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>> HELLO AGAIN EVERYONE. THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR ARKANSAS
WEEK. THE ARKANSAS GENERAL ASSEMBLY, IT IS HOUSE IN
PARTICULAR TOOK FRIDAY OFF, AN EXTENDED WEEKEND AS IT WE AS
IT MIGHT AS WELL HAVE. MAYBE A LITTLE COOLING IS INDICATED.
JOHN JOHN JOINS US AND STEVE BRAWNER INDEPENDENT JOURNALIST
AND LANSZ LANCE FOR ARKANSAS BUSINESS AND THANKS TO
BODY FOR COMING IN AND JOHN WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT THE PRIVATE OPTION. THE SPEAKER HAD
SUGGESTED OR SAID THERE WOULD BE
ONE VOTE AFTER ANOTHER L WE T THIS THING PASSED. THAT
STOPPED EARLY THIS PAST WEEK. >> THE VOTES WERE JUST NOT
THERE. >> YEAH.
>> THEY REALIZED THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE VOTES AND THERE WERE
MEMBERS COMPLAINING ABOUT THE DAILY VOTES, MEMBERS WHO WERE
VOTING FOR IT EVERYDAY WERE SAYING I'M GOING TO GET ANAD
AGAINST ME THAT SAID HE VOTED FOR THE PRIVATE OPTION SEVEN
STOPPED DOING THE DAILY VOTING AND STARTED TALKING ABSOME
KIND OF A COMPRO THERE ARE
TALKS NOW ABOUT A WAY OUT OF THE
STALEMATE. >> WHAT WE KNOW?
>> IDEA ADVANCED IS -- DON'T AMEND THE APPROPRIATION BILL
FOR THE PRIVATE OPTION BUT HAVE DHS
ASK THE FEDE GOVERNMENT FOR ENROLLMENT PERIOD ON THE
PRIVATE OPTION ANLY COULD ENROLL
DURING A CERTAIN TIME OF YEAR AND IF THEY ENROLLED OUTSIDE OF
THAT TIME E ONLY OPTION IS TRADITIONAL MEDICAID UNTIL THE
NEXT ENROLLMENT PERIOD WO COME OPEN. THE THEORY IS THIS
ULD ALLOW SOME MEMBERS TO SWITCH THEIR VOTE AND I FOUGHT
THE PRIVATE OPTION AND WE AS A LEATURE CAME TOGETHER AND
WE'RE NOT DISFUNCTIONAL AND WE PASSED A BUDGET WE'RE NOT
LIKE WASHINGTON DC. >> AT THE MOMENT IT'S EXACTLY
LIKE WASHINGTON DC,. >> THERE IS SOME GRIDLOCK, YES.
WE'RE LOOKING AT THE FISCAL SESSION. IT CAN'T GO ON
FOREVER. THERE IS A FINITE TIME
TO FIGURE IT OUT AND MARCH 6 IS THE FINAL DAY OF ALL OF THIS SO
WE'VE GOT A MATTER OF DAYS TO GET THE PRIVATE OPTION SETTLED
AND DEAL WITH WHATEVER LINGERING
BUDGET MATTERS THERE ARE, AND SO
IT'S TIME FOR THE RUBBER TO MEET
THE ROAD AND FOR THINGS TO HAPPEN.
>> ON THE OPTION ITSELF THERE'S ZERLITTLE AMONG ITS STERNEST
OPPONENTS. THERE E VERY LITTLE PRETENSE OR NONE AMONG
SOME OF M THAT THEY'RE TRYING
TO DO ANYTHING THAN SET THE STAGE EVENTUALLY KILLING IT.
