Opening Day

Things got off to a good start when my friend, and Associate Supreme Court Justice, Jim Gunter administered the oath of office to all 100 members of the House of Representatives. Vigi was with me on the floor during the entire ceremony, and my niece and nephew, Elizabeth Davis and Aaron Easterling, had their view from the gallery. Liz is 15 and served as a page during the last session, so she is an old hand at the capitol. Aaron, who is only 10, was pretty amazed by all the goings on and he was especially mesmerized with all the marble floors. He seemed to enjoy the ease of sliding down the halls. It was really a nice day for family and friends. I was very pleased and honored to be appointed as Vice-chairman of the Aging, Children, Youth, Legislative and Military Affairs commmittee. Rep. Dawn Creekmore will be the Chairperson and I look forward to working with her on some very important issues concerning many of our most vulnerable citizens. My thanks to Speaker Robbie Wills for thinking of me for the job. Speaking of the Speaker, he made a fine speech today and challenged all of us to work hard and smart to tackle some tough and important issues coming our way. Afterwards we had a good meal and headed home for a good night's sleep in my own bed.

Packed and Ready for the 87th

I've said many times what an honor it is to serve our state in the General Assembly, and it's a responsibility I don't take lightly. Tomorrow gets things started when both the House and Senate get sworn in at noon. I've spent most of this Sunday packing and tying up loose ends at the office. The packing is about done, but I fear loose ends will remain. These next few months will be intense, and I suspect somebody's gonna get mad about a vote or position I take on any number of issues. It's the nature of the job and I'm ok with it as long as I've done my homework and reconcile my decisions with what I think is right. The economy, lottery, trauma centers, animal cruelty, grocery tax and so many other front burner issues wait to be turned inside out in the coming weeks; and I look forward to working with the newcomers, along with the veteran legislators, as Arkansas's 87th legislature goes to work. I'll also try to keep a regular update during my time in Little Rock.

Help For Our Vets

Over the last several years our local American Legion Post 427 has been instrumental in providing transportation to and from Little Rock for our veterans medical appointments. They use volunteer drivers and a van that was bought using GIF funds to accomplish the service. They now find themselves with an old van and no funds available to purchase another, so they can continue this much used and much needed shuttle. So last night, Senator-elect Larry Teague and I attended their meeting and offered our help to orchestrate and donate to a fund raising effort to purchase a new van. We are both strong believers in getting this done and keeping this program running smoothly for the true heroes in our midst. So don't be surprised if we come calling for your help with this project.

As I Was Saying......

Okay I'm back. Adjourning means different things to different folks, and I just took an extended, although I must say, an enjoyable sabbatical from blogging. But now it's time to catch up. Here we go---Summer came and went, it was hot. Hillary and Huck got beat. Razorbacks got thumped, then got better. McCain's VP gamble didn't pay off and Obama gets an opportunity to prove whether he is Clintonesque. SWEPCO got their permit from ADEQ. I beat Evelyn Joyce Bradford again. Phillies win the series, ( I know you don't care-neither do I). That's pretty much it, even though I probably left something out. So it's good to be back and we'll see how it goes from here.

It's A Wrap

The 3 day special session came to a formal close this morning, and the Governor signed the severance tax bill into law at 1:00 this afternoon. The called press conference for the bill signing produced an overflow crowd at the Capitol. The Governor fielded questions after the formalities were completed, and related his philosophy that the proceeds of the highway severance money should, for the most part, follow the cars. In other words, high traffic areas will have the inside track. Rules and regulations will be developed over the coming months to determine how and where the money will be spent. Well, my first special session is history and everything went smoothly. All is done here and if nobody minds, I'll stand adjourned.

Questions I Have Heard

Here is my take on the special session thus far. Questions abound regarding the true impact of raising the severance tax. Some want to point out that the 5% rate is more along the lines of 1.5 % once the exemptions and concessions are factored in. Others will say that the bulk of the proceeds should go to tax relief before highways. Still others are worried that the tax will somehow filter down to the consumers and raise their energy bill. It is true that many of the concessions have lowered the base rate for a period of time. But the fact is, in order to pass this legislatively, a compromise had to be reached between the parties involved. If Sheffield Nelson's 7% initiative were to go before the voters, there was no guarantee that the gas companies wouldn't spend millions to defeat the measure. If that happened, then we're in the same place we've been for 50 years, getting virtually nothing for this non-renewable resource. As far as tax relief goes, there is still more work to do there, especially with the grocery and income taxes. But this money is earmarked for roads and highways, and the need there is great. I think it unlikely the consumer will feel the severance increase, since this gas won't end up in Arkansas homes. Gas prices are set on the open market anyway, and the only people who will end up paying are the gas producers themselves, and to a small degree, some royalty owners. In the end, I believe this is a good step forward for the future infrastructure in Arkansas, and that's why I voted for it.

Day 2

The House convened this morning at 10:00 and made quick work of the three bills presented. The Governor's severance tax bill was passed on to the Senate by a vote of 81 yeas, 16 nays and 1 present. The other bills included Rep. Bond's legislation to repeal his marriage bill from the last session, and Rep. Hyde's request to extend the time frame for the Pulaski County school district's desegregation case. Both met little opposition. We adjourned until 1:30 this afternoon, and it looks like we'll be back Wednesday morning to finalize things, and hopefully home by supper.

Live From The Special Session

As I write this from the House Chamber, we await the Governor's address to the members of both houses. Of course, his speech will center on the severance tax increase, and will include an outline of the legislation we'll be voting on. Just a sidebar here, but it is always an honor, and I believe a humbling experience, when we convene for a legislative session. There is always a great deal of pomp and circumstance involved, but to me that's a good thing.

The Governor made his remarks and urged us all to support and vote for his proposal. Now I'm off to my Judiciary Committee to deal with the marriage age issue that is also on this session's agenda.

There has been a small, but somewhat late effort from those against the severance tax. There position seems to be that we should provide more tax relief from the severance proceeds. I agree we should provide tax relief when it is possible; but I also believe highways have to be a priority, and this will be a step in the right direction to help with our future highway needs.

Here And There

The fund-raising season got started last night in Nevada County with the Laneburg VFD's hamburger supper and cake auction. Of course all the political candidates got to have a say, and a nice crowd from the area was there to take it in. Virtually all the cakes were bought by the politickers, (I paid $200 for a coconut) and Laneburg raised over $2,000.00 for their department. Good night of fun, and in my opinion, money well spent.

My seat-mate and good friend Representative Steve Harrelson's blog, Under the Dome, was chosen as one of the best political blogs in the country by the Washington Post. A well deserved honor and I agree whole-heartedly. Congrats Steve.

I'm heading to Little Rock in the morning as the legislature will convene at noon for the called Special Session. Everything I'm hearing says we should be done by Wednesday, and that is fine with me. Although I look forward to my first extraordinary session, everybody will be well served for us to be efficient and to the point. I expect everything to run smoothly, but you never know for sure how the world turns at the Capitol.

Crackberry

Everybody who has one of those wildly popular blackberry thing-a-ma-jigs, swears to me that they don't know how they made it without one. I for one believe them, because when I began walking the Capitol halls, everyone seemed to be staring at their hands for an inordinate amount of time. I finally figured out that it wasn't fingernail hygiene they were concerned with, but the highly addictive qualities of the blackberry technology. Now I'm the first to say that technology is a wonderful thing--- if you know how to use it. But sad to say, I'm not a techno-wizard. In fact, unless the blackberry people come up with a rotary dial for it, I doubt that I'll ever be able to use one. Having said all that, I did decide to come into this century, and I bought a blackberry yesterday. As you probably can imagine, I haven't learned how to e-mail, text or get on the web. Although I did place a successful phone call to my wife. We were both very proud that I made it that far. So if you see me in the halls of the Capitol, staring at my hand, I'm probably just checking my fingernails.

Severance Tax

As I posted previously, I will be in Little Rock on Monday to begin the special session that will deal mostly with the severance tax issue. I am on record as supporting the increase from.3% (the lowest in the nation) to 5%, with the proceeds dedicated to the infrastructure of our highways. There is overwhelming support in the legislature and from our constituents to do so. There has only been extremely mild sentiment against the increase. Also on board with this proposal are the gas companies themselves, and the royalty owners association. Looks like a done deal to me.

Potlach Closing

Word has filtered down that the Potlach plant in Prescott will be shutting its' doors soon, and all those Nevada County jobs will be gone in the process. Potlach has, for many years, been one of the two major employers in Prescott and the surrounding area. This is a major blow to our area's economy, and certainly not a time to be squandering economic projects as some of our hunting club friends advocate we do.

Special Session Coming

I just left the press conference of Governor Beebe's announcement that the legislature will convene in special session beginning on March 31st. The session will take up the Governor's proposal to raise the severance tax on natural gas to 5%. The current rate of .3% represents the lowest rate in the country. As most know, the required vote needed to pass the tax is a 3/4 majority in both houses. The Governor believes he has that, with 80 votes in the House, and 30 from the Senate. The tax proceeds will be dedicated to highway infrastructure, and though this won't take care of all highway needs, it is certainly a step in the right direction. Because of the relative comparison to other states' severance tax rates, and the true need for our highways, I made it known to the Governor many weeks ago of my support. 3-4 days should be all that is needed to pass this legislation and a couple of other items, including the age to marry, and this extraordinary session will be history.

Back To Blogging

I haven't been on the blog for quite a while. There are several reasons why and I've been plenty busy. But mostly I just kind of got out of the habit of getting on the computer and coming up with stuff to comment on. The break is over and there is plenty to talk about. Here's a few snippets.

Severance Tax- I don't know what the hold up is but we need to get this done and get it over with. It's evident that any ballot initiative will pass overwhelmingly and I would assume that the producers realize they will be better off if the Governor's proposal is enacted legislatively. I know some legislators seem to be waffling for whatever reason, and they're certainly free to do so, but in the end, I think the votes will be there and a special session is coming soon.

