The Tolbert Report

The Conservative Political Action Conference conducted a straw poll of 1,757 participants asking their preference for the Republican nominee for 2012. I am not sure if the results tell us more about who Conservatives favor or who attended the conference. But with 20% of the vote, Mitt Romney came in first, followed by Bobby Jindal in second with 14%, and Sarah Palin and Ron Paul at 13%. The always popular with conservatives Newt Gingrich was close behind with 10% of the attendees choosing him. My top choice was preferred by a disappointing but respectable 7%.

Here is a little bit better video than the one I posted yesterday of Mike Huckabee speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference on Thursday.  He starts out with the MSNBC joke for those of you wondering about that.  There is also three more parts which you can watch by clicking here.

Earlier this week the Arkansas House passed HB1339, a bill to end Arkansas’ participation in the Electoral College.  If passed by Arkansas and by a majority of the states based on ironically electoral votes, Arkansas would agree to cast their electoral votes for whoever won the national popular vote. 

Tolbert Report contributor Brett Hooton wrote an excellent post a couple weeks ago on how this would dramatically weaken Arkansas’ Presidential votes.  In addition, I am not sure if this measure could withstand a constitutional challenge as this is attempt to modify a system established by the Federal Constitution through contract between the states.  However, these issues were ignored by 56 House Democrats who seek to reverse a trend in Arkansas of casting our Electoral Votes for the Republican candidate, as we have done in five of the last seven Presidential elections; the only exception being for Bill Clinton in 1992 and 1996.

The bill is likely to be taken up by the Senate State Agencies and Government Affairs Committee next week, which could determine the fate of the bill where it needs five votes out of the eight member committee.  I spoke with committee member Sen. Gilbert Baker this morning regarding this bill.  Baker told me that he is not sure exactly when the bill will be brought up but he plans to oppose it when it is.  “I strongly support the current Electoral College system because it has served us well for over two centuries and helps small states like Arkansas remain viable in Presidential elections,” Baker said.

Also, Committee Chairman Sen. Steve Farris will be on Dave Elswick’s program on KARN this afternoon around 2:30.  Elswick’s tells the Tolbert Report that he plans to discuss this bill with Farris and hopes to shed some light on the bill’s chances in committee.  Tune in on 102.9 FM, 920 AM, or listen online.

The Tolbert Report has messages in all the members of the committee and will post their position on the bill as I hear back.

UPDATE – Sen. Farris said he plans to oppose the bill in committee and feels like he has at least five votes against the bill’s passage.

It appears that the House Committee on State Agencies and Governmental Affairs will consider HJR1014, the Equal Right Amendment (ERA) this morning. This is one of those bills that keep coming up every year in the legislature. The deadline to ratify the ERA passed in 1979 but that has not stopped it supporters from bring it up every chance they get.

An inside source tells me that the Amendment is likely to fail this morning in committee but that the votes will be close. In fact, it is close enough that it has raised the interest of national conservative groups. Just this morning, I receive the following email for the American Family Association.

Bills to ratify the Federal Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) have been filed in the Arkansas Senate and the Arkansas House. Sponsors of these bills already have numerous co-sponsors, and this number will continue to grow unless they hear from you. It is vital that you contact your State Senator and your State Representative immediately. Ask them to vote against ratification of the Federal Equal Rights Amendment (HJR1014 in the House and SJR12 in the Senate).

There are good reasons it has been 32 years since any state ratified this amendment. There are good reasons 5 states have repealed their ratification of this amendment. Here are some good reasons to oppose ERA:

1. The proposed Federal Equal Rights Amendment would make all state and federal laws gender neutral. Since laws could no longer be based on gender, Arkansas’ law defining marriage as the union of a man and a woman would be in serious jeopardy.
2. Restrictions on abortions would likely be ruled as discrimination against women, since they are the only ones who have abortions.
3. A Federal Equal Rights Amendment would be used to attack same-sex organizations like the Boy Scouts of America for “discrimination”.
4. It would create issues regarding the drafting of women into the military and female soldiers serving in combat.
5. Insurance companies might not be able to set different rates for men and women.
6. Fraternities, sororities, and all-male or all-female schools would be in serious jeopardy.

UPDATE – ERA supporters sensing that they did not have enough votes to pass committee (maybe they are Tolbert Report readers), postponed the hearing until a later date.

I just returned for the Little Rock HuckPAC event at Larry’s Pizza West where a crowd of around thirty Huckabee supporters got together to meet one another over pizza. Mark Darr, host of the event, spoke about how he was inspired by Gov. Huckabee to get involved in politics and that he will soon be forming an exploratory committee to consider running for lieutenant governor.

We watched a brief video from Gov. Huckabee, which featured not only the governor but Arkansas Senator Gilbert Baker as well. It was a laid back fun event and it was fun to catch up with some of the other volunteers and staff members from Huckabee’s Presidential Campaign.

David Sander’s February episode of his AETN program “Unconventional Wisdom” is oddly enough not on AETN.  But through the miracle of the new media and embedded video, it is here for your viewing pleasure.  Sanders brings in the some, but not obviously not all, of the greatest that the Arkansas blogosphere has to offer with David Kinkade, Lance Turner, and Zack Stovall.

You can skip to about 16 and half minutes into the video to see the blogger round table, unless you want to hear Sanders talk to Mike Masterson from something called a newspaper (I will have to check my history books to see what that is). Also note that, for some unknown reason, the video cuts off right in the middle of Sanders talking about Bill Halter at the 28 minute mark. Go figure.

HuckPAC, Mike Huckabee’s Political Action Committee, will host HuckPAC House Parties this Thursday night around the county. The HuckPAC website has the full list but five House Parties are scheduled around Arkansas in Little Rock, Paragould, Harrison, Fort Smith, and W. Knoxville. The Little Rock House Party will be at Larry’s Pizza West on Highway 10 at 7:00.