>> YES. THERE HAVE BEEN PROPOSALS WINDING THE PROGRAM
DOWN AND END IT BUT E IS NOT
THE SUPPORT TO DO TH THERE IS A SUPPORT TO CAP THE
ENROLLMENT BUT NOT THE SUPPORT FOR AT. IT'S A SMALL
MINORITY BUT ARSAS HAS ONE OF THE
HIGHEST REQUIREMENTS TO PASS IT IN THE COUNTRY. YOU HAVE
THREED FOURS IN BOTH CHAMBERS SO THE
OPPONEARE REALIZING THEY HAVE THE CHOICE OF EITHER
AGREEING TO SOME KIND OF DEAL OR
SESSION ENDS WITHOUA DHS BU
>> IN TERMS OF THE WASHINGTON AND PARTICULARLY THE HOUSE HAS
HELD FIRM. THE DISSENT IS WITHIN THE REPUBLICAN RANKS.
YEAH. >> VEDIVISIVE ISSUE FOR THAT
PARTY. >> THAT'S KIND OF IRONIC.
THERE IS A FAMOUS QUOTE AND
[INAUDIBLE] AND I FLIPPED MY PARTY, THE DEMOCRAT. AMONG THE
LEGISLATURES THE DEMOCRATS HAVE HELD FIRM NOW. THEY VOTE AS A
BLOCK TO BASICALELECT DAVY CARTER SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE AND
HOW HE WAS ELECTED OVER TERRY RICE AND NOW THE DEMOCRATS ARE
REMAINING FIRM FOR THE PRIVATE OPTION WHEREAS THE REPUBLICANS
ARE SPLIT BETWEEN TWO , SOME SUPPORT IT, SOME AGAINST
IT. >> CAN THE -- IS THIS AS FAST
AS THE DEMOCRATS CAN ?
>> YES. THEY'RE NOT WILLING TO MAKE ANY MORE AMENDMENTS TO THE
BILL. IT WAS AMENDED EARLIER IN
SESSION TO PREVENT THE STATE
FROM USING APPROPRIATED FUNDS TO
DO OUTREACH IN THE INSURANCE MARKETPLACE AND THE PRIVATE
OPTION AND THAT WAS A TOUGH BILL
AND THIBILL IS NOT AS LIMITING
AS THAT WAS AND THE DEMOCRATS SHOULD BE ABLE TO STICK
TOGETHER. >> ALTHOUGH THEY VOTED TO WHERE
THEY COULD PUBLICIZE THE PRIVATE
OPTION AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AN ENROLLMENT PERIOD AND
IF WE DO THAT AND HOW THAT'S GOING
TO WORK. THERE IS A LOT OF AND DISPLEASURE WITH THAT. PEOPLE
VOTED FOR THE AMENDMENTS THINKING THIS IS IT. IF WE
VOTE IF THIS AMENDMENT THAT LIMITS
THE PRIVATE OPTION THAT WE'RE GOOD AND THAT IS FRUSTRATING
FOR LEGISLATORS BECAUSE PEOPLE LIKE
TO TALK ABOUT LYING POLITICIANS T IN THE LEGISLATURE IN
CLOSED DOORS ONCE YOU TELL SOMEONE YOU
HAVE TO DO SOMETHINU HAVE TO
DO IT AND PEOPLE HAVE GONE OUT ON A LIMB AND MADE DECISIONS
BASED ON THAT AND GATHERED COALITIONS AND THERE IS SOME
FRUSTRATION PEOPLE SAID THEY'RE GOING TO VOTE FOR ONE D NOW
ANOTHER AND CAN'T GET TO THE 75 ANDIT'S NOT OUT TO OPEN ANGER
POINT AND I DON'T THINK IT WILL.
>> WE WILL SEE. THE SPEAKER WAS
MORE BLUNT. THEY BROKE WORD. SOME OF THE MEMBERS
ACCORDING TO THE SPEAKER AND I HAVEN'T SEEN REBUTOF THAT
AND THE SPEAKER SAID THEY BROKE THEIR WORD. WHEN WE ACCEPTED
MR. BELL'S AMENDMENTS REGARDING MARKETING AND OUTREACH THEY
SAID THEY WOULD COME ABOARD AND THEY
DIDN'T. THEY BROKE THEIR WORD BUSINESS IN ANY LEGISLATIVE
BODY. >> THAT'S HIS CHARACTERIZATION
OF WHAT HAPPENED? >> RIGHT.
