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>> HELLO AGAIN EVERYONE. THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR ARKANSAS
WEEK.. CALENDAR PAGE IS FLIPPING OVER TOWARD FEBRUARY
10 WHEN THE FISCAL SESSION OF THE
ARKANSAS GENERAL ASSEMBLY SITS AND THEN THE PRIVATE OPTION
COMES UP FOR RENEWAL AND THAT'S WHERE WE WILL BEGIN TONIGHT.
STEVE BRAWNER JOINS US FROM BENTON WHERE HE IS AN
INDEPENDENT JOURNALIST. RICK FAHR ALSO A INDEPENDENT
JOURNALIST FROM CONWAY AND FROM THE NORTHWEST ARKANSAS
NEWSPAPERS DOUG THOMPSON AND THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR COMING
IN. STEVE A PRETTY HIGH STAKE SESSION COMING UP AND THIS PAST
WEEK ADDED FUEL TO THE FIRE. >> ACTUALLY A COUPLE WEEKS AGO
YOU HAD THE STATE RACE IN JONESBORO THAT TOOK AWAY ONE OF
THE PRIVATE OPTIONS AND SHE SAID
SHE WASN'T VOTING FOR IT AND ONLY PASSED BY ONE LAST TIME
AND THE PRIVATE OPTION WHICH IS
PROVIDING INSURANCE FOR 85,000 ARKANSANS IS IN REAL TROUBLE
AND THE FISCAL SESSION WHICH IS
DESIGNED NOT TO BE TOO EVENTFUL IT MIGHT BE EVENTFUL BECAUSE
LEGISLATORS DECIDE DOES IT GO AWAY THIS TIME OR FIND A
CREATIVE SOLUTION TO MAKE IT WORK? YOU HAVE GOVERNOR BEEBE
HAS TOLD EVERYONE TO CALM DOWN, THESE THINGS TEND TO WORK OUT
AND OTHERS ARE NOT SURE AND IT COULD BE AN EVENTFUL SESSION.
>> AND FROM THE PERSON FROM MOUNTAIN VIEW AND MS. IRVAN AND
MR. BEEBE WAS EMPHASIZING OR STATE THAT HER SPECIFIC
CONCERNS WERE BEING ADDRESSED
ENTHUSIASTICICALLY OR -- >> THE SPECIFIC CONCERN IS
REIMBURSEMENT FOR DOCTORS AND SPECIALISTS. THAT THERE'S A
BELIEF IT'S SOMEHOW -- THE DILEMMA WAS CREATED BY THINGS
NOT ENTIRELY WITHIN THE STATE'S CONTROL. I MEAN WE WENT TO A
PLAN WITH THE PRIVATE OPTION WHERE WE WEREN'T GOING TO
EXPAND MEDICAID WHICH WAS OBAMACARE
AND INSTEAD EXPANDING THE PRIVATE
INSURANCE MARKET BY USING THE MONEY FROM OBAMACARE TO HELP
PEOPLE PAY FOR PRIVATE INSURANCE. WELL THAT'S THE
PLAN. WELL, THE PRIVATE INSURANCE INDUSTRY, NOT THE
STATE AND LOOKED AT THE SITUATION IN ARKANSAS AND SAID
WE NEED MORE FAMILY PRACTICE DOCTORS. WE NEED MORE GENERAL
PRACTITIONERS. HOW DO YOU DO THAT? YOU PAY THEM MORE. IT'S
SUPPLY AND DEMAND AND WELL KNOWN
CONCEPT IN EVERY OTHER ACTIVITY EXCEPT APPARENTLY THE PHYSICIAN
MARKET AND THERE WERE OBJECTIONS
BY THOSE THAT ARE HIGHLY TRAINED
AND SPECIALISTS SHOULD GET A HIGHER RATE OF PAY AND WHAT
BLUE CROSS, BLUE SHIELD -- WHAT
OTHER INSURERS WERE PROPOSING THE
FAMILY DOCTOR WOULD MAKE MORE THAN THE SPECIALIST AND
APPARENTLY THIS IS A SIN IN THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY. I WILL
POINT OUT HERE THAT THERE'S A REAL
PROBLEM THERE AREN'T ENOUGH FAMILY DOCTORS AND IF YOU'RE A
STUDENT IN MED SCHOOL IT'S IN YOUR ECONOMIC INTEREST TO
SPECIALIZE SO WE WILL FIX THE PROBLEM AND GET THE RATES UP
