Trump's Popularity Could Be Tested If Sanders Runs in 2022
A Sanders candidacy could test whether President Donald Trump and questions about his administration's credibility are political liabilities, even in solidly Republican states. read more >
Tagged: Jim Hendren
Arkansas Urges Appeal to Restore Medicaid Work Rules
Gov. Asa Hutchinson, whose state is at the center of the fight over work requirements for Medicaid recipients, says he wants to fight a judge's ruling blocking those rules, while Republicans elsewhere are trying to determine the decision's effect on their state. read more >
Federal Judge Blocks Medicaid Work Rules in Arkansas, Kentucky
The Trump administration's efforts to push the poor toward self-sufficiency were dealt a blow Wednesday, when a federal judge ruled that Medicaid work requirements undermined the program's mission of providing health care for the needy. read more >
Arkansas Senate Approves Tobacco Tax Increases for Tax Cuts
The Arkansas Senate has narrowly approved a $100 million plan to raise taxes on tobacco and e-cigarettes to pay for a package of tax cuts for low- and middle-income residents. read more >
Arkansas Bill: Raise Cigarette Taxes to Pay for Tax Cuts
The Republican leader of the Arkansas Senate and a bipartisan group of lawmakers are proposing raising taxes on cigarettes and e-cigarettes to pay for tax cuts for the state's low- and middle-income residents. read more >
Stephanie Flowers: 'God Will Judge Me'
An Arkansas state senator who angrily repudiated her senate judiciary colleagues when the committee voted to limit public debate on a gun rights bill has said she stands by her words and won't apologize for her passion. read more >
Arkansas Grapples with Ethics Cleanup Amid Federal Probes
Arkansas has had its share of notable corruption cases over the years, including when the governor who succeeded Bill Clinton was convicted in a Whitewater-related probe and when a state treasurer was caught accepting bribes stashed in pie boxes. read more >
Asa Hutchinson Signs Bill Cutting Top Income Tax Rate
Arkansas' governor on Tuesday signed into law his $97 million plan to cut the state's top income tax rate, and said he wants legislators to address highway funding before looking at any other tax reductions during this year's session. read more >
Proposed Arkansas Highway Plan Would Raise $300M Per Year
Gov. Asa Hutchinson and legislative leaders unveil a $300 million per year plan to maintain Arkansas' roads and bridges — one billed as the largest single highway proposal in the state's history. read more >
A Day After Falling Short, Hutchinson's Tax Plan Passes Senate
Gov. Asa Hutchinson's $97 million plan to cut the state's top income tax rate has passed the Senate, a day after it fell short of the votes needed. read more >
Governor's Tax Cut Plan Falls Short of Passing State Senate
Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson's $97 million proposal to cut the state's top income tax rate has failed to pass the state Senate. read more >
Arkansas' Highways to Nowhere
Arkansas needs hundreds of millions more dollars to adequately maintain current roads and bridges and keep up with future needs. The last new money the state dug up for Arkansas highways was $50 million the governor scraped together in 2016 from existing sources. read more >
Arkansas Lawmakers Begin 2019 Session, Vow Work on Ethics
Arkansas lawmakers kicked off their legislative session Monday with leaders promising an ethics package they say is needed to clean up the Capitol's image following federal corruption probes that have involved former lawmakers and lobbyists. read more >
Arkansas Legislature to Focus on Ethics, Tax Cuts in 2019 Session
Republicans remain firmly in control of the House and Senate and Hutchinson, a Republican, will be sworn in for a second term the day after the session begins. Here's a look at some major issues that will be debated in the session. read more >
Asa Hutchinson, Lawmakers Hope for Highway Funding Fix
Arkansas' Republican governor and legislative leaders say they're hopeful they can find a highway funding solution that's been elusive in recent years. But the two main ideas — raising taxes or tapping into existing tax revenue — still face significant hurdles. read more >
Governor, Lawmakers Expect No Fights Over Medicaid Funding
Arkansas' governor and legislative leaders say they don't expect another funding fight over the future of the state's Medicaid expansion, even if a federal judge blocks the state from enforcing a work requirement on the program. read more >
Neither a Borrower nor A Lender Be (Editorial)
Although no state law appears to forbid lawmakers from lending money to each other, taxpayers should not have to worry whether legislators have leverage over or obligations to each other that might influence their votes. read more >
Asa Hutchinson Looks to Repeal Quarter of All Arkansas Regulations
Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson says state agencies and subcommittees have recommended over 800 state rules and regulations to the legislature for repeal. read more >
Welcome and Overdue (Editorial)
During what can generously be described as a discouraging year for the image of Arkansas legislators, the president-elect of the state Senate has taken a praiseworthy step toward transparency and accountability. read more >
Some Things We Know (Editorial)
Legislative leaders apparently think that one can be elected to the highest deliberative body in Arkansas government and not know that ethics — as in having some — are good. read more >
Editors' Picks