>> WE DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED.
WAS RE A MISCOMMUNICATION? DID NATE BELL BELIEVE HE HAD
MORE VOTES THAN THAT. HE HASN'T
TOLD US THE LEGISLATORS AND WHO THEY ARE AND WE CAN'T ASK WHAT
HAPPENED. >> HAVE WE HEAFROM THE
ADMINISTRATION -- IF THIS LATEST
COMPROMISE HAPPENS HAVE WE D
WILL IT HAVE TO BE ACCEPTABLE TO
THEM? >> THE GOVERNOR SAYS IT'S
SOMETHING HE IS CONSIDERING REQUIRING. HE LIKES THE FACT
IT DOESN'T REQUIRE THE BILL AND NE
ONE LOSE THEIR EXPERIENCE THEY JUST COULDN'T DO IT YEAR
AROUND. >> SO WE HAVE A LIMIT
ENROLLMENT PERIOD THAT IS LIMITED AND THE STRUCTURE.
>> THAT'S THE PROBLEM AND IF YOU
DO THAT YOU'RE HURTING THE OVERALL PROGRAM. I DON'T THINK
THAT MATTERS TO MANY REPUBLICANS
AND OVERALL YOU LOOK AT THESE AMENDMENTS THE GOAL HERE AS WE
SAID IS SLOWLY BEGIN TO KIND OF ALCOHOLIC DOWN THE PRIVATE
OPTION TO BE ABLE IN SUBSEQUENT YEARS TO END IT. THAT'S WHAT
THEY WANT TO DO. THEY WANT TO LIMIT THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR
PEOPLE TO GET ON IT AND THUS LIMIT THE USE AND LIMIT ITS
EFFECTIVENESS AND GET RID OF IT REPUBLICANS -- LET'S NOT FOT
WE HAVE THE PRIMARY SEASON ON THE WAY AND MANY ARE THEM TO
OBAMACARE WHICH IS THE WORSE THING THAT SOMEONE CAN DO TO
YOU IN THE STATE OF ARKANSAS SO
ANYTHING THEY CAN DO TO LOOK SAY
WE HAVE A BAD SITUATION IN OBAMATO DO WHAT WE NEEDED TO
DO BUT WE DID WHAT WE COULD IN
LIMITING THE SCOPE OF THE PRIVATE OPTION AND CUTTING DOWN
ON THE COST THAT ARKANSAS IS SADDLED WITH IN THE FUTURE AND
IN THE MEANWHILE WE CAN GAIN THE NUMBERS
TO EVENTUALLY IN THE LEGISLATURE
DO AWAY WITH PRIVATE OPTION AND DO SOMETHING ELSE. WHAT THAT
IS WHO KNOWS BUT ANY MESSAGE ABOUT
GETTING RID OF OBAMACARE IN THE PRIVATE OPTION IS A GOOD DON'T
KNOW HOW MANY OF THIS IS PERSONAL OR POLITICAL, BUT
EVERYONE FROM MR. GOVERNOR BEEBE
ON DOWN SEEMS ACKNOWLEDGE SOME OF THE TENSION IN REPUBLICAN
CAUCUS OWES TO THE ELECTION OF MR. CARTER AS SPEAKER AS A LAST
MINUTE CANDIDATE AGAINST MR. RICE LAST YEAR. KIND IS A
TIME. >> THERE WAS RESENTMENT AND
TERRY RICE WHO WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE SPEAKER AND DIDN'T GET
ER WAS A LAST MINUTE ANNOUNCEMENT AND WON THE
SPEAKERS CHAIR AND WHAT ROLE IT IS PLAYING? I DON'T KNOW AND
IT CA
THIS AND OTHERSFEEL TERRY RICE HAD A DISSERVICE AND OF
COURSE WITHOUT THAT HISTORY. >> THE SPEAKER IS TERMENT
LIMITED AND THE THIRD TWILIGHT SPEAKERSHIP,
HIS CAREER AND NO MUSCLE OTHER THAN PERSONAL POWER OR
PERSUASION. >> WELL THE PERSONAL IS THE
POLITICAL AND IT'S PART OF WHAT IS GOING ON HERE, BUT THERE IS
ALSO -- BEYOND ARKANSAS POLITICS.
