The Tolbert Report

Arkansas Lottery Executive Director Ernie Passailaigue presented his salary budget to the Lottery Commission Legislative Oversight Committee this morning. Passailaigue requested approval of a start up budget which included $3 million for salary for 88 positions. Two of these positions, the VP of Admin./COO and the VP Gaming Operations, were both list in the budget at $225,000. Passailaigue emphasized the need to balance hiring individuals with lottery experience with the desire to hire from within Arkansas. Passailiague admitted to the committee that most all of the upper level position will need to be imported from states that have an existing lottery. The recommended budget passed with only one no vote from Sen. Johnny Key, who have problems not only with the salary levels but with errors in the documentations submitted for approval.

Passailaigue expressed his strong desire to get the lottery in operations by October 29, 2009 saying that his reputation is on the online to do so. He even suggested that if he did not achieve this he “might as well go back to South Carolina.” He later distanced himself somewhat from this remark.

“Everybody will know if this is a success or failure,” said Passailaigue. “If it is a failure, nobody will not have to show me the door. If it is a success, I will give all the credit to our staff.”

During his remarks to the committee, Passailaigue commented that he feels the press has mainly been negative in their coverage of the lottery process, but he said he expected this was also the case in South Carolina until the scholarships began and then no one complained. He told me that he felt the press gets involved many times in things that are trivial, such as the issue of keno games. Referring the keno, he stopped short of saying he did not want keno games instead saying, “It’s not important to me… In the scheme of things, it is a 1 out of 100. In the scheme of things, Powerball is a 99 out of 100.” He said he could not understand why it is a big issue, but he now understands that it is.

When asked by the press about the salary level of the two employees in South Carolina who he desire to hire at the $225,00 level, he could not remember exactly what their salary level was but said he thinks it around the $130,000 to $140,000 range.

“I talk a little bit about South Carolina because I think because I think that gives you a roadmap to the future,” Passailaigue remarked. “But that’s history for me. I have left South Carolina and I’m in Arkansas.”

Rep. Vic Snyder appeared this afternoon on KARN to discuss his vote in favor of Cap and Trade with guest host David Sanders. Rep. Snyder insisted that his vote was a vote on conscience and that although the bill in not perfect it is better than nothing. “People who are critical of Cap and Trade have reason to be critical.” Snyder admitted. He said that in spite of those opposed to the energy bill that opposition is not universal. He cited Entergy as lobbying him strongly to vote for the bill leading him to override his constituents concerns. He went on the explain that he was alright with voting for the bill in spite the problem because “It will not become law” as he feels the Senate has not chance on passing it in its current form.

He could be right as the bill needs sixty votes to get through the Senate meaning the Democrats would have to get every vote in their caucus. In an Arkansas News Bureau article today, both Arkansas Senators have indicated that have reservations. Sen. Mark Pryor says he has never been a fan and said that the Cap and Trade legislation that European countries have passed does not work and has lead to jobs moving overseas. Sen. Pryor has concerns that the current bill would do the same for the United States. Sen. Blanche Lincoln was not as strong in her remarks but did say that she felt the House moved too quickly and the bill needs some improvement. She did indicate her desire to pass for some sort of climate change legislation.

UPDATE - David Meeks, who is seeking the Republican nomination to challenge Rep. Snyder, send me the following response….

“Apparently Congressman Snyder thinks higher electricity prices, lost jobs, and increased regulations are better then nothing. Most of the people he is supposed to be representing, including myself, know better.”

UPDATE II - The National Republican Congressional Committee released the ad above targeting Rep. Snyder’s Cap and Trade vote.  Does this mean the NRCC is going to be supporting Meeks or will a more establishment type of candidate be announcing soon.  Anybody talk to French Hill lately?

Rep. Dawn Creekmore gathered with a crowd of around 30 supporters on the lawn of the Saline County Courthouse to announce her candidacy for State Senate District 22, which includes Benton, Bryant, and Bauxite in Saline County. Creekmore currently represents State Representative District 27, which includes East End, but recently moved to Bauxite fueling speculation that she would be running for the state senate. Incumbent Sen. Shane Broadway is term limited and cannot run for re-election. This morning she made it official.

Creekmore told me she was running for state senate “because I have been very busy getting a lot of things done and I am not finished yet. There is still a lot of stuff to do and I want to continue that on.” She said that she would be continuing to focus on consumer protection, victim’s rights, and sexual offender legislation, issues she worked heavily on in the previous session. I ask Creekmore about her strategy coming on the heels Sen. Broadway who is very popular in the district. She said that she wished she could make a hologram so that she could be in as many place at the same time and Sen. Broadway was known for being but that she will just be herself and honest.