WHERE THEY OUGHT TO BE AND ALL OF THE OTHER STUFF BUT WE WILL
AND IN SOME RESPECTS PERPETUATING THE
CORE PROBLEM WHEN WE GET THIS THROUGH BUT IT'S A NECESSITY
AND YOU'RE RIGHT 85,000 PEOPLE
SIGNED UP AND MADE SENSE FOR THE
OPPONENTS OF OBAMACARE TO OPPOSE
ANYTHING AND THEY KNEW WHEN PEOPLE SIGNED UP FOR IT HAD ITS
OWN DYNAMIC AND THAT THRESHOLD HAS BEEN CROSSED AND IT'S A
POLITICAL PROBLEM FOR THOSE THAT
WOULD HANG UP THE WHOLE PROBLEM WITH NINE VOTES IN THE ARKANSAS
STATE SENATE. >> WE MADE SPECIFIC REFERENCE
TO SENATOR IRVAN AND OTHERS MIGHT
BE SHAKY. >> YES AND ESPECIALLY WITH THE
SPECIAL ELECTION IN JONESBORO. >> NO SHAKE THERE --
>> NO SHAKE THERE AT ALL. THERE
ARE SOME DEAD SET AGAINST T I TALKED TO SENATOR JIM HAVEN AND
HE SAID NO, I HAVEN'T CHANGEDDED
MY MIND AND THE DEBACLE AT OF OBAMACARE AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL
HE IS MORE CONVINCED AND THEY HARDENED. I WILL SAY COMING
FROM NORTHWEST ARKANSAS I AM SURPRISED AT THE INTENSE
PRESSURE FOR PEOPLE WHO -- REPUBLICANS WHO VOTED FOR THIS
BACK IN APRIL DESPITE INTENSE PRESSURE I DON'T SEE A LOT OF
CRAWFISHING ON THIS ISSUE. I DON'T SEE THEM LOSING A WHOLE
LOT OF PEOPLE. THEY REALIZE THAT THEY HAVE VOTED FOR THIS
ONCE AND FOR ALL PRACTICAL PURPOSES THEY CAN'T REALLY GO
BACK, AND SOME OF THEM TO THEIR CREDIT HAVE PUT A PENCIL TO
THIS AND DECIDED IT'S WHAT THE
CONSTITUENTS WANTS OR THE BEST THING FOR THE STATE IS AND
THEY'RE STICKING TO IT BUT ANYWAY NOT TO GO ON FOR TOO
LONG YOU COULD KNOCK ME OVER WITH A
FEATHER WHEN I CALLED SENATOR HESTER, BART HESTER WHO
REPRESENTS A LARGE PART OF BENTONVILLE AND HE SAID I THINK
THE CHANCES ARE 50-50. I THINK WE CAN WORK OUT A COMPROMISE ON
THIS. AT WHICH POINT I SAID WHO
ARE YOU AND WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH BART HESTER BUT HE SAID
LOOK NOBODY WANTS TO SHUT THE GOVERNMENT DOWN ABOUT THIS.
THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO FEEL STRONGLY ABOUT IT BOTH WAYS AND
I THINK WE CAN WORK SOMETHING OUT, SO IT'S GOING TO BE --
IT'S ALWAYS REQUIRED A 3/4 VOTE
BECAUSE IT'S A FISCAL APPROPRIATION AND IT WAS ALWAYS
GOING TO BE A CLIFF HANGER. I MEAN WHEN IT PASSED IN APRIL
PEOPLE SAID GETTING THAT THROUGH
THE FISCAL SESSION IS GOING TO BE TOUGH, BUT AS I SAID, AND I
WILL REPEAT MYSELF, WE'VE GOT AT
LEAST 85,000 PEOPLE SIGNED UP FOR THIS, AND THE IDEA OF
TELLING THEM AT THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR IN JUNE NO WE'RE
NOT GOING TO DO IT ANYWAY IS
SOMETHING A SMALL MINORITY OF THESE STATE LEGISLATORS BETTER
THINK ABOUT CAREFULLY ESPECIALLY
I WILL POINT OUT IN AN ELECTION YEAR IN WHICH WE HAVE A
DECISIVE U.S. SENATE ELECTION, AND TWO
CONGRESSIONAL OPEN SEATS, AND A GOVERNSHIP AND THE PARTISAN
CONTROL OF THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IS AS EVENLY
DIVIDED AS IT COULD POSSIBLY BE.