Opponent--I'll have a republican opponent, Evelyn Joyce Bradford, in the general election. She is the same lady who opposed me in the last election. I received 78% of the vote in 2006, but I'm not going to mail it in just because I won easily then. I'll be at all the auctions and knocking on doors, just like last time. I truly enjoy that part of the process. Good luck to Ms. Bradford and let's start our engines.

Personal Note--My good friend Scott Clark, an investigator with the State police, was wounded last Wednesday night in a shoot-out with a murder suspect, who was shot and killed in the fire-fight. I saw Scott at the hospital that night and he was doing ok, considering the circumstances. He is doing fine now, but will need some time to recuperate, both physically and emotionally. Frankie McJunkins, with the Hempstead County Sheriff's Department, and John Bishop of the State police, were also involved. Fortunately, neither was injured but will get a little time off to sort through the emotions of such a traumatic event. I mention this because all three are my friends, and each one is a true professional, who exhibited extraordinary bravery in an extremely tough situation.

Presidential Politics--The waters really seem to be getting muddied as the two Democrats slog through to the convention. Both have lost top campaign aides recently because of perceived slips of the tongue, that in my opinion, really didn't amount to much. However, they should have known better, simply because everybody who works with, or even knows these candidates, will be scrutinized under an intense microscope. It will all sort itself out in the next few months, but still too close to call.

Razorbacks--Arkansas to the sweet sixteen? Seems impossible I know. But I'll say this about this team, they can be very good or really mediocre. Which will it be? Your guess is as good as mine. Here's hoping the team that beat Vanderbilt, a #4 seed, and Tennessee, a #2, will show up against Indiana on Friday.

My Announcement

Someone called me last week and said they heard I wasn't going to run for re-election. Nothing could be further from the truth, and I want to put that rumor to rest. I' ll be making my formal announcement in a few days. There isn't any particular reason whyI haven't announced, other than I believe the process starts too early. If someone decides they want to run against me, then I doubt my announcing weeks ago would hold anyone off. I want to say that I am honored to be one of Arkansas's 100 State Representatives, and I am proud of the many accomplishments of the 86th general assembly. The 2009 session is just around the corner, and I want to continue learning and working as a state legislator. So I look forward to all the upcoming fire department fund-raisers, and everything else involved with the campaign season. I just think most folks don't want to fool with it before the time is right.

Emergency Funds

I will be at the Capitol on Tuesday, along with Mayor Bobby Steed of Blevins , to accept $9,000.00 in emergency funding from the Governor's office. The money will be used to replace that City's main water well pump that went out over the Christmas holidays. Blevins has been operating on a back-up system since then, and Governor Beebe has agreed to release that amount to the City. We appreciate the Governor and his staff recognizing the needs that many of our small towns have in their day to day operations. This money will allow Blevins to turn-key the project and have everything up and running shortly.

An Apology

Last July, on this blog, I described my trip to the Powder River Basin and touring the coal mines of that region. I also pointed out that the trip had been sponsored by the Arkansas Electric Cooperatives. I'm glad I made the trip and it provided me with a good bit of information on coal extraction and how each company reclaims the mined land. Unfortunately, the topic came up again this week when an Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reporter called and asked why I didn't show the trip on my annual Statement of Financial Interest. Simply put, I didn't realize I was supposed to include it. I immediately filed an amended report on February 14th, showing this as a gift on my statement. An article in Sunday's paper points out my mistake , along with several other legislators who apparently made the same error. I am personally embarrassed because I should have realized this needed to be on the original report that was due on January 31st. Although my July blog report and a subsequent statement during a civic club speech should show I didn't intend to deceive anyone about the trip, it is a mistake I shoudn't have made; and I apologize for that.

One Million Dollars

The 2:00 news conference at UACCH was a big announcement as expected. But I'm not sure anyone in the overflow crowd expected the one million dollars AEP- SWEPCO endowed to our local college. The money will be earmarked for scholarships that will train local students in the specialized skills needed for employment at the proposed Turk Power Plant. It puts to rest one of the theories by the intervenors, and those against the plant, that SWEPCO had no intention of hiring locally to fill out their work force. This is a big step to help home grown people learn skills for high end jobs, that ultimately makes Southwest Arkansas a better place to live and raise a family. It's been said here and many other places----AEP-SWEPCO has been, and will continue to be, an outstanding community partner for years to come.

UACCH Announcement

Congressman Mike Ross and University of Arkansas President, Dr. Alan Sugg, will be at UACCH today at 2:00 to accept a major endowment from AEP-SWEPCO. Even though the amount has not been made public, I am assured this donation to our college will be of historic proportion. I'll be there with many other local's to see exactly how historic this will be.

Tragedy In Our State

The deadly weather that ripped through our state and much of the South last night has created a tremendous hardship to thousands of Arkansans. We were extremely fortunate in Southwest Arkansas to have missed the brunt of this storm. The Governor toured the damaged areas this morning and mobilized National Guard troops to help in the recovery. Destruction of this magnitude probably reminds all of us of the catastrophic tornado that devastated Arkadelphia just more than a decade ago. Killer storms are a fact of life in Arkansas and sometimes even the best preparation is not enough to stave off nature's wrath. Many of us have friends and family affected by this tragedy, and hopefully, the federal government acts quickly to provide assistance. I know that our State Department of Emergency Management has been on site since last night. I promise to provide any help that may be required legislatively and personally. I know a multitude of prayers will help the thousands of our neighbors in distress; and we can continue providing for their needs by opening our hearts and even our checkbooks during this difficult time.

Super Tuesday Doings

I had a nice visit with Congressman Mike Ross this morning in Prescott. He and wife, Holly, along with several staff members, hosted a community coffee at the Nevada County Library. I appreciate his willingness to always help me out and he has done so many times. I will be with him on Saturday morning as we attend a fund-raiser for the Yerger museum, and again on Monday, for a special announcement at UACCH. He is an extraordinarily busy man, but really keeps a finger on the pulse of the communities he serves.



It was a treat to have lunch at the Catholic church here in Hope today, as they hosted their 50th annual spaghetti luncheon and supper. My good friend, Mary Massanelli, is the matriarch of this fund-raiser and she was on hand today, serving up smiles and her homemade spaghetti recipe. Good food and great fellowship always makes this a go to event.



I did make my way to the polls this morning and as always, enjoyed my visit with the poll workers at the Rocky Mound Baptist church. The process had you take a blue card for a Democratic ballot, red for Republican and green for the Green party ticket. I chose the blue card but I noticed the people in front chose red in order to vote in the Republican primary. That's no big deal to me, but I know these same folks will vote in the Democratic primary come May. Here's the question and I don't think it can be answered for sure. Do those people that cross over simply want to vote for McCain, Romney or Huckabee, or do they just not want to vote for Clinton or Obama? I suspect there may be a fair number wanting to vote for Huckabee. Arkansans are notorious for separating their local and national politicians, but I'm curious to see how Southwest Arkansas Democrats ultimately go in the Presidential race.

Vote On Tuesday

I'll be at the Rocky Mound Baptist Church at 8:00 on Tuesday morning to cast my vote in the Presidential primary. The little rural church outside of Hope provides a perfect setting to make my decision, and reminds me of days gone by; when Momma and Daddy would load all of us up so they could go and vote at the courthouse in Old Washington. I was 6 years old when my parents cast their ballots for John F. Kennedy to be their next President. It seems like a long time ago, but I remember it really seemed important to them back then, and it means a lot to me now.

Great Game!

What a Super Bowl. More often than not, the game is overshadowed by wardrobe malfunctions, crazy commercials, and just downright over-hype. This years halftime was tame enough, the commercials were boring and the hype was justified. The Manning escape and subsequent David Tyree helmet catch, will go down as Super Bowl history. And how many really thought the Giants had a prayer of scoring a TD when they went down 14-10 with 2:45 left? Not many I'll bet. But the 12 point underdogs wouldn't be denied and the result was one of the two or three greatest Super Bowls of all time. That's in my personal rankings of course, since I've seen them all. What's next, an exciting NBA finals? Nah. It hasn't been any fun since Bird and Magic left.

Super Bowl XLII

Here's a question for you. Do they still teach kids roman numerals? If they do, then most of the young whippersnappers will know this is the 42nd Super Bowl. If they don't, then those same whippersnappers will have to come to me, or a reasonable facsimile, to know what the archaic lettering means. They may be able to program a VCR, (which is obsolete anyway) and listen to music on any of those new fangled i-pods and mp3's, but thanks to my grade school teachers, I know the secrets of roman numerals, and I ain't telling any of them.

I know they don't care which Super Bowl this is, so I doubt my information is very valuable. Oh well. Now to the predicting. Expect a close game. Here's why. New England has created this perfect season not so much with superior talent, as with superior execution and a minimum of mistakes. As a result, it has led to record setting performances by Brady and Moss and brought them to the brink of history that only the 72 Dolphins can relate. The Patriots will perform well because they have to win this game to become a part of NFL lore. Having said all that, I believe the game will be close for many reasons. Number 1 is simply as you look back over the previous 3 Patriot Super Bowl wins, they did so by the skin of their teeth. Remember the Rams, Eagles and Panthers. Each game came down to the final minutes and both the Panthers and Eagles were big underdogs. Secondly, the Giants have used much the same recipe as the Patriots by limiting turn-overs and playing good defense. Eli has not turned the ball over in the play-offs and if that happens today then we'll see a good game. So what's the score?

The Patriots complete their historic 19-0 season and squeak by the Giants 30-24. Kevin Faulk, the superb 3rd down back, will walk away with the MVP, and Tom Brady walks away with a fourth ring and a supermodel girlfriend. Now I gotta go, because the most important part of Super Bowl Sunday is here---the Super pre-game meal.

Turk Appealed

The intervenors expected appeal of the PSC's decision in the SWEPCO power plant case was filed with the Arkansas Court of Appeals on Tuesday. The appeal itself should not halt progress on construction of the plant, but the pending decision by ADEQ on the air quality permit has in effect kept the construction process at a crawl. Only minor site preparation work can be done until a permit is issued or denied. The hope is that ADEQ can make their decision in the spring, and if it grants a permit, construction should be able to proceed at a faster clip. The intervening party's appeal was not a surprise to anyone following this case. Even though a major hurdle was cleared with the PSC's earlier decision, there are still some battles left before the Turk plant becomes a reality in Hempstead County.