ARKANSAS IS GROUND ZERO OF THIS WHOLE DEBATE ABOUT ACCEPTING
OBAMACARE, REFORMING OBAMACARE.
OTHER STATES HAVE FOLLOWED ARKANSAS' LEAD E IT ARE T
JUST LEGISLATING FOR ARKANSAS POLITICS. THEY BELIEVE IT'S IN
THE UNITED STATES HISTORY. THIS
IS NATIONAL AND THIS IS HISTORICAL THEY BELIEVE, AND SO
THE SUPPORTERS OF THE PRIVATE OPTION BELIEVE ARE
REFORMING ENTITLEMENTS REFORMING
OBAMACARE AND HEALTH CARE AT THE
STATE LEVEL AND HOPING IT WILL GO FROM THERE. THE OPPONENTS
BELIEVE IF THEY CAN STOP THE PRIVATE OPTION THEY CAN STOP
THE WHOLE MOVEMENT, FAR MORE -- A L
PASSION YOU SEE ABOUT THIS AND WHY
WE'RE AT AN IMPASSE THEY BELIEVE IT'S
OF NATIONAL IMPORTANCE. THIS IS
REALLY A DEBATE. >> ON THIS, ON A PURELY
POLITICAL MATTER THE FILING SEASON IS OPEN,
SINCE WE NEED 75 ON THAT BASIS AND ALTER THAT
AND WITH ONE GREEN YOU HAVE 49 WHO
CAUCUS TO SEE DEMOCRATS TAKING ANOTHER 25, 26 SEATS TO SEE THE
OLD DAYS OF THE DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY BUT IT CERTAINLY
RAISES THE STAKE AT BOTH THE PRIMARY
AND NOVEMBER.K THAT THE FILING PERIOD HAVE AN
IMPACT ON THE PRIVATE OPTION DEBATE BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE MAY
HAVE BEEN WAITING TO SEE IF THEY
GET A PRIMARY OPPONENT BEFORE THEY DECIDE TO SWITCH.
>> MISSY T A PRIMARY OPPONENT PRETTY QUICK
AND THAT WENT TO WHY SHE DID AN ABOUT FACE ON THE PRIVATE
OPTION. SHE CAME OUT EMPHATICALLY BEFORE THE SESSION
AND I AM A YES AND NOW I'M A NO AND
STILL DRAW AN OPPONENT AND THAT'S WHAT ALL OF THE MEMBERS
ARE FACING. >> AND IT LEADS INTO THE STATE
WIDE RACES, MR. ROSRACE MR. PRYOR AND MR. COTTON.
>> SURE THE PRIVATE OPTION -- >> AS BECOME PART OF THE
RHETORIC. >> SURE. ASA HUTCHINSON HAS
DECLINED TO TAKE A POSITION ON IT.
>> DELIBERATELY HE PREMATURE F HIM
TO TAKE A POSITION AT THIS TIME.
OF COURSE MIKE ROSS IS A SUPPORTER OF THE PRIVATE OPTION.
>> THAT WAS MIKE ROSS' ATTACK ON
HIS FILING DAY D SOME THIRD PAR IN ARKANSAS AND ASA HUTCHINSON
JUST WILL NOT TELL US WHERE WE STANDS ON THE PRIVATE OPTION.
WE HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR MONTHS ABOUT WHERE HE STANDS ON IT.