THESE ARE CONSIDERATIONS THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING HANG THIS
UP TO MAKE. >> AND ANOTHER CONSIDERATION AS
WELL. THEY'RE STARTING TO GET -- SOME MEMBERS ARE PERCEIVED
AS WAIVERING ARE STARTING TO GET
PUSH BACK FROM COUNTY JUDGES AND
CERTAINLY FROM INSTITUTIONAL PROVIDERS SUCH AS HOSPITALS WHO
STAND TO GET A LITTLE FINANCIAL RELIEF.
>> THAT'S RIGHT AND ESPECIALLY RURAL HOSPITALS, NOT JUST
ARKANSAS AND NOT JUST A STATE PROBLEM. THEY HAVE BEEN UNDER
FIRE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS NOW SO ANY THREAT TO REVENUE OR
PERHAPS IN INCREASED REVENUE IS GOING TO THROW OFF ALARMS THAT
NEVER STOP, BUT BETWEEN NOW AND FEBRUARY 10 WE'VE GOT THREE
WEEKS. THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF PRESSURE BROUGHT TO
BEAR, NOT JUST FROM COUNTY JUDGES AND
RURAL HOSPITALS, BUT PRIVATE BUSINESS INTERESTS. I AM
TALKING -- >> YEAH, THE CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE. >> THE CHAMBER CAME IN THIS
WEEK. >> RIGHT AND THOSE FOLKS IF
THIS POTENTIAL PROGRAM HERE -- THIS
ISSUE -- THIS PROGRAM GOES AWAY SOMEBODY HAS TO MAKE UP THE
DIFFERENCE AND THAT'S GOING TO BE EMPLOYERS IN THE STATE, SO
THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF PRESSURE, A LOT OF JOCKEYING
HERE, AND THE STATE LEGISLATORS THAT I TALKED TO THIS WEEK
[INAUDIBLE] ON WHERE THEY ARE ABOUT IT OR THEY HAVEN'T MADE
THEIR MIND UP HOW THEY'RE GOING TO VOTE YET. THERE IS MORE
UNCERTAINTY I HAVE SEEN WITH THIS ISSUE I HAVE SEEN IN A
LONG TIME.
>> AND NOT JUST RURAL HOSPITALS AND UAMS SAID THEY HAVE A BIG
DEFICIT AND PROVIDES THAT CARE EACH YEAR AND LOSING THE
PRIVATE OPTION WOULD TAKE OUT 89
MILLION FROM THE STATE BUDGET. THESE
ARE NEEDS OCCURRING SO WE WILL SEE HOW IT WORKS OUT.
>> CHARLIE COLLINS, THE STATE REPRESENTATIVE FROM MY NECK OF
THE WOODS MADE AN EXCELLENT POINT. WE HAVE A LOT MORE
INFORMATION THAN APRIL. WE HAVE
PEOPLE SIGNED UP. WE KNOW THE GENERAL STATE OF HEALTH IS. WE
HAVE SEEN THE INSURANCE PROGRAMS
THAT PEOPLE DESIGNED. WE HAD NONE OF THIS WHEN WE ORIGINALLY
APPROVED THIS PROGRAM. THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS TO DISCUSS AND
THERE'S A LOT MORE FACTUAL BASIS
TO MAKE A DECISION UPON WHICH THEY HAD IN APRIL AND THAT'S A
GOOD POINT. HERE'S THE PROBLEM.
THE FISCAL SESSION ONLY LASTS FOR 30 DAYS AND THOSE ARE
CALENDAR DAYS. THOSE ARE NOT WORKING DAYS. IF WE HAVE A 3/4
VOTE WE CAN EXTEND IT ANOTHER 15
DAYS, SO EVERYBODY'S GOT TO COME
DOWN TO LITTLE ROCK, HASH THIS OUT. IT DOESN'T JUST START
WITH THE SESSION CERTAINLY. THERE
IS HASHING OUT AS WE SPEAK. THEY
HAVE TO COME DOWN, HASH IT OUT,
FIGURE IT OUT AND COME TO A COMPROMISE IN 45 CALENDAR DAYS.