And The Winner is....

Just a week away from Super Tuesday and your guess is as good as mine. This has been the most topsy turvy campaign season in my memory, and just when you've got it figured, well you don't. Great fun for political junkies though. Can Hillary rebound from South Carolina? Is our former Governor's momentum slowing to a crawl? Can the bonafide hero hold off the well monied governor? I can't say anything for sure except you better not count anybody out. Not even the Giants on Sunday. It's been that crazy of a year.

Special Session?

Who knows? There has been a fair amount of talk over the past week about the Governor calling a special session to deal with the severance tax issue. He speculated a few days ago that if he could get a consensus from lawmakers in favor of raising the current rate, he very well might call us into session. I doubted it then and after seeing reports over the week-end, I am fairly certain it won't be happening soon. My stance on the severance tax is simply that I believe the tax on extracting the gas has always been too low, but I'm having mixed emotions about jumping in and raising the tax now that the Fayetteville shale play is booming. I'd like to see a definitive plan on how much of an increase we're talking about and exactly where the money would go before I make a decision. I would also like some input from my constituents because ultimately, they could have the chance to vote on this very issue come November. I think that is the best solution since any action in the ledge will take a 3/4 majority, and in my opinion, that would be virtually impossible to do.

Tom Brokaw Had Him Pegged

A giant of a man will celebrate his 85th birthday on Saturday. I should say that the giant I'm talking about barely scrapes 5' 10'' and weighs in at maybe 175 lbs. Certainly not a giant by any standard. But you have to use a different measuring stick when you talk about those of "The Greatest Generation". It's important that you measure the life-long committments to their God, their Country and their Family. Plenty of skeptics will say those values are out-dated and even corny. Well no matter what they say, they can't deny that without the giants and great Americans like my father, Leland Powers, who fought to save our world during the 1940's, none of us would be where we are today. The old saying goes that many of us got to our stations in life by standing on the shoulders of giants. I know that's got to be true because I've been perched atop my Daddy's for way too long. I want to thank him for that and wish him the happiest birthday ever. I pray he knows that if he ever gets tired of holding me up, I would be honored to change places, so he can see forever one more time.

Treacherous Traveling

As I lit out for Little Rock this morning I really had no idea how dangerous the roadways were. The trip from Hope to LR normally takes about an hour and thirty minutes, and thats driving the speed limit. Today's jaunt to the Capitol was a three and one half hour exercise in driving hell. The low temps and falling rain made for a deadly combination. Sadly there was one reported fatality just past Arkadelphia this morning; and coming home this evening, I saw another wreck close to Malvern that may have been just as bad. Cars were littered all over the sides of I-30 today, and why it never sinks in for every driver to slow down and pay full attention to what they're doing is beyond me. I'm sure most folks don't want to be on the highways in these conditions, but if you have to be there, extreme caution in this type of weather has to be the rule.

Here And There

I attended a noon time celebration today honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, at the Providence Missionary Baptist church here in Hope. A good crowd was there and heard Congressman Mike Ross and Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, Angie Taylor, provide the keynote addresses. It was a good cross section of our community and I appreciate the opportunity to be involved.

Steve Harrrelson has an interesting spot on his blog about a Representative from Arizona who is introducing legislation aimed at penalizing those legislators who miss votes. The penalty being discussed is to dock the missing legislator a day's pay. His theory that being a legislator means voting your conscience and providing a voice for your constituents on each and every bill sounds reasonable to me. Having said that, no matter how reasonable it sounds, there are times when meetings can't be avoided and ultimately a decision on missing a vote or making a meeting has to be made. Those are not always easy decisions. I personally try to make all the votes and schedule meetings when we aren't in session. Though I don't think this type of legislation will be filed, if it were, exceptions on sickness and emergencies would have to be included.

The New England Patriots have been installed as 13 1/2 point favorites over the New York Giants in the upcoming Super Bowl. Here's my take on that---I believe the Giants have a better than outside shot to upset the perfect Patriots. The two weeks will give the Giants secondary a chance to heal up, and the Giants are one of the few teams that can put pressure on the QB without blitzing. Eli will have to play well and the Giants can't lose the turn-over battle. If all that happens, the game should be close, with the Giants having their shot.

Speaker-Elect Wills

The House convened yesterday to elect the Speaker of the House for the upcoming 2009 Session. Since Rep David Dunn withdrew his candidacy just before Christmas, it was really just a formality to make Rep. Robbie Wills (D)-Conway, our Speaker-elect. Robbie was allowed to make a 15 minute speech, and he did an excellent job of conveying his hopes and expectations to the 86 legislators gathered in the House chamber. I believe there will be some tough issues coming down the road as we near 2009; but after hearing the Speaker-elect describe his passion and respect for our institution of government, I am more confident than ever that Robbie Wills is the man for the job.

Harrelson's Got Video

My good friend in Texarkana, Rep. Steve Harrelson, has taken his blog to a new level with a weekly video report. I'm sure most everyone who takes the time to visit here probably knows about Steve's blog, Under the Dome. He is really the best at this blogging business and keeps everybody updated with what's going on. As I said back during the session when a TV reporter interviewed me about Steve's website--If you really want to know what's going on around the Capitol, just go to Harrelson's blog. Keep up the good work Steve.

And Down The Stretch They Come!

With the opening of Oaklawn Park just nine days away, it comes to mind that the best horse racing of the year may take place in the Democratic and Republican primaries. But who's the frontrunner as they slide down the backstretch and enter the final turn for home? I sure couldn't tell you. But I was so certain last August when Hillary and Mitt were putting up those big poll numbers. The truth is, that each one started with an inside trip on a speed favoring racetrack. Both shot quickly from the gate and had a big lead on the field as they headed into the first turn. Nothing or nobody was going to catch these fine tuned and well financed front runners. But wait--what's this--? It's 2008, and the Iowa winter takes its' toll on the track and turns the rail dirt heavy and soft. The inside is not the fast firm footing it was during late summer, and both juggernauts are starting to get leg weary. As the early leaders shorten their stride, a high strung 3 year old colt from Illinois lopes up to Hillary with long confident strides. Obama's pre-race stategy of being the agent of change has the young infield whipper-snappers slapping programs on their legs and screaming for their pick to take the lead. He does just that and sticks his head in front for the first time. The frenzied young-uns on the infield head for the windows to collect their bets. The swagger and overconfidence of youth won't serve them well on this day, because New Hampshire has given Hillary her second wind and now she charges back into the lead. Hillary's jockey, the wily veteran Bill, has his steed back in the race with a retooled message and a kinder, gentler persona. Separating himself from the rest of the pack is the fiery veteran campaigner, Lawyer John. But there's too much ground to make up and he'll have to settle for the show. Hillary and Obama race neck and neck for Super Duper Tuesday and it's gonna take a photo to pick the headbobbing winner. .
Back to the Republicans, it seems as if Iowa and New Hampshire have Mitt mired in the mud, with Thompson being left in the gate, and Rudy a late scratch. But on the outside you've got yourself a real horse race. The old iron horse, McCain, is using all the savvy he can muster to stave off the upset bid of the longest shot on the board, Huckabee. As McCain and Huckabee glide past the tiring early favorite, both are jockeying for position. Pundits and media type scurry around the grandstands, shaking their heads in amazement as they watch this race unfold. Huckabee uses Iowans and his everyman approach to forge to the lead. But McCain, a true American hero, has seen a lot tougher spots than this, and New Hampshire puts him on even terms with the upstart Arkansas bred. As they turn into the stretch, it's too close to call for both parties, so lets just sit back, have a corned beef, and enjoy our time at the races.

Happy New Year!

Best wishes for a Happy New Year and a big Thank You to everyone who has helped make this an unbelievable year for me. It is truly an honor to serve in the Arkansas House of Representatives with so many bright and thoughtful people, who I believe have the best interests of all Arkansans in their heart. May we all look forward and continue working toward what is best for our great State and Country.

Make Em So You Can Break Em!

I'm talking about those New Years resolutions everybody makes. Does anybody really follow through on their promises for the coming year? In most cases I'd say no, but every now and then, a few stout-hearted souls will stay the course. I say congrats to those who do, but I've never been very good at keeping them myself. In fact, most of mine don't even make it through the week. Here are a just a few of the things I've resolved over the years that just didn't have a chance. In 1978 I swore that I would quit getting so absorbed in football games to the point that I make myself look like a complete idiot. That one didn't even make it a whole day, as Arkansas stomped Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl 31-6, and I loudly proclaimed Lou Holtz to be the second coming of Knute Rockne and that Roland Sales might be the greatest running back ever to don a set of shoulder pads. And I won't even mention how many grown men I hugged that night. In 1983 I decided I would expand my horizons and learn a second language. Spanish seemed like the logical choice, so I bought a book and a record that both promised to have me speaking fluently in just a matter of weeks. Well I lost the book and broke the record, so at the end of the year the only spanish phrase I knew was "su madre es verde". Nothing wrong with the words but "Your mother is green" just doesn't keep a lot of conversations going. In 1988 I decided to make a concerted effort to quit cussing. Now I'm not a big user of profanity, but sometimes it's really handy when you need to make a point; so how ******* long do you think that one lasted? I really felt good about the resolution in 1995 when I decided that I would save on gas and help my cardiovascular system by riding my bike to work everyday. It was a good idea, but after a few days the winter of 95 hit Southwest Arkansas, and I'm just glad I wasn't a brass monkey. I should tell you that 2004 did bring a resolution I've been able to keep going since I made it. That was the year I vowed to never watch another reality show on television; and I'm very proud of the fact that I'm one of the few people who doesn't know who the survivors are, who got fired, who really is America's idol and who gets the bachelor . And that's a good thing; because if I had to watch them, I'd probably just start cussing.

