Tuesday.

Arkansas House Panel Advances Cuts to Income Tax, Capital Gains

by Andrew DeMillo, The Associated Press 3/27/2013 07:25 am

Proposals to cut Arkansas' income and capital gains taxes won a House panel's support Tuesday, as legislative leaders say they're nearing agreement on a $100 million package of reductions.

Consultants, Nucor, Correnti Talk Big River Steel in 5-Hour Session

by Michael Stratford, The Associated Press 3/26/2013 07:16 am

A pair of outside consultants on Monday offered mixed reviews of Gov. Mike Beebe's proposal to provide a company with $125 million in state financing to build a steel mill in the northeast part of the state.

Mike Beebe: No Opposition to In-State Tuition for Illegal Students

by Jeannie Nuss, The Associated Press 3/24/2013 03:15 pm

A spokesman for Gov. Mike Beebe said he's not opposed to extending cheaper in-state tuition rates to some students who came to the U.S. illegally as children, despite concerns about it violating federal law.

Democrats' Race for Arkansas Governor in '14 Unsettled (AP Analysis)

by Andrew DeMillo, The Associated Press 3/24/2013 03:04 pm

Bill Halter and Mike Ross are moving closer toward what could be one of the biggest party fights ever for the state's top office.

Arkansas Highway Funding Bill Fails In House Committee

by Andrew DeMillo, The Associated Press 3/22/2013 08:10 am

A proposal to divert tax revenue from car sales in Arkansas to the state's highways failed before a House panel Thursday after finance officials and education advocates warned the move could threaten state services.

Arkansas House Panel Rejects School Choice Bill

by Michael Stratford, The Associated Press 3/22/2013 08:06 am

An Arkansas House committee on Thursday rejected a proposed rewrite of the state's school choice law, as lawmakers debated whether to delay changing the law until a federal appeals court rules on its constitutionality.

Big River Steel Report Says Officials Overestimated Benefits of Osceola Plant

by Andrew DeMillo, The Associated Press 3/21/2013 05:08 pm

Consultants hired by the Arkansas Legislature say economic development officials overestimated the long term benefits of a proposal to finance a proposed $1.1 billion steel mill and didn't consider uncertainties surrounding the project.

Small Business Bill Promises Millions of Investment; AEDC Sees 'Risk'

by Michael Stratford, The Associated Press 3/21/2013 07:25 am

An Arkansas House committee advanced a proposal Wednesday to establish a new economic development program aimed at driving private investment to small businesses in low-income areas.

State Senate Panel Rejects Private School Tax Credit Bill

by Andrew DeMillo, The Associated Press 3/20/2013 04:58 pm

A proposal to offer tax breaks for donating to a scholarship fund that would allow low-income Arkansas students to attend private schools failed before a state Senate panel Wednesday.

Arkansas Legislature Approves Voter ID Requirement

by Andrew DeMillo, The Associated Press 3/19/2013 04:55 pm

Arkansas lawmakers gave final approval Tuesday to legislation that would require voters to show photo ID before casting a ballot.