>> THE PRIVATE OPTION ITSELF WAS
CREATIVE -- WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THEY WILL COME UP WITH
THAT AND IN A SESSION WHERE THERE WERE 2,000 OTHER BILLS.
>> YEAH. >> IT DIDN'T START IN JANUARY.
>> THAT'S RIGHT AND AT THE RISK OF MAKING SOME PEOPLE MAD THE
OPPONENTS OF THIS THING KEEP SAYING IT'S OBAMACARE. WE HAVE
TO STOP OBAMACARE. GOING OUT ON
A LIMB A LITTLE BIT HERE AND TRACKED THIS ISSUE I HAVE TO
SAY NO LADIES AND GENTLEMEN THIS IS
NOT OBAMACARE. OBAMACARE IN ITS
FORM AS PASSED AS INTENDED MEDICAID EXPANSION WAS AN
INTEGRAL PART OF IT, AND WHAT WE
ARE SEEING AND EXPERIENCE IN OTHER STATES IS THAT MEDICAID
EXPANSION -- FINE AND WONDERFUL THING GIVES PEOPLE COVERAGE BUT
IT TAKES A VERY LARGE GROUP OF PEOPLE OUT OF THE PRIVATE
INSURANCE MARKET. NOW, NOBODY'S
GOING TO GET RICH SELLING INSURANCE TO PEOPLE WHO ARE
LIKE WITHIN 138% OF THE POVERTY
LINE. IT'S WANT A GREAT POOL OF MONEY
BUT IT'S A SIGNIFICANT FACTOR. BY KEEPING ALL THOSE PEOPLE,
AND GOODNESS KNOWS OUR POOR STATE
HAS A LOT OF THEM. BY KEEPING ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE IN AN
ADMITTEDLY SUBSIDIZED BUT A PRIVATE INSURANCE MARKET
ARKANSAS, IF YOU LOOK AT THE INSURANCE OF OTHER STATES, HAS
INVOLVED -- HAS AVOIDED A MAJOR PITFALL OF WHAT REAL OBAMACARE
IS. THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SITTING THERE SAYING THIS IS NOT
OBAMACARE. IT'S AN ALTERNATIVE TO IT ARE RIGHT AND LIKE I SAY
AT THE RISK OF GETTING ANGRY PHONE CALLS AND EMAILS I WILL
GO AHEAD AND SAY THAT AND I THINK
THE INSURANCE I -- EXPERIENCE PROVES IT.
>> ONE THING AND THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY UNVEILED A COUPLE DAYS
AGO WAS NOT -- WELL, PLAINLY WAS
CRAFTED AROUND THE PRIVATE OPTION AND THE SAVINGS. IT
CARRIES WITH IT AN UNAVOID ABLG POLITICAL COMPONENT, FUNDING --
RECOMMENDED FUNDING FOR UAMS WENT DOWN A LITTLE BIT.
>> BECAUSE THEY EXPECTED TO BE MORE COMPENSATED MORE FROM WHAT
THEY GOT UNDER THE PRIVATE OPTION.
>> YEAH AND NO PLAN B ACCORDING TO THE ADMINISTRATION.
>> I ASSURE YOU EVERY SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT AND EVERY STATE
CHANCELLOR IN THE STATE OF ARKANSAS ARE WATCHING THE
PRIVATE OPTION WITH GREAT INTEREST.
>> SUPERINTENDENTS HAVE ESSENTIALLY LESS TO LOSE. THEY
HAVE A CONSTITUTIONAL -- >> YES THEY HAVE CONSTITUTIONAL
FIRST CLAIM ON THE MONEY. NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT.
>> HIGHER ED IS DISGRUNTLED -- THERE IS A SEGUE AND EVEN AS WE
TAPE OUR BROADCAST THE TRUSTEES ARE MEETING FOR A SECOND DAY.
ON THURSDAY THEY ACCEPTED THE AUDIT KICKED OVER TO THEM BY
THE EXECUTIVE AND THE GENERAL
ASSEMBLY AND WHAT THEY'RE WAITING ON IS THERE SIGNAL FROM
THE LEADERSHIP AND SPECIFICALLY CHANCELLOR GEARHEART.
>> IN SEVEN MINUTES YESTERDAY THE BOARD VOTED TO ACCEPT BOTH
OF THOSE -- >> ONE ACCOUNT SAID EIGHT
MINUTES. >> SEVEN AND A HALF, SOMETHING
LIKE THAT. >> GET IT RIGHT.