Public Health Meeting

I drove to Batesville today and attended a meeting of the Joint Committee on Public Health. The meeting was called to discuss the funding options for a statewide network of Trauma Centers. Arkansas is the only state that doesn't have a Level 1 Trauma Center and everyone I've talked with believes the Trauma Network is a must for our state. Statistics show that trauma is the number 1 cause of death for Arkansans ages 1-40, and it is estimated that 300 to 600 lives a year could be saved. Of course the stumbling block is how do we fund the $25 million needed to get it going. Back during the Legislative session, the House passed a bill tying the funding to a $50 increase in DWI tickets. I supported the bill, but it died in the Senate when the Arkansas Municipal League lobbied hard against it, by pointing out that most Municipal Courts can't collect the fines already on the books. Having first hand experience in the Court system, I can see their point, but still believe some of the funding could come from that source. In fact, I think the funding stream needs to come from several different areas. Other states fund their Trauma Networks with license plate fees, auto insurance premiums, tobacco taxes and even from general revenues. At this time, I don't know if anyone has the best mechanism to fund the system, but we sure need to keep working and come up with a solution.

Merry Christmas To All

It's been a long day of shopping and before I go home and start wrapping the presents, I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. I pray that the hope and spirit of this special time of year, remains with you and your family as we step forward into 2008.

Potpourri for $100 Alex

I'm just going to throw out some miscellaneous stuff going on around me, and maybe a few thoughts bouncing around my brain. Should be harmless fun.

Congratulations to Representative Robbie Wills, (D)-Conway, who will be leading the House of Representatives as its Speaker in 2009. Representative David Dunn, (D)- Forrest City, made a gracious concession this week and formally bowed out of the race; leaving Rep. Wills as the lone candidate. Robbie will do a fine job as Speaker, and those I've talked with are pleased to have this race behind us, and anxious to get focused on the upcoming session, just a little more than a year away.

Of course there are the tiny matters of primary and general elections coming up before the 2009 session gets here. It truly seems like just yesterday that I was out campaigning to become one of our state's legislators. The time has flown by and I'm looking forward to the upcoming elections. It should be fun.

Vigi and I attended a holiday reception for legislators at the Governor's mansion last night. Governor and Mrs. Beebe were the perfect hosts as we all enjoyed the beautiful Christmas decorations and festive atmosphere in their home.

By the way, I haven't done a drop of Christmas shopping and more than likely won't get started until Sunday afternoon. That's just the way I've always done it and it really drives Vigi crazy. I contend that the longer I wait, the more focused I can be in selecting that perfect gift. In other words, I work better under pressure. My wife contends that I'm stupid. She probably has grounds there, but I really like the hustle and bustle of those last few hours.

Since I'm talking about Christmas eve, I'll give you my routine, because it hasn't changed in about 20 years. I usually get home around 5:00 or 6:00 and go upstairs to wrap the presents I've just bought. That usually takes a couple of hours, and then I put on my flannel pajamas. Hopefully it's not 75 degrees outside, so the flannels feel pretty good. Ok, if you're still with me, then I go downstairs and Vigi makes some egg nog. I grab a cup and retire to the den, get in the recliner and watch "A Christmas Story"
at least twice. I used to watch the Jimmy Stewart classic "It's a Wonderful Life", but Vigi made me switch movies several years back when I kept referring to her as Clarence. Anyway that's how I spend Christmas Eve, and I hope you enjoy yours as much as I do mine.

Sporting News

It was plain to see that this year's Heisman vote was a two man race between Tim Tebow and Darren Mcfadden. In my opinion, Mcfadden should have won the trophy, simply because of the unbelievable games he had on National TV against Alabama, South Carolina and LSU. You couldn't have watched any one of those games without saying this guy is the best player in the country. The Heisman voters may not have thought so, but the NFL knows. #5 will be a multi-millionaire in a matter of months. Good for him.

Hats off to the Nashville Scrappers on their 3rd consecutive state football championship. What's most impressive to me is the fact that the AAAA teams were, top to bottom, the strongest classification in the entire state. Billy Dawson has taken a very good program to unbelievable heights, and his 3 year reign as head coach can't get any better; unless of course he wins number 4 next year. We'll have to wait and see, but at this point I wouldn't bet against it.

On to the NFL, and remember, you heard it here first. Even though the Patriots will finish the regular season 16-0, they will be beaten in either the AFC championship game or the Super Bowl. More than likely the Super Bowl, since they will have home field through-out the play-offs. It certainly could be the Cowboys or Packers who knock them off, but there's an outside chance that the Seahawks will make it out of the NFC. The 72 Dolphins hallowed record will remain safe. You can mark my words, but no wagering, please.

Finally, whoever takes the Arkansas football job will not inherit a program that has to completely rebuild as some are projecting. Sure he will have to replace McFadden and Jones, but Michael Smith and Brandon Barnett are capable of being good SEC running backs. D-Mac and Felix only come around once in a lifetime. No matter what others say, Casey Dick had a solid year and will be better in 2008. The receivers should be improved, if only from experience; plus Ben Cleveland and Crosby Tuck will be back. The offensive line should be OK, especially if Luigs comes back for his senior year. Defensively, the front seven should be better with the experience and a year to grow. The real problem for this team will come in the secondary, where you lose Grant, Richardson, Hewitt and Woods. Good freshman class at the skill positions,(if they can keep it together), and an excellent kicker in Tejada, should help keep this team around 7-5 or 8-4; even with a more difficult schedule. The new coach probably gets a couple of years to get his system going, but I'm not buying that the cupboard is bare.

Support the 39th

As everyone knows, the 39th Brigade of the Arkansas National Guard, has been re-deployed to Iraq and will be leaving the states soon. Locally, the Family Readiness Group for Bravo Company, which includes Hope and Texarkana, is seeking donations to help with the Christmas going away party, to be held on December 21st. The FRG is made up of wives, mothers, grandmothers and children of the deployed soldiers. During the time their loved ones are gone, they send the soldiers care packages and coordinate activities for the families and provide whatever support is necessary. This is one group that truly deserves our thoughts,prayers and monetary help. They will be very appreciative for your kindness. To make a donation to the Family Readiness Group, send your check to: FRG, C/O Vicky Little, 500 West 23rd, Hope, Ar. 71801.

Lions Club Review

I mentioned in an earlier post how much I enjoyed attending the annual Lions Club auction. This year was no exception and I was there all 3 nights. I even got to do a little auctioneering myself. Great turn-out and a lot of money was raised for the club's charitable work. I bought a couple of items I probably didn't need when I outbid everyone on some hair care products and a chocolate snickers cake. Although I must say that Joyce Russell's Snickers cake was delicious, the truth is, I don't really have a reference for hair care stuff. At any rate, it was money well spent and I'll be over in Prescott on Friday night to help the Lions there.

Who's The Coach?

I don't have any idea who will end up calling the shots on the hill, but I can tell you I am impressed by the way that Reggie Herring has handled this very difficult situation. We tend to forget about what the players themselves have gone through with this coaching upheaval, and you just can't turn their emotions on and off like the proverbial faucet. But from what I've seen thus far, I think Reggie's going to have the Razorbacks ready to go on New Years day. Furthermore, if his team does show up big in the Cotton Bowl, I say give him every consideration for the head job. He may have earned that interview if he holds this team together. We could wait and see because of the dead period in recruiting, and I believe they're going to be relegated to an up and comer anyway. But you never know, Tommy Bowden is the name being thrown around today and Tuberville could get there yet.

Odds and Ends

It appears as of 3:00 p.m. that Houston Dale Nutt will step down as Arkansas's (Harrelson's spelling), head coach. Too much turmoil in the fan base will give us the opportunity to welcome in a coach who is either a supposed up and comer; or if Butch Davis doesn't come on board, then probably someone like Gary Patterson at TCU. Even though Houston hasn't announced his future plans as of yet, I believe he is headed to Ole Miss. We shall see.

One of the really fun things to do in Hempstead County comes up this week with the annual Hope Lions Club Auction. The 3 day event kicks off on Thursday night, at 6:00 here in Hope, at the Fair Park coliseum. This is the big fund-raiser for the local Lions club, and the community always gets behind it and has a great time. You can knock out quite a few names on that Christmas list, enjoy a fine homemade meal from the Lioness club and just flat dab have a good old time by bidding on everything from a haircut, to a ham o' meat, to a trip to Branson. I wouldn't miss this for the world and hope to see you there.

One more thing about the SWEPCO plant. There were so many local folks who really worked hard and were steadfast in their support of the plant, that I will probably offend some when I accidentally leave their name out in this note of thanks. No offense is intended, but here are a few who I believe went above and beyond the call of duty, in helping to get this project through---Former State Rep. Chris Thomason, who was involved from the start. Mayor Henry Hale of Fulton, was a tremendous ambassador for his community during this entire debate. Mayors James Conway of McNab and Dennis Ramsey of Hope. Hempstead County Economic Development Director Wesley Woodard was instrumental in this process and really did an outstanding job. Hempstead County Judge Wallace Martin was so solid from day one. Hope Water and Light's Jim Kirchoff provided a great deal of expertise through-out . Mark Keith, with the local Chamber of Commerce, was a staunch advocate with his letters to the PSC. Special thanks to Mike Cox, Wanda Koontz, Jessie Henry and Johnny Scott, the Fultonites I'll call them. Superintendents Kenneth Muldrew and Max Adcock. Mayor Horace Shipp of Texarkana and so many from Miller County were key with their support. My Legislative friends, Reps. Steve Harrelson-Texarkana, Larry Cowling-Foreman, Randy Stewart-Kirby, Scott Sullivan-Dequeen and Senator Barbara Horn of Ashdown. And to the thousands of folks in Southwest Arkansas who saw this opportunity presented and voiced their support in so many ways--Thank you for taking the future of Hempstead County in the right direction.