As a representative, Creekmore has been known as one of the more conservative Democrats including legislation such as the state ban on partial-birth abortion. She was one of the last Democrats to sign on to the tobacco tax increase after allegedly the leaders of her own Party threatened to kill several bills she was working including the partial birth abortion ban and victim’s right legislation.

Republican Rep. Dan Greenberg has announced his intent to run for the seat and former Republican Rep. Jeremy Hutchinson is also considering running. Former Rep. Dwight Fite is also rumored to be looking at a run although it is uncertain if he will run as a Democrat or as a Republican.

UPDATE – The full video of Creekmore’s announement is on the local MySaline blog.  In it, Creekmore praises Sen. Broadway and says she wants to continue his excellent representation.  She cites her bill enacting Juli’s Law which requires the collection of DNA after an arrest and is named after Juli Busken, a Benton native who was killed in 1996.

Attending the rally was Sen. Broadway’s wife Debbie, Rep. Steve Harrelson who is also running for the State Senate in Texarkana, and former Rep. Lamont Cornwell.  I spoke to Cornwell briefly and said he planned to support Creekmore in the race so I take it that means he is not running.

UPDATE II - A press release this morning alerts me that Creekmore has already drawn competition for the Democratic Primary. Todd Witham, a local small business owner and former U.S. Marine, has also announced that he will be running as well.  Witham grew up in Benton but now lives in West Little Rock (Yes, District 22 includes Benton, Bryant, Bauxite and part of West Little Rock.)  Witham and his wife Carol owns Woodland International Research Group and Inspiration Day Treatment, Inc. in Little Rock.

Van Buren attorney Kevin Holmes announced today that he will run for State Representative District 66 as a Republican.  The current representative is Republican Rick Green who is termed limited and is rumored to be considering running for the State Senate District 19 where he will likely face a hotly contest Republican primary. In the previous session, Rep. Green drew praise from some and criticism from other for many times siding with the Democrats on key votes such as the cigarette tax increase.

Holmes has is finishing up his second term on the Crawford County Quorum Court and is looking to bring that experience to the state legislature. 

“My core beliefs are that the government should be less involved in people’s daily lives,” Holmes said in a press release today. “As an attorney and small business owner, I see first hand the effect high taxes have on our families and I will continue my fight to keep taxes low … Smaller government, lower taxes, and more jobs, those are the commitments I’ve fought for on the Quorum Court and will strive to achieve while in the State Legislature.”

So far no one else has announced they are running for the seat.

Somewhere buried under the coverage of Michael Jackson and Mark Sanford, the Energy Bill (often called Cap and Trade Bill) was passed by a hair in the U.S. House of Representatives on Friday night with only one vote to spare. The bill sponsors hold that the bill will reduce greenhouse gasses by 17 percent in the next 11 years and is necessary to help save our planet. Opponents argue that the bill is unnecessary and will dramatically increase utility costs. The Congressional Budget Office estimated today that the bill with increase taxes by $872.8 billion.

The Arkansas Representatives were split on their votes with Rep. Berry, Boozman, and Ross voting against the bill and Rep. Snyder voting to give it the one plus needed votes for passage. Snyder told the Arkansas Democrat Gazette that he was persuaded to vote for the bill after reading it late Thursday with his son sleeping on the couch. He must be quite the reader the get through the 1,200 page bill with a 310 page amendment arriving at 3:00 am. Dick Morris has another idea about what happened. According to Morris, the bills passage was not in doubt; instead the Democrats were fighting over which Democrats facing difficult reelections would get to be one of the forty-four Democrats to vote against the bill. I guess Rep. Snyder either believes he is safe (Blake Rutherford tells me he borrowed the tie in the picture above from his potential opponent David Meeks!!!) or drew the short straw.

So now the bill heads to the Senate where it needs sixty votes to end debate and bring the bill up for a vote. With 40 Republicans and 57 Democrats, 2 Independents, and the Minnesota seats still unresolved, there is no doubt that Sen. Blanche Lincoln will be feeling the pressure on this one with her potential Republican opponents already bring up the issue. On his blog, Curtis Coleman calls the energy bill “the biggest and most unnecessary tax increase in American history.” Likewise, Tom Cox said during his Senate announcement that instead of cap and trade the bill should be called “the clean your clock bill” because it will hit the budgets of average American so hard.