>> BUT THOSE REPORTS -- WE ALL KNEW WHAT WAS GOING TO BE IN
THEM AND THEY'RE MAINLY A LIST OF RECOMMENDATIONS AS TO HOW
THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS
ESPECIALLY IN THE ADVANCEMENT DIVISION CAN DO A BETTER JOB OF
KEEPING TRACK OF ITS FUNDS. IT'S DISHEARTENING TO LEARN HOW
SLIP SHOT -- IF I CHOOSE TO USE THAT WORD, THE BUDGETING
PROCESS HAS BEEN IN THAT DIVISION.
THERE WAS NO SINGLE EXCEL SPREADSHEET SAYING WE EXPECT TO
BRING IN THIS MONEY AND SPEND THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY. THERE
WAS NO BUDGETING FOR ADDITIONAL
JOBS, ADDITIONAL PEOPLE TO BE BROUGHT IN, SO THAT'S HOW THIS
DIVISION CAME TO SPEND AMOUNT VARY BETWEEN 3.2 AND $4 MILLION
MORE MORE THAN IT WAS SUPPOSED TO OVER THE LAST YEARS SO
THAT'S HOW WE GOT TO WHERE WE ARE NOW.
SOME OF THE FINANCIAL PEOPLE,
BRADSHAW AND OTHERS HAVE BEEN LET GO, BUT THE SPOTLIGHT HAS
FALLEN SQUARELY ON MR. GEARHEART
IN RECENT MONTHS. IS THERE GOING TO BE AN ACTION ON HIS
POSITION? I DON'T KNOW. I SUSPECT NOT. HE HAS TAKEN A
MORE CONCILIATORY TONE IN RECENT
WEEKS. SEEMS TO BE A LITTLE MORE OPEN TO SUGGESTIONS FROM
OTHER FOLKS THAN HE HAS BEEN, AND SO WE WILL FIND OUT TODAY
BY THE TIME THIS SHOW ENDS WE WILL
KNOW WHAT THE FUTURE IS BUT I WILL BE SURPRISED IF HE GETS
TAKEN DOWN. >> THEY SPENT THREE HOURS IN
EXECUTIVE SESSION AND THE ONLY PURPOSE FOR THAT IS PERSONNEL,
SO THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING ON THURSDAY.
>> THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT [INAUDIBLE]
>> YEAH AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT AND BY THE TIME THIS AIRS WE
WILL KNOW WHAT IT IS, MAYBE, OR MAYBE WE WON'T KNOW WHAT
THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT.
>> WHAT IS THE SENSE UP THERE? >> NOW THAT THE DUST IS
SETTLING, NOW THERE IS NO LONGER
FINGER POINTING. "YOU SAID DOCUMENTS SHOULD BE SHED" NOW
THAT WE HAVE LOOKING AT THIS AND
DECENT BOOK TRACKING AND BOOKKEEPING IS A CORE PART OF
ANY ADMINISTRATION. THIS IS A FAILURE OF WHAT IS
A BASIC OF ADMINISTRATION FUNCTION AND THE REALIZATION
CAME THIS IS ACTUALLY MORE IMPORTANT AND ALARMING THAN A
LOT OF THE OTHER TUSSLE AND FEATHERS AND FIGHTS THAT WE
HAVE BEEN HAVING AT THE UNIVERSITY
AND IT'S DEEPLY EMBARRASSING AND
I THINK THE SPOTLIGHT HAS FINALLY FALLEN UPON THAT AND I
THINK IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ON THAT FOR A LONG TIME BEFORE
NOW, AND THE CONSENSUS UP THERE IS
THAT IF THAT THE CHANCELLOR HAS GROWN THE UNIVERSITY VERY WELL.
IT'S BEEN FRANKLY A LOT OF
EXPANSION, A LOT OF -- THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF GOOD THINGS
HAPPEN BUT THIS IS A DEFINITE BLACK
MARK ON HIS RECORD AND A SERIOUS
CONCERN AND IF HE STAYS THIS BETTER BE FIXED AND WE BETTER
HAVE A BETTER MUCH TRACKING OF THE MONEY THAN BEFORE.