The Speaker's Race

A while back I posted my thoughts on the upcoming election for Speaker of the House. Now I realize this topic probably doesn't excite a lot of you, but choosing a Speaker has become an extremely competitive undertaking. In fact, whether or not your're on the winning side probably determines your power base and pecking order in the race for committee chairs. Once upon a time, the Speaker position was largely ceremonial; but now, most insiders will acknowledge that term limits has forever changed and dramatically increased the scope and power of wielding that gavel. Nowadays, the Speaker basically drives each session with committee appointments and assigning bills, which can have a major effect on whether certain pieces of legislation have any chance to succeed. That's simply the way it is, and whether that's good or bad, ultimately depends upon the Speaker.
Now that Representatives David Cook and David Rainey have dropped out of the race, I am one of those apparent few who are left uncommitted. I say apparent few, because it seems as if virtually everyone has made a committment at this point. I had committed to Rep. Cook long ago, and for legitimate reasons he has decided to take his name out of the hat. That leaves me with, what I believe is a very important decision. Representatives Robbie Wills and David Dunn are the two left vying for the job, and truthfully have been the front-runners from day one. I like both men and can see strengths for each one. Even though I am convinced that either one can and will handle the job; I will have to make a choice soon. I am leaning a certain way, but a bit more thought and reflection won't hurt my decision.

Happy Thanksgiving

As I write this on Wednesday evening and get ready to head home to a wonderful wife and share a Thanksgiving meal tomorrow with so many I love; I hope to never take for granted the multitude of blessings in my life. I'm a lucky man and I know it. My prayer is for those who, for whatever reason, might be struggling to make it through the holidays. I pray for your peace of mind until things get better and the patience to know that it will. I also think of our soldiers, so far away from families that love them dearly. I pray for their safe return. Best wishes to all and here's hoping you have the best Thanksgiving ever. Bubba

PSC Grants SWEPCO Permit

The long awaited PSC decision on SWEPCO'S Turk Power Plant came down this afternoon with a 2-1 majority decision from the commission. Chairman Suskie and Commissioner Bassett voted in favor of granting the Certificate of Environmental Compatibility and Public Need (CECPN), with acting Commissioner Newbern dissenting. Although this decision can certainly be appealed by the intervenors, it is my understanding that SWEPCO can and will proceed with construction at this time. I have been supportive of the power plant from the beginning and am very pleased with the decision to go forward. I believe strongly that this project will give a much needed economic boost to Hempstead County, and also keep electric rates manageable over the coming years. As I read the decision this afternoon, it was apparent that Justice Newbern's dissent was based primarily on global warming issues; and he called the decision of Suskie and Bassett, unconscionable. He basically sided with the intervenors position that coal was an unacceptable resource for energy production. Fortunately, Chairman Suskie and Commissioner Bassett took a more expansive view of the issue and factored in all the testimony regarding the environment, economic impact and the need for electricity. Whichever side you came down on before, is probably the opinion you will agree with after you read them. In the end, I believe the people of Southwest Arkansas will be much better off because of SWEPCO'S investment, and I look forward to the results.

Veterans Day

Sunday I attended the unveiling of the new Veterans monument in Nevada County. The monument is dedicated to all Nevada countians who have served in the military and honors their committment to our country. Congressman Mike Ross gave the keynote address to a good crowd of supporters gathered on the Nevada County courthouse lawn. Special thanks to Leadership Nevada County for undertaking the monument project and seeing it through. It provides a lasting reminder of all the sacrifices by our service men and women, along with their families, in keeping our freedoms intact.

A ceremony to honor our Veterans in Hempstead County was held on Monday at the courthouse. This holiday honors the true heroes in our community, and it is a special pleasure for me to visit with those WW II vets in attendance, and just say thank you to the perfectly named "greatest generation". We can never thank them enough.

Here's Johnnie

I'm talking about Representative Johnnie Roebuck, who will kick off her re-election campaign for District 20 on Tuesday, at the Western Sizzlin' in Arkadelphia, from 4:30-6:00 . Although I will have to hoof it back to Hope for the Governor's reception at 6:00, I'll be there as long as possible, to show my support for an outstanding legislator and friend.

Governor In Town

Governor Beebe will be here in Hope on Tuesday November 13th, to attend a reception and fund-raiser for the Henry Clay Yerger museum. The event will take place at the UACCH student union from 6-8 pm. The Governor voiced his support for the completion of this project in a meeting I attended last summer, and we look forward to having him here on Tuesday night

Kermit--I Hear Ya Brother

Kermit the Frog's proclamation that it's not easy being green came to mind last Saturday night at the Crossroads VFD fundraiser. What's my point? Just this--It ain't easy being bald. Crossroads always has a great turn-out for their barbeque and auction, which raises money for a well run fire department. I always enjoy spending for the cause by bidding on the home-made muscadine jelly and pear honey. In fact, I always buy it no matter the cost, and it's money well spent. But here's where the bald abuse comes in--There I was, just minding my own business, clutching 2 jars of jelly that would end up on Sunday mornings hot buttered biscuits; when all of a sudden, somebody pipes up that they'd give $100 to have the face painter put Vigi's name on the top of my head. Well, I'm proud of my wife, but I still had to go to wal-mart before I got home. So, in an effort to save face-- and my head too, I bid $110 not to be painted. The end result is they kept bidding it up, so I shelled out a healthy $225, just so I could walk into the grocery store with some sense of dignity. Whadda ya gonna do? Pay up and take it in stride that both frogs and bald guys have a few warts.

Rumor Mill

One of the rumors being floated out there is that SWEPCO paid myself and other legislators to attend the various PSC hearings. That is so much tripe it probably doesn't deserve a comment---but, I'll comment anyway. First of all, I attended five sessions and each time it came out of my own pocket. I know it's hard for those spreading the rumors to believe that there are other people in this world as honorable and committed as they are, but that is probably the arrogant and elitist attitude we are dealing with. They want what they want and are willing to say or do anything it takes to ensure they get their way. I have made no bones about my support for this plant and my support has always taken into consideration what is best for all concerned. I am firmly convinced this will be a huge economic step forward for Southwest Arkansas, and the environmental impact will be negligible to all concerned. Those in opposition to the plant may yet quash this project, and the hopes it brings to our area. Let's hope not, and continue our support of the Turk Power Plant.

Turk's Final Arguments

All sides got to lay it on the table at today's final arguments before the PSC. It's all in the hands of Chairman Suskie and Commissioner's Bassett and Newbern now. They have 60 days from today to render their decision whether SWEPCO is granted the permit to proceed. There was a nice contingent of locals in attendance to show their support. Senator Horn, along with Representatives Stewart, Cowling and myself were there to provide a legislative presence. It all boils down to this--Does this small number of hunting club members get to keep their ball and go home, or will our community and its' children have a chance at untold opportunities this project offers? The environmental collapse predicted at today's hearing was put into words by the intervenor's attorney when he told the commissioners that if they allowed this plant to be built, they would regret their decision in 20 years. He didn't say why the people in Gentry don't regret their power plant 30 years later, or why the environment there is as viable and beautiful as it was 30 years ago. They don't like that comparison because it doesn't suit their argument of ecological disaster. As I have said before, SWEPCO and the hunting club can live in harmony without the environment being compromised. You only need travel to Gentry and see for yourself.

Black Tie Affair

I've been to quite a few fire department fundraisers since I started down the political road and have always thought each one provided its' own unique flair. But the one I attended in Old Washington last Saturday night, pretty much tops the chart for being one of a kind. The black tie event with dinner provided, offered big band swing music and a concert by country singer, Johnny Lee. Senator Jim Hill and wife Charlotte, Representative Steve and Lori Harrelson, Representative Scott Sullivan and date Christie McQueen, along with Vigi and myself, filled out our table and we couldn't have had more fun. Best of all was the $43,000 raised for the Fire Department. What an unbelievable amount and night it was. Although, here's hoping I don't have to break out the tux for all my VFD's. But it's on the ready if needed.

Power Plant Arguments

Monday will find me in Little Rock once again as the Public Service Commission hears closing arguments concerning the SWEPCO Power Plant. Each side will have 30 minutes to make their case before the commissioner's and then it's just sit back and wait for the decision. The commission has 60 days from closing arguments to approve or deny the permit to proceed. I hope we can have a decision sooner than later, but I suspect they will take the maximum amount of time in what most certainly will be a monumental decision for Southwest Arkansas. In the end, I believe SWEPCO and the hunting clubs can co-exist quite well with little or no environmental impact to the area. I base that presumption on the evidence I saw at the 30 year old plant in Gentry, with all concerned being very happy for the industry being there. We will see if our state genuinely believes in economic progress or whether we're just giving lip service to making a better life for our children. I can certainly envision the rich and powerful hunting clubs being able to stop this project to protect their playground, but I'm holding out hope that the PSC enables the vast majority of Southwest Arkansas citizens to have a say in their future, and some day have a chance to enjoy the same prosperity enjoyed by the intervenors. Now we will wait.

Politics and Football

I will be in Little Rock on Thursday to attend a house caucus that will basically be a housecleaning session during the interim. There was talk of an amendment to the ethics rules in the House and now it appears that will not be presented at this time. There were a few legitimate concerns with changing the rules regarding lobbyist, but I didn't have any huge problems with the proposal and most likely would have voted for the change. It certainly would have created an uneven playing field with the Senate as far as ethics responsibility goes, but I'm in favor of showing voters a good faith effort in the House to promote ethics reform. It's a moot point now, but will surely surface again in 2009.

I'll be staying over to attend the Legislative Council meeting on Friday morning. Afterwards, I'll be hustling back to Hope to call the Hope-Fairview game for the TV station. I'm looking forward to seeing the 3 razorback commitments who play for Fairview. I saw them play last year and was particularly impressed with running back, DeAnthony Curtis, who I believe is the best player in the state. Sounds like a fun way to start the week-end.

The Week Ahead

October will be a busy month and it gets started this week. Tuesday I will be in Little Rock for a Public Health committee meeting at the Capitol. Wednesday morning I will start the day with Mark Keith's morning show on KHPA. I'll be on the air at 6:45 and intend to talk about the Turk power plant and whatever else is on Mr. Keith's mind. I always enjoy doing the radio spots. At noon I'll attend a luncheon with DHS and Court personnel. That evening the Arkansas Economic Development Commission will be meeting at Old Washington in the 1914 School, and I will welcome the commissioner's and their staff to Hempstead County. I'll hurry back to Hope and get to the television station so Randy and I can do "In the Pressbox" at 9:00. Thursday night the Farm Bureau will be hosting their annual banquet and I look forward to presenting James and Phil Thurman with a Legislative citation as the Farm Family of the Year. Friday will put me back in the Courthouse for a little office time, and that evening I'll be in the pressbox to call the bobcat game against Hot Springs. Lot's going on but I'm looking forward to all of it.