As a key swing vote to reach the 60 needed in the full Senate as well as her membership on the Senate Energy Committee, there is little doubt the Sen. Lincoln will be directly in the crosshairs on this one.

Mike Huckabee last week announced his support for Florida Speaker of the House Marco Rubio’s U.S. Senate Campaign. This endorsement came as no surprise as not only did Rubio endorse Huckabee during the Presidential Primaries but is considered by most to be the more conservative candidate compared to his opponent Florida Governor Charlie Crist.

What is interesting is that the former Huckabee foe the Club for Growth is now considering lending its support for Rubio as well. Executive director David Keating tells the Washington Times that his group is not only impressed with Marco Rubio but also concerned about Crist’s state tax increase while governor and his support for the Obama stimulus plan. If you will recall, the Club for Growth ran major ad campaigns during the Presidential Primary targeted Huckabee as “a tax and spend Republican,” prompting Huckabee to begin referring to them as the “Club for Greed.” It appears likely we will see them run the same type attack ads in the Florida Senate Primary against Crist.

Gov. Crist is not without supporters however many are considered to be from the moderate Republican camp. Sen. John McCain has endorsed Crist, after Crist endorsed him a few days before the Florida Primary. Many believe this endorsement secured and Florida victory for McCain and therefore the Republican nomination. The National Republican Senatorial Committee has also endorsed Crist, which has drawn much criticism from conservative. “I thought that their endorsement not only was premature, but was outrageous, Gov. Huckabee told The Hill. “And they ought to get behind the guy who would do a whole lot more, in my mind, to unite and fire up Republicans, and that’s Marco Rubio.”

All this is shaping the Florida primary to be a key indicator as to which direction the Republican Party may move. Will the party seek to move toward the center with Gov. Crist or will they shift back to the conservative principles of Rubio.

Those who follow the social media scene in Arkansas are familiar with @BlakeRutherford of Blake’s Think Tank and with @JessicaDean of KATV’s interactive news feature “Choose Your News.” It seems that the two tweeters have sparked into a IRL (in real life) relationship. The Arkansas twittersphere was all a buzz last night with the news that the couple are now engaged to be married. Tweets for @rachaeldean (@JessicaDean’s sister – I think) and @JRLIII and @maryrutherford (@BlakeRutherford’s dad and sister) confirm the rumor that the nuptials are pending. Word on the Internet is the wedding will take place in October.

In all seriousness, congratulations guys. I am glad to know both of you and wish you a lifetime of happiness. We are looking forward to some blog posts and tweets on the details.  One note guys, time for a facebook status update.

Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty spoke to the Republican Party of Arkansas Governor’s Dinner tonight in Little Rock. Before his speech, he spoke briefly with the press which tonight consisted not only of the mainstream guys but also myself and David Kinkade of the Arkansas Project.

“My remarks tonight will be focused on ways to improve the Republican Party,” said Pawlenty. “We need it. We have not done very well in the last two election cycles. My speech will focus on our core beliefs and core values but applying them to the modern issues of our time.”

Gov. Pawlenty insteaded that this trip was not about laying groundwork for a future Presidential run, but instead he was here because he feels “strongly about the need to improve the party in Minnesota and across the country. I am going to accept invitation to go out and share my ideas and my energy to try and move the party forward and improve it. This is one of those efforts.”

Gov. Pawlenty addressed the impact of Gov. Mark Sanford of South Carolina on the Republican Party saying, “The situation involving Gov. Sanford is a sad one. My thoughts and prayers go out to Jenny and the family and I hope that as a family that can address and resolve those issue. But those kind of sad challenges are not limited to someone being a Republican or a Democrat.” When asked if Sanford should resign he said “that is going to have to be a decision for the people of South Carolina and Gov. Sanford to make.”

When asked about Gov. Huckabee’s prospects for the 2012 Presidential race (by me), Pawlenty said, “I love Gov. Huckabee. He is a friend of mine. And he and Janet are wonderful people. He knows that I am here and he welcomes that, and I would certainly welcome him to Minnesota. I consider him one of the best people in politics and in public service. He served this state so well as governor. I am just pleased and proud to call him a friend and Janet as well. My presence here has nothing to do with a concern about Gov. Huckabee.”

This afternoon, Curtis Coleman, a North Little Rock businessman who is thinking seriously about running for the U.S. Senate, spoke to the Central Arkansas Republican Club in Little Rock.  Coleman was nice enough to visit with me for a few minutes about his campaign.