>> THERE WERE SEVERAL PLEAS FROM
WITHIN AND WITHOUT THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES LET'S COME TOGETHER
UNDER SCORING REPEATED REPORTS OF A SHARPLY DIVIDED BOARD OF
TRUSTEES. CAN YOU SHED AIR? >> I WISH I COULD. I WISH I
COULD BUT A LOT OF THIS IS HAPPENING IN EXECUTIVE SESSION
AND SUCH AS THAT. I PUT IT THIS
WAY A BOARD OF TRUSTEES IS LITERALLY WHAT IT IS. THEY'RE
TRUSTEES AND WHEN THEY FIND OUT THAT THE INSTITUTION THEY'RE
SUPPOSED TO BE HELD ULTIMATELY ACCOUNTABLE FOR HAS TOTALLY
INADEQUATE FINANCIAL CONTROLS THAT IS SOMETHING THEY'RE
REALLY BOND TO TAKE SERIOUSLY BUT NO I
DON'T HAVE ANY INSIDE INFORMATION ON HOW THEY'RE
GOING TO GO.
>> YOU KNOW THIS IS THE ISSUE WITH THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES AT
FAYETTEVILLE KIND OF REMINDS OF ISSUES GOING ON HERE AT THIS
CAMPUS. UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL ARKANSAS FOR YEARS TOO WHERE
SOME SCANDAL ERUPTS, HUGE PROBLEM COMES UP AND THE BOARD
OF TRUSTEES SAY I DON'T THINK ANYTHING --
>> WITH ONE KEY DIFFERENCE, ONE EXTREMELY KEY DIFFERENCE. NO
ONE ENRICHED THEMSELVES OR EXPLOITED THE SITUATION WHICH
IS REMARKABLE WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT
IT. THE PROSECUTORS -- IF YOU READ THE PROSECUTORS REPORT
WHEN THEY BASICALLY WENT TO SEE IF
ANY CRIME IT'S. >> THERE WASN'T ANY ALLEGATIONS
OF SELF DEALING OR THAT -- >> NO, BUT THE PROSECUTORS AND
THE INVESTIGATORS WORKING FOR THE OFFICE LOOKED AT THIS
SITUATION AND FRANKLY COULDN'T BELIEVE THIS WASN'T ANYTHING
GOING ON. SAY WHAT YOU WILL ABOUT BRAD CHOT HE PASSED A
TEST MANY OF US WOULD HAVE FAILED.
HE COULD HAVE TAKEN THE UNIVERSITY FOR A LOT OF MONEY
AND WHEN THEY LOOKED AT THE ACCOUNTS THE UNIVERSITY OWED
THIS MAN MONEY FOR UNCOMPENSATED
EXPENSES BUT THE INVESTIGATORS AND THE AUDITORS SAW EVERY RED
FLAG YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO SEE AND THAT LANGUAGE IS ACTUALLY IN
THEIR REPORT THAT THIS SITUATION
WOULD HAVE ALLOWED FRAUD. IT WAS A FERTILE FIELD.
>> WE NEED TO LEAVE IT THERE BECAUSE WE HAVE A COUPLE MORE
STORIES AND AMENDING THE CONSTITUTION. STEVE THE
LEGISLATURE SENT THREE AS IT OFTEN DOES TO THE BALLOT BUT
THE PROBLEM IS YOU NEED THE TITLE
APPROVED BUT WHO IS TO DO IT? >> THERE'S A PROBLEM BECAUSE
THE LEGISLATURE TOOK AWAY THE
AUTHORITY TO PUT THE TITLE ON THERE FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
BUT DIDN'T MAKE IT CLEAR WHO DOES IT NOW SO THE SECRETARY OF
STATE SAW THIS YESTERDAY AND SAID IT WAS OKAY. WE WILL USE
THE BALLOT TITLE FROM THE BILL ITSELF AND IN TWO YEARS IT'S
WORKED OUT THAT WE CAN USE WHAT THE LEGISLATURE WILL MAKE THE
BALLOT TITLES. WE STILL HAVE A PROBLEM. THIS STUFF IS STILL
ON THE BALLOT AND WHEN THERE'S A
QUESTION -- THERE'S BEEN A HUGE QUESTION WITH THIS AND SOMEBODY
CAN SUE AND MARTA HANCOCK SAID IT COULD HAPPEN THIS TIME SO AT
