LITTLE ROCK — A group named Conservative Arkansas has asked Arkansas lawmakers to sign a pledge that they will not accept reimbursements for expenses they did not incur. The “Arkansas legislator expense reimbursement pledge” has few takers, so far.
Under the pledge, a lawmaker commits to billing the state for only direct expenses incurred in the performance of his duties, to comply with Internal Revenue Service standards and to provide documentation of each expense claimed.
He also pledges that he will not seek reimbursement for expenses in months in which he does not incur them in the performance of his duties, that neither he nor any family member will bill the state for “political consulting or other services related to ... legislative duties,” and that he will accept only mileage and per-diem amounts that are “earned” and “will accept no greater fixed-rate payment in lieu thereof.”
Only a handful of legislators have signed it: Reps. Charlie Collins, R-Fayetteville; Justin Harris, R-West Fork; Garry Smith, D-Camden; and Jon Woods, R-Springdale (though Smith said he has rescinded his); and Sens. Bill Pritchard, RElkins, and Cecile Bledsoe, R-Rogers.
Harris cut the amount in his legislative services contract with his Online LLC from $1,200 a month to $200 a month, effective June 1, but he has not filed for April-through-August reimbursement, according to House records. Harris said he plans to seek reimbursement for $400 for June and July with an itemized list of expenses.
Pritchard and Woods are both seeking the Republican nomination in Senate District 7 in 2012.
Woods said he signed the pledge because he decided “it was the right thing to do. My conscience tells me that we need to itemize each expense” rather than contracting with his firm, Woods Enterprises, for legislative support services, he said.
Pritchard, who contracts through Razorback Rentals LLC - in which he and his daughter are business partners - for legislative support services, said he initially decided not to sign the pledge, then changed his mind.
After reading the pledge, “I am confident that I am in compliance with the Arkansas Constitution and governing statutes,” he said.“Therefore, I signed the pledge and will continue to be certain that I am in compliance with the letter and spirit of the law.”
Smith, who said he is seeking the Democratic nomination in Senate District 27, said he acted “in haste in signing it in the first place,” and his attorney asked him to take his name off the pledge.
“I don’t think there is anything wrong” with the existing reimbursement system under which he contracts with his business to provide an office location, an answering service through his wife, and other services, he said.
“Do you think only the rich people should serve the people of Arkansas?” Smith asked a reporter, as did several legislators when they were questioned about their legislative expenses reimbursements.
Front Section, Pages 7 on 09/18/2011