Coleman said the main issue he sees facing us is what he perceives as the out of control spending taking place at the Federal level.  “We have got to more that just reduce the deficit.  The administration is talking about reducing the deficit and that means they are just not borrowing money as fast as they were.  We’ve got to reduce the debt.  We got to understand that the debt is a matter of national security.”

I asked Coleman to explain the comments he made earlier this week about needing “a visa and a shot” to travel to southeast Arkansas.  “First of all, I love the people of southeast Arkansas,” Coleman explained. “I was using that analogy to illustrate how diverse our cultures are in the state … We’ve got northwest Arkansas with the world’s largest retailer and the world’s largest poultry producer. We’ve got southeast Arkansas with its awesome agriculture and aquaculture. We’ve got northeast Arkansas with its fabulous agriculture. We make steel. We make glass.  You go to southwest Arkansas where we have forestry. We make concrete. We make tires … Each part of the state has its own unique issues and problems…We have got to understand the needs of the parts of the state.”

“The phrase I used ’shots and a visa’ meant nothing more than I’m leaving the country.  I’m going to another country.”  Coleman said his first response when he saw the reports was “incredulity,” then he was “heartbroken” that this was interrupted as meaning southeast Arkansas is like a third world country. “Let’s call (the comment) stupid,” Coleman said. “It is a thousand more times more likely that I am stupid than I am racist.”  Coleman went on to discuss in detail his south Arkansas roots and connections.

Coleman also discussed his strategy for his campaign.  Although he did not want to reveal his entire playbook, he said he is ready to “work like the dickens… from 4:00 AM to midnight” particularly after his formally declares as a candidate.

I also asked Coleman about his green tie which he said was to support the protesters in Iran.  “I have been watching the protests in Iran and my heart has been broken.”  He told me about a political rally he attended in Bella Vista, Arkansas in the 97 degree heat with four or five hundred people.  At the rally, he commented to his friend, “Right now there are people in Iran dying so that they can do what we are doing right now.”

Today’s Arkansas Times wrote about they believe to be yet another gaffe by an Arkansas Republican Senate candidate.  After my story on Kim Hendren’s “that Jew” remark, it seems that has become a sport with the Times as well as others picking up on Curtis Coleman’s “a visas and a shot” remark earlier this week.  The Times reports today on Cox saying that he seeks advice from the Bible. The Times writes…

A “tea party” candidate for the Senate, Tom Cox, told Little Rock supporters that he “will listen to you and do what the Bible tells me to do first and you guys second, and that’s how you’re supposed to live your life.” Whether that’s how private citizens are supposed to live their lives is debatable. That it’s not how elected officials are supposed to behave, not in the USA, is irrefutable. An American senator is obliged to listen to the Constitution, not the Bible. Government and religion are kept apart in America, and the country has flourished because of it. Government officials in Iran put religion first, if Cox wants to try for office there. The counting is not always reliable.

The remarks (see video clip above for the full context) were part of Cox’s criticism of our current Senators lack of response to constituents.  Cox was emphasizing that he would do a better job listening to the people back home saying, “When I get to Washington, DC, brothers and sisters of Arkansas, I’m going to listen to you. I going to be a different kind of honest Christian representative that you can be proud of.  And if I not doing the job, you bonk me on the head and oust me because I’m telling you right now, I’m giving you my word.  You can read these lips and I don’t need a teleprompter.  I will listen to you and I will do what the Bible tells me to do first and you guys second, and that’s the way you’re supposed to live your life.”

Major gaffe or political promise?  I will let you decide for yourself but I would not be surprised if other Arkansas media repeat the Times refrain before it is over.

UPDATE - Evidently, Seth Blomeley of the Arkansas Democrat Gazette (subscription required) find it controversial to listen to the Bible as well.  So much so that Blomeley showed up at the Central Arkansas Young Republican lunch last Thursday to press Cox on this issue.  Blomeley is always welcome but is not a regular attendee of the monthly lunch.  He writes in his article Saturday about how Cox might apply his Biblical worldview to his decisions as a U.S. Senator. 

Reading the article, one might get the impression that Cox is a religious extremist but that is not at all the impression I have from talking to him.  My impression is that Cox is just new to being a candidate and has not yet learned the art that more experienced politicians have of talking to reporters without saying anything at all.  For an example of that, see this clip of Sen. Lincoln, who is a master at this.