THE MOMENT IT SEEMS LIKE THERE MIGHT BE A TEMPORARY FIX BUT WE
DON'T KNOW THAT FOR SURE. >> THE AG SIGNED OFF ON THIS AS
WELL. THIS WAS DONE IN CONSULTATION WITH THE ATTORNEY
GENERAL'S STAFF IN TERMS OF THE LANGUAGE ABOUT WHO HANDLES THE
BALLOT TITLE AT LEAST FOR NOW. >> IT APPEARS IT'S OKAY BUT THE
PROBLEMS WOULD COME FROM OUTSIDE
BECAUSE IF THESE THINGS PASS OR DON'T PASS SOMEBODY'S NOT GOING
TO BE HAPPY ABOUT IT AND THAT'S WHEN YOU CAN HAVE A COURT
CHALLENGE. >> YEAH BUT IF THERE IS A COURT
CHALLENGE AFTER THAT WE WILL HAVE A COURT RULING AND THE
LEGISLATURE CAN LOOK AT THAT COURT RULING AND THESE ARE THE
PROBLEMS AND THEY WILL COME UP WITH A PRETTY SPECIFIC SOLUTION
SO IT WILL BE FIXED BUT YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT IN THE
MEANTIME IT CAUSES LEGAL VULNERABILITY
TOWARD THINGS. >> LET'S GO TOWARDS WASHINGTON
AND JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT ON THE FLOOR DOESN'T MEAN WORK IS
BEING DONE OR IS IT? >> THERE IS WORK BEING DONE AND
ON THE FARM BILL AND THEY'RE GETTING ABSOLUTELY CLOSER TO
AGREEING TO DISAGREE ON A COUPLE
POINTS -- >> SHOULD WE BE COMFORTED BY
THAT? >> YEAH WE SHOULD AND IT'S
GOING TO HAPPEN. DIRECT PAYMENTS ARE
GOING AWAY AND REPLACED BY INSURANCE TYPE PROGRAMS AND THE
MAIN GOAL THAT A LOT OF FOLKS HAD TO START WITH WAS TO
ELIMINATE THE POTENTIAL FOR ABUSES IN THIS SYSTEM BY
CORPORATE FARMERS AND SO FORTH.
THEY'RE GOING TO BE TIGHTER CONTROLS ON THOSE TWO.
>> WELL MR. AND MRS. ARKANSAS AS
IT TRICKLES DOWN SO TO SPEAK AT THE CONSUMER LEVEL EVERYBODY
WAS CONCERNED ABOUT MILK GOING TO
FOUR BUCKS, SEVEN BUCKS A GALLON
IF SUPPORTS WERE GONE. >> THE DAIRY PRICE SUPPORT
PROGRAM IS DIFFERENT THAN MOST ANY OTHER IN THE NATION'S AG
INDUSTRY. THAT WILL BE TAKEN CARE OF AND NO PROBLEM THERE.
THE LARGEST IMPICTURE IN ARKANSAS IS THE END OF DIRECT
PAYMENTS TO FARMERS IN THE STATE
COULD REDUCE OVERALL AG REVENUE WHICH WILL THEN TRICKLE DOWN TO
A LOT OF OTHER INDUSTRIES IN THE
STATE. >> DO WE SEE A FINAL RESOLUTION
OR IS THIS GOING TO BE DONE PIECEMEAL?
>> NO. IT WILL HAPPEN ALL AT ONCE AND THE TWO SIDES ARE JUST
GOING ON SAY OKAY THIS IS THE BEST WE CAN DO ON THE INSURANCE
TYPE PROGRAMS AND WE'RE GOING TO
HAVE TO LIVE TO FIGHT ANOTHER DAY ON SOME OF THE WHAT SOME
FOLKS SEE AS ABUSE AND OTHER FOLKS SEE THIS IS THE WAY IT
HAS TO WORK.
>> ALL RIGHT. WITH THAT WE HAVE
TO LEAVE IT BECAUSE WE'RE SIMPLY
OUT OF TIME. GUYS THANKS FOR COMING IN. TO YOU THANK YOU
ALWAYS FOR WATCHING AND WE WILL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.
>> "ARKANSAS WEEK" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE
"ARKANSAS TIMES" KEEPING YOU INFORMED BY COVERING PEOPLE,
EVENTS, AND POLITICS IN ARKANSAS. BY FM 89 KUAR LITTLE
ROCK WITH IN DEPTH NEWS REPORTING, ANALYSIS AND
DISCUSSION EACH WEEKDAY.