In the Nov. 6 general election, an experienced member of the state House of Representatives faces an opponent who was working as a cancer researcher a year ago.
Incumbent Rep. Andy Davis, R-Little Rock, has held the District 31 seat for the past six years. His opponent, Democrat Randy Haun, spent almost 22 years working at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences before losing his job in January when UAMS laid off 258 people, citing budget shortfalls.
"I started looking at the deficit, and I learned it was partly because the state doesn't adequately fund UAMS," said Haun, adding that the discovery led him to run for office. "The campus has grown substantially over the years, but funding has stayed stagnant and even dropped off."
Davis said he has helped the Legislature make progress on improving state government during his time as a representative.
[2018 ELECTION: Full Democrat-Gazette coverage of Arkansas races]
"We are making things more efficient and more transparent," he said. "I am also a champion of smart tax reform that will attract jobs. I have done what I said I would do."
House members serve two-year terms with an annual salary of $41,000. District 31 covers parts of Little Rock, as well as the rural areas outside Little Rock including Avilla, Northpoint and Kentucky.
One of the major differences between Davis and Haun is their views on Arkansas Works, the state's Medicaid expansion program that provides health care coverage to low-income households.
In June, Arkansas became the first state to implement a work requirement for a portion of its Medicaid recipients. Thousands of Arkansas Works enrollees have lost their insurance coverage because of their failure to comply with the requirement to visit a state website to report their work hours or an exemption.
Haun said he opposes the new requirement, noting that a significant portion of the district covers rural areas where some people might not have Internet access and might not understand the new rules.
"We have a lot of hard-working Arkansans who have health insurance for the first time, and now they might lose it," he said. "It doesn't make sense, especially if we are cutting health care to compensate for tax cuts on the rich."
Haun said he was diagnosed with cancer in 2016.
"As a cancer survivor, I know firsthand why having accessible and affordable health care is so crucial," he said. "I personally know how important health insurance is, and I can't imagine being without it."
Davis said he favors Arkansas Works and its work requirement.
"I believe people who are able-bodied should be making an effort to find work or doing volunteer service, which is also an option under this program," Davis said.
Davis said he also supports Gov. Asa Hutchinson's recent proposal to cut individual income taxes in an effort to reduce the number of tax tables from three to one and gradually cut the state's rate from 6.9 percent to 5.9 percent.
The proposal is estimated to reduce revenue by $192 million a year, and would increase the standard deduction from $2,000 to $6,800 for single taxpayers and from $4,400 to $13,600 for married taxpayers. The increases would offset the higher individual income tax rates on some taxpayers, according to state officials.
"It will make us more competitive and attractive to businesses," David said. "These business have flatly told us before that we are one of the more difficult states to deal with because of our tax."
Haun said he isn't opposed to tax cuts or changing the tax code, as long it doesn't come at the cost of the poor.
"If we have a lot of money laying around, then I am not opposed to a tax cut, but tax cuts just for the mantra of tax cuts is not a policy," he said. "What government service are you going to give up to fund a tax cut?"
Davis said he wouldn't rule out a tax increase to pay for highways, but he said he would need to see some changes first.
"I would need to see some reforms in how the money is being used now," Davis said. "I would also like to see recommendations by our tax task force completed beforehand."
Haun said the state's highways and infrastructure are in rough shape, but that a tax increase might not be the only solution.
"We can look into different revenue streams," Haun said. "If the casino proposal goes through, then that is another income stream, and when or if marijuana is made legal, then that is another revenue stream.
"Those are some other options to consider instead of a tax increase."
Both candidates expressed concern over Issue 4, the proposed constitutional amendment that would authorize the state to issue four casino licenses. If passed, it would clear the way for expanded operations at Oaklawn Racing and Gaming in Garland County and Southland Park Gaming and Racing in Crittenden County, as well as allow casinos in Jefferson and Pope counties.
Even though casino operations could lead to an additional revenue stream for the state, Haun said he isn't a fan of the proposed amendment.
"The thing I dislike right now is the mechanics of how it's set up," he said. "It should be competitive. Why not open it up and let everyone in the state participate? Right now the deck seems to be stacked against competition.
"In its current state there is too much of a chance for abuse and corruption."
Davis said he is morally opposed to Issue 4 and doesn't believe it makes economic sense.
"I don't think there are long-term benefits to having casinos in Arkansas," Davis said. "Go to the cities where casinos are now and you won't see any economic benefits of it. The proposed upside never pans out."
Hahn said he supports Issue 5, the proposed initiated act that would raise the state's minimum wage by $2.50 an hour to $11 by 2021.
"If you are working 40 hours a week at minimum wage then you are in the poverty level," Haun said. "That means you have to work 60 hours a week to just function."
Davis said he believes the plan to increase the minimum wage would be a mistake because he doesn't believe one can legislate the market.
"The end result would be less employment," he said. "It would also be a burden on nonprofits, and that is something nobody is talking about when it comes to this proposal."
Haun said he doesn't buy the argument that a minimum wage increase would be a job killer.
"The economy is supposed to be doing so great, why couldn't people get a living wage?" Haun said. "I also recognize I am not a business owner and don't know the burden that might be on them."
Metro on 10/27/2018