According to Gov. Huckabee, this is  “a nationwide effort to encourage Huck PAC supporters to head out into their community and meet one another, learn about the National Volunteer Team and watch a special video I plan on recording to talk about the future of our new National Volunteer Team, President Obama and the path ahead for conservatives.”

So if you would like to find out more about joining Team Huck and also get a chance to meet the guy behind the flip cam (me), come on out to Larry’s Pizza West tonight at 7:00.  It will be fun!

If you are planning to attend, please RSVP to katiebeth.harris@mikehuckabee.com so that we can make sure there is enough pizza.  (By the way, Larry’s Pizza is GOOOOOD pizza.)

Sen. Blanche Lincoln posts on her new “Blanche for Senate” website that Vice President Joe Biden will be taking a break from overseeing the doling out of the stimulus funds to come to Little Rock and stump for money for her Senatorial Campaign. The lunch fundraiser will take place at the Peabody Hotel on March 14 and $150 will get you in the door. I wonder if I promise not to eat if they will let me in the door with my flip cam.

Sen. Lincoln’s Press Release quotes her as saying, “The vice president’s values are consistent with the values of most Arkansas families and I look forward to welcoming him to Little Rock next month.”

I asked potential Senate opponent Tim Griffin for reaction and he said, “In 2007, the non-partisan National Journal ranked Joe Biden the 3rd most liberal senator in the U.S. Senate, even more liberal than Socialist Bernie Sanders. Sen. Lincoln should feel right at home with Vice President Biden.” I asked Griffin is he would be in town that day and he said, “I won’t be in town for the liberal lovefest. I will be on Army duty.”

Rep. Jon Woods (R-Springdale) sends along this commentary on HB1451 explaining why it is a tax that will hit the budgets of everyday Arkansans.

This is a wholesale tax, called a “fee,” on milk.

The impact of this tax, in terms of total number of Arkansans who will be impacted, will be greater than most taxes, even income taxes.

This is because virtually every Arkansan buys milk. Many people are exempted from other kinds of taxes. For example, there are plenty of Arkansans who pay no income tax because of low income, high credits, or exemptions. Just about everyone buys milk and their costs just went up with this bill.

And it’s a fundamental rule of economics that the tax accessed at the wholesale level will be passed onto the consumer.

The new money will be deposited into the state treasury. This is a tax.

Furthermore, this bill is just about government picking certain winners and losers in the marketplace, rather than those successes being determined by the markets based on things like price, quality and efficiency.

Examples of this protectionism are:

1. The fact that new entrants into the milk market are prohibited from receiving these payments for one year. If the bill really is to “stimulate” and “protect” milk production in Arkansas, wouldn’t you want to “stimulate” and encourage more milk producers to start up in the state? Of course you would. But when your real motivation is to line the pockets of existing producers, you add provisions like this to actually keep new comers out of the market.

2. Also, the bill builds in a set, artificial 30% profit margin for the producers as compared to neighboring states. Why is the calculation based on 70% of the neighboring states costs? If you are going to do a program like this at all, shouldn’t you require the Arkansas producers be at least as efficient as their neighbors? They should do what they can to become more efficient, at least at the same levels of people in near by states. And if they still can’t compete then perhaps you look at support programs. But using the artificial 70% figure just lines the producers’ pockets.

It has been an interesting few days for the Tolbert Report. Only days after David Kinkade broke the news that I was the leading candidate for the executive director of the Republican Party of Arkansas based solely on my flip camming ability, Democrat Majority Leader Representative Steve Harrelson names a bill in my honor. All that is left is Speaker Robbie Wills presenting me the Ray Smith Award and my work here is complete.

Rep. Harrelson filed HB1611 this afternoon, which he refers to on his blog as “The Jason Tolbert Transparency Act of 2009.” The Act will open up the House Committee meetings to being broadcast on the internet so that for anyone with a computer to see. This is the standard practice in most state legislature now and it is really a major step to making the legislative process much more transparent. Most of the real debate on bills takes place within the committees. In these meetings, sponsors present their bill and take questions for committee members on it, committee members will discuss and debate the measures merit, and members of the public have the opportunity to openly advocate for or against the bill. Some people find these meetings mundane but I believe they are our representative democracy in action. These meetings, this open public debate among representatives we elect is what makes our government the best on earth.

So you ask, why did Rep. Harrelson attach my name to this? Two reasons. First, it is an issue I have chewed his ear off about every chance I get. Harrelson’s blog “Under the Dome” is one of the best political blogs in the state. In spite of being from different parties, Rep. Harrelson and I agree that the legislative process works best when it is open and that technology helps enable this like never before.

Second, I may be one of the reasons that some state legislators are now open to the idea. Many legislators are sick of seeing my flip cam pulled out in their committee meeting and in their face during interviews in the halls of the state capital. They know if they broadcast on the internet they can get rid me and more importantly my flip cam.  (Note – Actually most all of the legislators have been really great about me and flip cam showing up at the capital.)

Thank you Rep. Harrelson for filing this bill. I hope it will not only be passed but implemented fully.  I can’t wait until I can watch the legislative debates from the comfort of my laptop.

…

UPDATE – The Jason Tolbert Transparency Act (JTTA) is on the CYN Poll for tomorrow’s story.  So go vote it up! 

Result - We lost to “Weather Woman” Carol Allen and her powerful lobby of the Clinton School’s Skip Rutherford. Why Skip Rutherford is trying to keep Arkansas legislative sessions offline is a question Clinton conspiracy theorists will be debating in chat rooms for days to come. 

The Arkansas Project rubs salt in the wound.