All Eyes On The Senate As Session Wraps Up

by Talk Business ([email protected]) 149 views 

With major budget bills, Congressional redistricting and an Insurance Department funding impasse resolved, all eyes now turn to the Arkansas State Senate for the General Assembly’s conclusion.

On Friday, the State Senate will take up the Revenue Stabilization Act (RSA) and the once-controversial Insurance Department budget. Both measures are expected to clear the chamber.

Congressional redistricting took a quirky turn when Sen. Kim Hendren (R-Gravette) objected to the second reading of HB 1322, Rep. Clark Hall’s (D-Marvell) "Fayetteville to the Fourth" redistricting map.

The parliamentary maneuver stalls delays the bill from appearing on the Senate State Agencies calendar. But the move would do little as the 4 Republican-4 Democrat Senate committee was already split on a Congressional redrawing plan.

An exact replica of the "Fayetteville to the Fourth" map was defeated in a Senate panel meeting early Thursday.

Talk Business sources in the Senate say that Senators were committed to delaying action on redistricting due to the lack of consensus. An adjournment resolution for the General Assembly allows legislators to deal with the issue when they return to sine die, or officially adjourn, on April 27.

That would allow Senators to negotiate a more palatable plan in the interim.

When the Senate recesses after tomorrow’s business, members plan to select a President Pro Temp-elect.  Sen. Robert Thompson (D-Paragould) and Sen. Larry Teague (D-Nashville) are vying for the top post in the State Senate. Sen. Michael Lamoureux (R-Russellville) has apparently withdrawn as a candidate.