IF HE WANTS TO TAKE A STAND AND AS
HUTCHINSON OF COURSE SAYS THE LEGISLATURE DOESN'T IS NEED ME
TELLING THEM WHAT TO DO OR WHAT I THINK AND YEAH IT'S
DEFINITELY PUMPING UP AND LIKE STEVE SAID
A PART OF A NATIONAL THAT
CONTINUES TO RANGE OVER OBAMACARE AND REALLY THE WHOLE
ENGAGEMENT ARCHITECTURE OF THE COUNTRY.
>> WELL THE PRIMARY IS UNKNOWN.
THE GENERAL ELECTION CAN WE PRO SPECULATE IS THE WORD. THE
NEXT SESSION COULD BE AN INTERESTING
ONE IN TERMS OF MAINTAINING THE PROGRAM BECAUSE SOME OF THE --
MOST FEROCIOUS OPPONENTS OF THE. >> WE'VE ONLY HAD ONE ELECTION
SINCE THE PRIVATE OPTION PASSED AND THAT ELECTION -- A PRIVATE
OPTION OPPONENT WON IN JONESBORO
AND SO IT'S HARD TO USE MENTIONED A MINUTE AGO S GET 75
DON'T SEE THEM GETTING TWO TO GET A MAJORITY. IT SEEMS HOW
THE MOMENTUM FOR PRIVATE OPTION OPPONENTS WON'T CONTINUE.
THE DEMOCRATS AND NUMERICAL MAJORITY THEY'RE
STILL FAR SHY SO SOMEONE COULD USE
USE THE APPROPRIATIONS PROCESS TO
STYMIE IT. >> THAT RACE YOU'RE T ARKANSAS
SEAT HELD BY DEMOCRATS FOREVER SO THAT'S THE POWER OF THIS
ISSUE IT CAN MAKE CHANGES LIKE THAT, AND YEAH REPUBLICANS
DON'T NEED TO MAKE A LOT OF IN ROADS
TAND 75
TYPE VOTE ENVIRONMENT IN THE HOUSE TO MAKE WAVES AND
CONTINUE TO AMEND AND CHANGE THIS
PRIVATE OPTION BILL.
>> WELL THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS MAKING PROGRESS ON ANOTHER
ISSUE AND THAT IS THE MATTER LEADS TH
OFFICE AND JOHN LOOKS LIKE WE WON'T HAVE AN ELECTION THIS
YEAR. >> THIS WEEK THE HOUSE PASSED A
BILL AND PASSED ALREADY IN THE SENATE AND ALLOW THE GOVERNOR
NOT TO CALL A SPECIAL ELECTION FOR LIEUTEWAS A QUESTION RAISED
HOUSE FLOOR WHETHER IT WOULD HAVE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES
AND LANGUAGE IN THE BILL TO ALLOW
THE GOVERNOR TO LEAVE A LEGISLATURE SEAT OPEN AND THE
COUNTER ARGUMENTHIS IS ADDRESSI SITUATION AND NOT HAVE THE
SPECIAL ELECTION FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR SO CLOSE TO THE
REGULAR ELECTION AND IF THE LANGUAGE IS
IN THERE WE CAN ALWAYS AMEND IT IN THE NEXT SESSION.
>> APPETO OR A GREAT DEAL OF SPECULATION. WHY
DO WE EVEN NEED ONE? BUT THAT WILL REQUIRE A CONS
BUSINESS. I SUGGEST FOUR, EIGHT, 12 YEARS WE WILL ST
HAVE THE OFFICE OF LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR THERE.
T'S THE STATE'S BACK UP QUARTERBACK. EVERYONE WANTS
THAT JOB AND HAS A NICE TITLE AND SALARY, NOT A GOOD ONE BUT
A SALARY AND AN
TO GO AWAY IT WOULD REQUIRE LEGISLATORS TO GIVE UP A NICE
STEP UP THE LADDER. IT'S HARD TO SEE THAT HAPPENING OR
ON BY THE PEOPLE AND THAT'S HARD TO SEE HAPPENING
TOO.GLY ONE OF THE CANDIDATES ANDY MAYBERRY IS TO
ABOLISH THE OFFICE HE'S RUNNING FOR.