My World is Shaken

And yours will be too after I relate this sad tale. When I was young, I always had a few undeniable truths. Things I could count on and trust to be there, no matter what was going on around me. As examples, I've always known that Joe Dimaggio's 56 game hitting streak will never be broken, I always knew my parents loved me, no matter what I did, and, until today, I always thought Dear Abby dished out sage and well meaning advise to those unfortunate ones who felt like they needed to ask a lady they don't even know, how to handle life's curve balls. And she always seemed to give the right amount of hope and motherly discipline to the writer. Until this morning that is, when I opened up the paper and read this headline, "Classmates hear sour note when schoolgirl toots her horn". Now I will admit the headline hooked me into reading the column, because I thought it was probably some young band student having peer problems at school. Boy was I wrong. Here's the question from the young lady which I will paraphrase to save space. She explained that as she was sitting in class one day, feeling a bit "gassy" and afraid she might emit an unwanted odor at any moment, the teacher said something so funny that the entire classroom erupted in laughter. Well as you can probably guess, more than laughter erupted, and the noise from this uncomfortable social faux paus zeroed the other students in to more laughter and some expected crude remarks. The girl is way past embarrassment and asks Abby how she should have handled such a delicate situation. By the way, she signed off as "fragrant flower" from Kansas. Here is Abby's answer to the red faced Kansan,--- Dear Fragrant Flower, What happened to you has happened to everyone at one time or another. The way it's usually handled is by trying to ignore it, or by pointing to someone else and asking, "Did YOU expel gas?" However, since you were caught dead to rights and there was no escaping it, my advice is to just let the episode blow over.--- Well there you have it, Abby makes a funny by telling the flatulent teen to let it blow over. Now you know why my world has been turned upside down; you can't even trust Dear Abby anymore. Her advice is that when you cut one in class, the thing to do is point at somebody else and act like they did it. That's more like the advice I would have gotten from my 8th grade football coach. Where is Ann Landers when you need her? What's next? Is Heloise gonna tell us what to eat for more effective SBD's (Silent But Deadly's). You never know, but we better get these advice columnists in check or there'll be chaos in our classrooms.

More Power Plant News

As mentioned in an earlier post, I drove to Northwest Arkansas on Monday and toured the Flint Power Plant, which is a coal fired facility. Flint was built in 1978 and 30 years later it is still providing electricity with no signs of environmental damage. In fact, a panoramic view of the surrounding area shows a breathtaking snapshot of lakes and woodlands anyone could appreciate. I also toured the wild bird conservatory adjoining the plant site and noticed birds and plants in abundance with no discernable distress. The most encouraging thing I saw was the outstanding school facilities for this small town of less than 4000 people. No signs of smog, coal dust or anything remotely close to what the intervenors have been trying to convey to the PSC. The environment has continued to thrive and co-exist with the SWEPCO plant in Gentry, and I didn't see anything to indicate that the Turk plant will not be as good and assuredly better.

Fair Week

Like most of you who grew up in Arkansas, I have wonderful childhood memories of the fair coming to town. Well it's that time again and the district fair begins on Tuesday in Hope, with the parade kicking things off that evening at 6:00. I am honored to be the grand marshal of this years parade, and look forward to dusting off the ol' cowboy hat and boots. Kids love a parade and so do I. The midway as usual will be at fair park, with the rodeo commencing on Thursday night. Go have some fun.

Beginning of Houston's End

The Kentucky loss last night will probably be the legacy of Houston Nutt's decade as the razorback boss. Bad luck and an inability to put teams away when they have them down, has unfortunately put the hogs in a tough spot, and will likely end the 10 year reign of the home-grown Nutt. I believe the only scenario to save his job is an unlikely run of the table, and that seems remote, with the receivers and defense both looking less than SEC caliber. Possibly 9-3, with a loss to LSU would salvage things, but I think the powers that be are already making calls. But it is college football and crazier things have happened. I hope things can be turned around, but it's a longshot. We'll see.

Razorback Thoughts

The disappointment from the Alabama game will linger for awhile, or until they can beat a good team. We will see on Saturday because Kentucky has a very good team. This is not your Grandma's Kentucky team of old, that usually had one or two good players and gave you a pretty good game, only to lose in the end. They probably have the best QB in the country, along with receivers and running backs to boot. Arkansas will be all out to win this game. In my opinion, this is a make or break game for Houston and the razorbacks. If they win, I think it's very possible for them to go into the LSU game at 10-1. That is if injuries don't kill them. If they lose, it's going to be a rough year. It's all on the line Saturday night. Arkansas 48, Kentucky 35.

Flint Power Plant

On Monday I will travel to Northwest Arkansas and tour the coal fired power plant in Gentry. PSC Chairman Suskie, along with Commissioners Bassett and Newbern, toured this facility last Tuesday. They reportedly came away impressed with the positive public input from locals and the unabashed beauty of the surroundings. The fact that the Flint plant uses much older technology than the proposed plant in Hempstead county will put on line, should speak volumes to those predicting environmental collapse if the Turk plant is built. I am going to take a look myself, and hopefully will come away convinced even more that SWEPCO should be allowed to proceed

Power Plant Tour

I went along with the PSC commissioners and others yesterday as they toured the proposed Turk power plant site. Representatives Randy Stewart and Steve Harrelson accompanied me. We did not go along on the afternoon tour of the adjacent hunting club land, even though I would have loved to have seen the property. By all accounts it is a beautiful place. Unfortunately, 99.9% of Arkansans will never be able to see the supposed untouched hand of Mother Nature here in Hempstead county. Nor will any of us experience the breathtaking views or notice the unlimited wildlife patrolling those woods and streams. In other words, the overwhelming majority of our citizens will never experience anything remotely close to what these wealthy landowners see on a regular basis. To the victors go the spoils, and they obviously have the means to control their little corner of the world. I have no problem with their station in life and what they can afford. My problem, along with most everyone around here, is their self-serving opposition to a project that will, without question, positively impact the lives of thousands of everyday people in Southwest Arkansas. Why is it not possible to have both? Are they so steeped in science and knowledge that they know this plant will decimate the landscape or leave any noticeable imprint on our environment? The answer is they don't know. They think it might. What they think and what they know, are in my opinion, miles apart. In fact, the PSC staff and the ADEQ have both used scientific and federal guidelines to recommend this project proceed on its merit; and that AEP/SWEPCO be held to the standards set forth. Hopefully the commissioners will see fit and grant them license to do so, and everyone, on both sides, will benefit from the results.

Game Day

I believe every football fan in Arkansas is happy that the season opener is just a little more than two hours away. Maybe the action on the field will replace the off season turmoil for just a moment. I'm looking forward to tonight, but I doubt this will be a gimme game that the 24 point spread indicates. First of all, Troy is much better than people want to belive. Secondly, with all the talent at the running backs position, (and it has never been this deep and talented), I don't see any other area on this team that doesn't have unanswered questions. Will Casey Dick take a step forward from last season? Can the virtually untested wide receivers take up Monk's slack? Do the three new starters in the O-line have what it takes to bust those great runners? Defensively, we have just as many worries, with two new defensive ends, Ryan Powers starting for the first time at LB, Freddie Fairchild and Michael Grant coming off major knee surgery, and Jerrell Norton being a go to guy in the secondary. Special teams, never a strong suit with James Shibest at the helm, will have to break in a new punter and a fresman kicker. There is no doubt most of these questions will have to be answered with good results if Arkansas is to be successful this year. I think they will, just not the first game. Arkansas 30, Troy 24.

No Special Session

The failure to catch the incorrect language in the now famous marriage amendment has obviously put a bit of egg on all of our legislative faces. There will be no excuses here because one of us should have caught the error and we didn't. I will say though that I don't know a single legislator or anyone in the executive branch who wants our state scrutinized for its' legislature's mistakes. It is important not to compound the problem now, and I believe the governor made the right decision in refusing to call a special session to solve the problem. I remember very well Rep. Bond's presentation of the bill and the debate on the floor. It was clear that the intent of this legislation was to make 18 the age to marry. Then we have that infamous "not" inserted into the bill that none of us caught, and all of a sudden, anybody at any age with parental consent, could get hitched up. I agree completely with Governor Beebe, that no crisis exists here, and the county clerks will be able to handle this in good order until we can provide the legislative fix in 2009.

I Don't Like Mike

Personally, I am sick of the Michael Vick saga. It's easy to say now, but I have always believed Vick was overrated as a player and it is now abundantly clear he was way overrated as a person. While the NFL and the Falcons tried to make him the poster boy for the league, you can look back and see way too many red flags. Starting with his self serving chest pounding after he does what he is paid extravagantly to do, which is to make plays, the immaturity shows through. Go back to the infamous Ron Mexico incident where he used that alias during sexual encounters that resulted in a venereal disease to several young ladies. There was also the incident during a playoff game a few years ago when the Falcons were behind late in the game and he refused to go back in because it was too cold and his team was behind. What about giving the finger to your own fans. Then you had the marijuana laced water bottle incident at the airport. Obviously, he was far too immature to handle the eye popping money and over the top idol worship that comes a professional athlete's way. So anyone who is surprised that Michael Vick bankrolled and took part in these despicable crimes, really had plenty of warning signs to defer annointing him the second coming of Jim Thorpe.

Hillary

I just returned from Little Rock where I, along with several other legislators, had the privilege to meet with Senator Hillary Clinton. She did field questions and gave her thoughts on No Child Left Behind, Iraq, health care, alternative fuels and several other queries from the group. We had roughly an hour with the Senator and then she was off to a private fundraiser in LR. Earlier at the Capitol, she recieved a public endorsement from Governor Beebe, and he provided opening remarks to us citing his support and belief in her ability to handle the job. I enjoyed the opportunity to meet and talk with the probable Democratic nominee. If any of the other candidate's invite me to a meeting, I will be happy to attend.