>> WE WILL SEE. THERE WAS THIS DEVELOPMENT THOUGH IN THE
ABSENCE OF MR. DARR HIS STAFF
STAFF, APPARENTLY NOT FOR VERY LONG. SOME SORT OF
ACCOMMODATION, UNDERSTANDING IS REACHED WITH THE STAFF AND THEY
WILL BE DEPARTING. >> RIGHT AND WE WILL SEE HOW
THAT OFFICE CHANGES, WHAT THE IN THE FUTURE
WITH THAT TOO APPARENTLY.
>> AND TURN OFF THE LIGHTS SO THERE WILL BE NOBODY IN THERE
EVEN TO ANSWER THE PHONE. >> A MEMBER OF CONGRESS THINK
THAT EXPIRES AND THE STAFF HAS 30 DAYS AND THE STAFF REMAINS
ON THE PAYROLL BY STATUTE TO SHUT
DOWN THE OFFICE. IN ARKANSAS STAYING ON MAYBE THREE YEARS
AND 11 MONTHS IN THE EVENT OF A
PREMATURE [INAUDIBLE], WELL IN THE U.S. SENATE THOUGH THERE
WAS ACTION THIS WEEK.
TWO PENDING JUDICIAL NOMINEES CONFIRMED. I GUESS THAT'S ALL
THAT REMAINS FOR JUDGE JAY MOODY
FOR THE PRESIDENT TO SIGN THE COMMISSION AND TAKE THE OATH.
THE OTHER NOMINEE IS STILL PENDWILL LOOK
FOR ACTION ON TIMOTHY BROOKS FROM FAYETTEVILLE AND THE OTHER
NOMINEE WE'RE WAITING ON. I THINK BOTH WERE HUNG UP IN
PARTISAN POLITICAL ACTIVITY IN THE SENATE. THERE IS A NATE DE
CHANGED THE RULES HOW THE FILIBUSTER IS USED IN THE
SENATE AND SO AS KIND OF A RETALIATORY
MEASURE REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN BLOCKING OR SLOW TO ACT ON
THESE JUDICIALTHINK
EVERYONE GENERALLY AND PARTICULARLY IN JAY MOODY'S
CASE AND WAS CONFIRMED THIS PAST
WEEK EVERYONE RECOGNIZED HE WAS WELL
QUALIFIED. THERE WAS NO POLITICAL REASON, NO HELD UP
AND FINALLY BOOZMAN AND MARK PRYOR WERE ABLE TO ANNOUNCE HE
WAS CONFIRMED AND OVER NIGHT HARRY REID IN THE SENATE MADE
IN ROADS MR. BROOKS
NOMINAT ON THE PATH NEXT WEEK
AND AGAIN A MATTER OF TIMING. IT'S NOT CLEAR HOW LONG IT WILL
TAKE BUT ON THE ROAD TO GETTING THAT JUDGESHIP FILLED IN THE
WESTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS. >
VETTED AND RECOMMENDNOT ONCE BUT TWICE BY THE JUDICIARY
COMMITTEE AND I THINK SIGNIFICANTLY BOTH WERE
SUPPORTED BY NOT ONLY MR. PRYOR,
A DEMOCRAT, AND MR. BOOZMAN A REPUBLICAN SO IT WAS LIKELY BUT
SECURE THEIR CONFIRMATION. >> RIGHT MORE OF THE GRIDLOCK
THAT YOU SEE UP THERE. YOU HAVE
OFFICES THAT NEED TO BE FILLED.
YOU HAVE JOBS THAT NEED TO BE DONE, FUNDAMENTAL PARTS OF
GOING WHEN ATS AND REPUBLICANS ARE AT LOGGERHEADS.
>> LANCE, WE HAD HOPED TO HAVE JOBLESS NUMBERS, UNEMPLOYMENT
NUMBERS FOR THE BROADCAST AND T K A FAIR AMOUNT OF GOOD NEWS.
>> THAT'S RIGHT. THINGS HAVE BEEN GOING WELL. HERE IN
LITTLE ROCK WE HAD A MAJOR -- WHAT IS
MAJOR FOR LITTLE ROCK AN ANNOUNCEMENT OF JOB CUTS 400
COMPANY WIDE AND THAT WAS -- IN ARKANSAS -- IN LITTLE ROCK IT
AMOUNTED TO 30 JOBS AND 60 IN ARKANSAS. THAT'S THE COMPANY
THAT IS CHANGING THE WHAT IT DOES ANREALLY A
FUNCTION OF THE ECONOMY WHY THE JOBS WERE LAID OFF BUT THE
CHANGING NATURE HOW THAT COMPANY
OPERATES. AXCIOM ALSO LAID OFF WHAT WE THINK IS ABOUT 200 IS WO
EFFORT FOR THAT COMPANY TO CHANGE HOW IT CONDUCTS BUSINESS
AND CUT COSTS AS WELL AND THEY ANNOUNCED THAT PROCESS LAST
FALL SO THAT IS COMING TO FRUITION
NOW BUT FOR THAT ROUND OF ACTION
THAT SHOULD BE THE END ITH THE IN TERMS OF OUR JOB SCENE SO WE
WILL WATCH FOR THE NUMBERS TO SEE WHERE WE END UP AT THE END
OF THIS MONTH. >> THE INDICES AS A WHOLE STILL
TRENDING UP, IN TERMS OF NATION INDICATORS THEY ARE LOOKED
STRONG AND WE SEEN GOOD REPORTS FROM SOME RETAILERS WHICH IS A
NICE SURPRISE BUT AGAIN SOME OF THE RETAILERS THAT WE HAVE IN W
HAD TOUGH TIMES AND A HANG OVER FROM A POOR SHOPPING SEASON AND
DILLARD'S HAD A LOT OF LEFT OVER
INVENTORY AND HURT LINE AND WAL-MART STILL
STRUGGLING AND AMERICANS ARE HAVING TROUBLE SPENDING AND
THEY'RE STILL NOT FEELING REALLY
GOOD ABOUT SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY, PARTICULARLY ON
WAL-MART, WAL-MART'S
CUSTOMERS WELL SO THAT'S BEEN
TOUGH FOR THEM BUT WE HAVE SEEN SOME OTHER SIGNS THAT SHOW --
AUTO SALES ARE DOING WELL AND DURABLE GOODS ARE DOING WELL SO
WEEK IT'S A SLOW SLUGGISH REBOUND TO THE ECONOMY.
>> AND THE LAST PART OF THE FOURTH QUARTER, FIRST PART OF
THE ME OF THE BLAME >> THAT'S WHAT BEEN CAUSING
THESE IMMEDIATE KATEORS AND THE WEATHER IS CAUSING THIS AND
WAL-MART SAID THAT TOO AND THE COLD WEATHER HAS AFFECTED TH
PEOPLE STAY IN. THEY DON'T SHOP
AND AS ENERGY COSTS RISE BECAUSE
OF THE BAD WEATHER MORE OF THE DOLLARS ARE GOING TO PAY THE
ENERGY BILLS WHICH TEND TO INCREASE AS WELL SO OR. IT'S T
THAT WILL NOT END AND WE ARE GETTING WINTER WEATHER IN THE
FORECAST FOR LATE THIS WEEKEND AND WE WILL BE WATCHING.
>> GOT TO END IT THERE. GENTLEMEN THANKS FOR COMING INW
NEXT WEEK. >> "ARKANSAS WEEK" IS MADE
ARKANSAS. BY FM 89 KUAR LITTLE ROCK WITH IN DEPTH NEWS
REPORTING, ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION EACH WEEKDAY.