Meetings Abound

As summer winds down the committee meetings are picking up. I will be attending the Legislative Council meeting in Little Rock on Friday and head back on Monday for Joint Retirement at 1:30. I'll stay over for a Public Health meeting on Tuesday and then it's back home for work on Wednesday and Thursday. Next Friday will put me in Hot Springs for an Aging, Children and Youth, Legislative and Military Affairs meeting. I'm very fortunate to be able to work around the goings on at the Capitol and continue to fulfill my obligations with the Juvenile Court. I enjoy both jobs.
I should mention that I, along with the other Democratic legislators, have been invited to meet with Senator Hillary Clinton on Monday afternoon. The meeting will take place at 4 p.m. in the Association of Counties building and this will be my first time to meet the former First Lady and current New York Senator. I look forward to hearing what she has to say, and hopefully she will field some of our questions in the process. I will let you know what transpires.

Analyzing Iowa

As a Democratic loyalist, maybe I shouldn't be spouting opinions on the Republican presidential race. But since I am a good Democrat, I'm compelled to share ideas. Former Governor, Mike Huckabee's strong showing in the Iowa straw poll will obviously infuse some much needed money into his campaign. Although most folks I've talked with still think Huckabee has no chance to cop the nomination from Mitt Romney or Rudy Giuliani, I'm not so sure. First of all, I do believe when it's all said and done, Romney's religion will bother more than a small number of those very conservatives who the Republicans claim they are after. Even though he is smart, handsome and casts a nice shadow, (make no mistake, looks are critical, and you'd have to go back to William Howard Taft for a fat president), Romney will have to account for Huckabee's folksy charm, quick wit and ability to communicate. If any candidate benefitted from Iowa, it was Huckabee. There is no doubt our former Guv has miles to go before he's really in the thick of things, but I just don't see Giuliani gaining momentum. In fact, Huckabee may be the only one, other than Romney, going in the right direction. They would all do well not to underestimate the preacher/politician from Hope. If I were handicapping the Republican race at this point, (and apparently I am), I'd have to make Huck the solid 6-1 third choice in the program, with a lot of smart money coming his way late. We shall see. As for me, well, I'm a Democrat.

Busy Saturday

The watermelon festival has come and gone for another year and I am officially declaring this one as the hottest ever. Even so, there were good crowds on each day, and as usual, folks seemed to have a good time. The Governor and Attorney General got here about 11:00 on Saturday and sliced some watermelons, along with a little handshaking before the big melon eating contest. As predicted in an earlier post, Vice-Mayor, David Johnson, took the title again. Oh well, I'll try some cross trainining next year. Thanks to the Governor and Attorney General, along with Representatives Cook, Sullivan and Harrelson for their participation.
After the festival doings on Saturday, I drove to Arkadelphia for the annual Clinton Day dinner at Henderson's Garrison Center. About 400 Democrats from throughout the state gathered for dinner and a keynote address from former Governor, Jim Guy Tucker. I enjoyed the evening and want to thank Rep. Johnnie Roebuck for the invitation.

School Board Resignation

I regret that state law will not allow me, as a sitting legislator, to seek re-election to my current school board position. Even though the law allowed me to run for and serve in the House of Representatives while completing my school board term, it is very clear in its language that I cannot seek to be re-elected to the board. My regret is that I truly enjoyed working on the board. I am certain it allowed me to see education issues from an important vantage point as a legislator. Even though September will mark my last formal meeting, I intend to continue my close relationship with Superintendent Muldrew and the other administrators and board members, to provide assistance in any way I can.

Public Comment On Power Plant

Yesterday was the day for public comment before the Public Service Commision regarding the proposed AEP-SWEPCO power plant. PSC Commissioners Paul Suskie, Darryl Basset, and David Newbern listened to roughly four hours of testimony from close to 40 speakers. Many more than that were in attendance as they heard 6 people voice their opposition to the plant, with the remainder all in favor of the project. Even though the supporters far outnumbered those 6 against, a forum was provided to express your point of view. As it always should be. I gave my five minute talk near the end of the day and voiced my support based on the overwhelming majority of my constituents who want this to happen, and also the fact that SWEPCO has an excellent history of being a good community partner and corporate citizen. In the end, I doubt that anything said yesterday is going to sway the commissioners in their decision; as the lawyers will have the last word, but I appreciated the opportunity.

Harrelson Honored

My good friend and seat-mate in the House, Steve Harrelson (D)-Texarkana, was honored by the Arkansas Circuit Clerks Association as its 2007 Legislator of the year. Steve worked hard in sponsoring legislation that will computerize all real property records in the circuit clerks offices and hopefully make things easier for everyone. Congratulations to an outstanding representative.

More Melonfest

If you want to check out the goings on at this weeks watermelon festival, go to http://www.hopechamberofcommerce.com and click on the schedule link and you'll be ready to go. As I mentioned in a previous post, Governor Beebe will be here Saturday, along with Lt. Governor Halter and Attorney General McDaniel. We will all be heading for a high noon showdown in the "politically correct watermelon eating contest". Nothing fancy here, you just have a bunch of politicos chomping a slice of watermelon as fast as they can and letting the seeds and juices go where they may. My advice to the Constitutional Officers though--harbor no illusions of winning; Hope Vice-Mayor, David Johnson, is the 3 time defending champion, and stakes his claim as the Tiger Woods of watermelon eating. Here's some further advice for those watching--stay off the front row. Old Gallagher fans would have a field day here.

Power Plant Debate

I will be in Little Rock on Thursday to testify before the Public Service Commission and voice my support for the proposed AEP-SWEPCO power plant. There has been a great deal of media attention and blog space dedicated to this issue. As well there should be. The lines have been drawn in the sand for this debate and both sides are very passionate in their beliefs.
The intervenors, aka: the hunting clubs adjacent to the proposed site; are adamantly opposed to any type of coal fired plant being built on that property, if my e-mail from one of its members is any indication. They base their concerns on the belief of dire consequences to the ecological balance and environment in this area. Those in support of the project will point to the economic windfall this plant could bring to Southwest Arkansas. The PSC is saddled with the task of determining whether this project should and will proceed.
I have been inundated with people's opinions about this issue, and they are overwhelmingly in favor of the project. That is not to say they believe AEP-SWEPCO should be given free reign to do anything it wants without regard for state and federal guidelines. It is the job of the EPA, ADEQ, PSC and any other acronym out there that regulates this industry, to ensure SWEPCO'S adherence to the rules. There are high powered attorneys on both sides, so expect this to draw out a little longer.

Festival Week

If it's August and hot, with football right around the corner, then you know the Watermelon Festival is upon us. The annual honoring of the melon kicks off this Thursday and runs through the week-end. I have too many memories and stories to tell regarding past festivals; but I can say that being a local boy has given me the opportunity to compete in arm wrestling, tug of wars, superstars competitions, tennis tournaments, watermelon eating, dog shows, watermelon olympics, 5k runs and plenty of stuff I've forgotten about over the past 30 years. When the festival was revived back in the mid seventies, it was really just a local gathering of a few hundred folks who came out to fair park for what seemed like a big picnic. Things have changed dramatically over the years. Those few hundred have turned into tens of thousands, and the organiztion needed to put this on is unbelievable. Mark Keith, with the Chamber of Commerce, does a wonderful job of organizing and promoting the event. So if you want great food, great music, plenty of home-town flavor and arts and crafts galore, then come to Hope for this week-ends world famous Watermelon Festival. I guarantee you two things; it'll be hot and it'll be fun.

Odds and Ends

I was in Little Rock today and met with Governor Beebe concerning grant possibilities to fund completion of the Henry Clay Yerger museum. It appears that grant money is available through the Department of Heritage and an application will be forthcoming at the proper time.

Speaking of the Governor, he will be in Hope at the watermelon festival on Saturday the 11th, to participate in the "politically correct watermelon eating contest". He will also be doing a little politicking himself, so if you want to have a word with the Governor, here's your chance.

I will be back in the capitol city on Wednesday for a presentation of $44,000.00 to UACCH for construction of a community walking trail to be located at the college. This is grant money from the Tobacco Settlement Commission that the college applied for and it will be awarded on Wednesday. This will make a nice addition to the campus and our community.

Here's my take on Barry Bonds and his quest to break Henry Aaron's record. I HATE IT!!!!
Hank Aaron was one of the all time good guys in the world of sports, who never complained or acted the prima donna. Bonds is a great player with or without steroids, but his wonderful ability and place in history will be muted by his lack of class and respect for the game. Hank will always be the home run king in my book.

Local Appointments

Governor Beebe announced today the appointment of two local people to state commissions. Hope Mayor, Dennis Ramsey, was appointed as a member to the newly created Arkansas Legislative Task Force on Criteria and Qualifications for Chiefs of Police. This task force was created by Act 287 of 2007 to detail and review the criteria and qualifications for Arkansas Chiefs of Police. They will report their findings to the 2009 legislature and the task force will be disbanded at that time.
Karen Massey, a Special Education Coordinator for the Southwest Educational Coop, was named as a member of the high profile Children's Behavioral Health Care Commission. This 20 member commission was created by Act 1593 of 2007 and will focus on improving the system of children's mental health care and treatment to hundreds of Arkansas families. This was the commission that Mrs. Beebe toured the state touting back in the spring and summer.
Congratulations to Dennis and Karen. I know both will do an outstanding job in their public service to our state. Also, thanks to our Governor for keeping Southwest Arkansas involved.

Speaker of the House

Many people believe that the second most powerful position in state government, right behind the governor, is the speaker of the house. I don't really disagree with that assessment and the race for speaker in 2009 has been hot and heavy for quite a while. The four announced candidates are Rep. David Cook (D)-Williford, Rep. David Dunn (D)- Forrest City, Rep. David Rainey (D)-Dumas and Rep. Robbie Wills (D)- Conway. I believe all four are good candidates and I like each one personally. The speaker election which is voted on by the 100 member House of Representatives, will take place on January 8th, 2008 in the House chamber. A great many of the House members have already committed to one of the four candidates and I have gone on record in supporting David Cook as the next speaker.
As I said, I believe all to be quality candidates, and my reasons for supporting Rep. Cook are many. First of all, I think David Cook is one of the premier education experts in all of state government. He reached out to this freshman legislator early on and included me in his Tuesday morning educational caucus. It was a great learning experience and allowed me an opportunity to absorb some of his passion and committment to our state. As a retired educator, David has effectively led thousands of young people and personnel in his years as a teacher, principal and Superintendent. I believe that background will provide him all the tools and insight needed to lead a pretty diverse group of 99 representatives.
His leadership style is low key, but organized and effective. Now don't think for a moment that this Vietnam veteran is some type of wallflower who doesn't speak his mind. I recall him standing awfully tall during the charter school debate, and that proved to me a willingness to fight for what he believes in. I consider that a very admirable trait. I also like the way he handles himself under pressure. The fact that he always kept his composure during a hot topic or debate, indicates to me an ability to handle the heat sure to come his way as speaker.
David has also been a successful businessman who knows the ins and outs of budgeting and priortizing needs. Most of all, I like his thoughtfulness on complex issues and the understanding that everything is not always as black and white as it seems. That quality enables him to always dig a little deeper before making tough decisions. In the end, they are all fine men, but I think David Cook is a natural leader who will make an excellent Speaker of the House.

Problems at DYS

I attended an Aging, Children and Youth committee meeting on Tuesday for discussion regarding the Division of Youth Services at Alexander. For those who don't know; DYS is, for lack of a better term, our juvenile prison system. At issue was the Divisions' non compliance of special education standards. The general feel of the committee seemed to be that everyone is tired of the talking and ready for some results. There are a number of problems at DYS, and I feel that anything done at this point will only apply a band-aid to a gaping wound. We can continue to grill the director of DHS, DYS and everyone involved, but I believe we will need to retool and rethink this entire agency before significant progress can be made. The first step should be regionalizing these facilities and equipping them with teachers and educational facilities suited for success. I believe our juvenile system, if done right, holds the key to success for thousands of young Arkansans who will only end up in the adult system if we don't get it turned around. I will say this for sure--the way we do it now doesn't work. Having said all that, I do have a positive feeling that the new director, Ron Angel, is going to give it his best shot, and we as legislators need to give him the opportunity to bring this monster under control.

Another Memorable Carnoustie

You don't see that headline very often. I'm speaking of the famed course in Scotland that hosted this years British Open. They just call it the Open Championship across the pond. I've made it known that there are few things I'd rather do than settle in for a good major championship; and in many ways the British is my favorite. The play-off between Padraig Harrington and Sergio Garcia really capped a great four day championship. You have to love the unpredictable weather, deep bunkers, undulating fairways and of course the gorse. If you don't know about gorse, then you haven't watched enough British Opens. As I've said before, there's nothing better than a hot cup of coffee and a soft recliner on that Sunday morning when the Open Championship comes around.

John Madden Got It Right

I may not hate to fly as much as the former Raiders coach, but I'm not far from it. In my case it's not the fear of flying, it's more the discomfort of flying. I just want to know who designed the seats in an airplane. I'm guessing that one of Judy Garland's munchkins went on to bigger and better things after the Wizard of Oz to became an aeronautical design engineer; whatever that is. Nobody I know fits comfortably in one of those seats. For sure I don't. Now let me be the first to admit, I'm what the old folks would call big boned. I could stand to lose a few. But jiminy christmas-- I'll never be 5' 8' 145 lbs. Seems to me that a guy could make some money with an airline that caters to those of us with the larger frames. All I need now are some deep pocket investors to realize my new business dream--"Big Butt Airlines."

Legislative Trip

I got back Tuesday night from a trip to Wyoming where myself and eight other legislators toured the Peabody Coal mines just outside Gillette. This is the company that will service the coal needs for the proposed AEP-SWEPCO power plant in Fulton. It was an interesting trip that provided insight into the process of coal extraction and how it is shipped throughout the country. Wyoming boasts the largest coal reserves in the United States and some of the largest in the world. We had an opportunity to sit with company executives and question them about the problems facing their industry; and also their take on environmental issues regarding coal fired power plants. Obviously they feel that technology has improved the process of burning coal, and believe the ultra super critical coal fired plant is an economical and enviromentally safe way to produce electricity. I asked a question regarding nuclear power and they acknowledged the need for continued growth in that sector of energy production. But they pointed out the time and money to incorporate nuclear plants will not be feasible for the near future and short term demands for electricity. The ultimate question on how to meet the demands of our energy consumption will depend on advances in technology and consumer conservation. Without question, both the consumer and producer are in this together. They just have to realize it. P.S. For full disclosure-- this trip was sponsored by the Arkansas Eletrical Cooperatives.

Busy Week

There has been a lot going on this week with meetings in Little Rock and back here at home. Tuesday I attended a Public Health committee hearing at UAMS. About 25 legislators were given a tour of the campus to see the new construction going on. One item on the agenda that gathered a lot of attention was the proposal of putting a satellite medical school in Northwest Arkansas. The data seems to support this step is needed to continue supplying Arkansas with doctors to every region of the state. The general consensus was to be supportive of the idea at this time and continue to study the feasibility of doing so.

Thursday I was in LR and met with an informal committe of mental health providers, educators and others who have an interest in improving the ever growing problem of juveniles and their families becoming involved in the court system. It was more or less a brainstorming session to try and get those who come in contact with these kids all on the same page. I believe a level of consistency is crucial to help stem the tide of delinquency, along with school and family problems. It was a productive meeting with several ideas and areas of concern coming forth.

I will be out of the state until next Tuesday, but will return that night to attend a Rural Development conference in Arkadelphia on the17th. The meeting will take place at the Clark County fairgrounds beginning at 6:00. This is a meeting for Clark and Nevada counties that is being sponsored by Sen. Malone, Reps. Roebuck, Hardy and myself. The Rural Development folks and several other state agencies will be there to provide information on how they can best assist our towns, municipalities and rural fire departments. Hope to have a good turn-out.

Turk Power Plant

There was a packed house last night at UACCH for the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality hearing on the proposed Turk Power Plant at Fulton. This hearing provided an opportunity for questions and public comment on the AEP-SWEPCO plant. There were plenty of both. Environmental concerns regarding the plants emissions of mercury and carbon dioxide were the focus of those who voiced opposition to the plant's construction. Economic opportunities was the basis of support for those in favor of the project. ADEQ and SWEPCO both had representatives there to answer questions. During the public comment section, Senator Horn and I both voiced our support for the plant's construction and operation. There is a great deal of passion on both sides of this issue, as I believe there should be. Questions about the environmental safety and quality should continue to be asked. AEP-SWEPCO and ADEQ should continue to provide the answers. I belive the company should and will be held to the state and federal standards regarding emissions and air quality. But to suggest that AEP pull up stakes and ditch this project without going through the entire process of checks and balances, is not a viable option in my opinion.

Where's Rufus?

The supposed new Seven Wonders of the World were named this weekend after 90 million votes were cast in an online poll for 21 sites. Here are the results:

The Great Wall of China
Petra in Jordan
Brazil's statue of Christ the Redeemer
Peru's Machu Picchu
Mexico's Chichen Itza pyramid
The Colosseum in Rome
India's Taj Mahal

I have no doubt all seven are deserving of the honor.

However, some may wonder if this christening of a new top 7 is a legitimate undertaking. Well this news release I found on the web should clear that up-- Lisbon, Portugal: A star studded announcement celebration for the new Seven Wonders of the World was held in Lisbon yesterday, with headliners Jennifer Lopez and Chaka Khan performing.-- Well there you go. Nothing validates centuries old man-made wonders like Chaka Khan does. (Chaka Khan Chaka Khan). Although, I personally would have replaced Jennifer Lopez with Patti LaBelle. That's just me though.

In the end, our grandchildren's children will know if these seven wonders stand the test of time. But before we all jump the gun and annoint this as the definitive list, a word of caution: Let's wait until the Coach's poll comes out.

In The Black

With a new fiscal year off and running, the Department of Finance and Administration reports the state surplus to be just over $1 billion. Most of that money is already accounted for, with almost half going to school facilities. According to the DF&A, when all is said and done, state government should begin the new budget cycle with roughly $112 million to spare. A rainy day fund if you will. Speaking of which, I endorsed a bill by Rep. Maloch back during the session to create just such a fund of $200 million with specific spending mechanisms tied to it. Even though it never got traction, I still believe that is a prudent plan and will be supporting similar legislation in the future. With the recently enacted tax cuts now in effect, and hopefully more coming in 2009, that $112 million is an encouraging sign.

Looking for Jobs

I attended an organizational meeting this morning with the Governor's Dislocated Worker Task Force, to address the recent loss of 137 jobs at Champion Parts here in Hope. This downsizing or layoff, whatever you choose to call it, is going to be a big hit to our local economy. It is imperative for those displaced workers to have every bit of information possible to find future employment and what the state can offer in helping them to do so. Representatives from several state agencies were at the meeting to develop a plan in reaching out and providing assistance to these workers. A workshop for the Champion workers has been set for Thursday July 19th, at UACCH, beginning at 9:00 that morning. Agencies offering services to the workers will be available that day, and hopefully, many of the 137 will be able to attend. The most disheartening aspect of the meeting was discovering the company's failure to cooperate with the agency's request for information to identify the workers. With their cooperation, valuable time could have been saved in identifying all those affected. The Task Force will now rely on mass advertising to get the word out about their services. It is always difficult when a company downsizes or closes down, but cooperation must come from all sides. Here's hoping it will.

Kudos to the First Lady

First lady Ginger Beebe has done a wonderful job of bringing focus to a very serious problem in Arkansas--children's mental health services. Her travels throughout the state, talking with dozens, if not hundreds of families caught up in this bureaucratic maze, was the subject of a front page story in this morning's Democrat Gazette. Act 1593 of 2007, created the Children's Behavioral Health Care Commission to determine ways we can shore up and improve services to so many Arkansas families. Mrs. Beebe will report her findings to the commission in the near future, and hopefully the commission will come forward with some definitive ideas to improve mental health services to these young Arkansans. Mrs. Beebe has the ball rolling in the right direction and it's no time to stop that momentum.