It's never too early to start thinking about the next Arkansas General Assembly. Just because the last one is finished doesn't mean there won't be some good ideas for the next one. (No, really.)
For good and maybe best example, look west, young man: Arizona's governor just signed a bill that would allow anybody with a professional license in any other state to practice in Arizona. That state has become the first in the union to do such a thing. In all other states, if you move there, and your job requires a license, you have to go through that state's licensing hoops. Which not only puts an undue burden on professionals, but also would seem to be a disincentive to move. Arizona knows what it's doing. It's already one of the fastest-growing states.
The press and certain rabble-rousers, but we repeat ourselves, have questioned whether Arizona's governor is more interested in folks from other states moving there than his very own constituents. In other words, what's in it for us? Will this new law drive down wages for those already living in Arizona?
Gov. Doug Ducey's response: Nope.
"Not only is our GDP growing, but so are our wages," he said. "We have more jobs available than people to fill them."
Other states sometimes have reciprocity agreements in certain situations and for certain jobs. But this is thought to be the first time a state has flung open the doors.
"We know that whether you make your living as a plumber, a barber, a nurse or anything else, you don't lose your skills simply because you pack up a U-Haul truck and make the decision to move to Arizona," the governor said.
This is a big deal. Arkansas should follow suit.
Arkansas ranks among the most restrictive states when it comes to professional licenses. This state requires 140 days of training and two exams before it'll allow a manicurist to do your nails. You'd think the market would weed out those who do a bad job.
Researchers of a report called "License to Work" found Arkansas to be the third most restrictive state when it comes to these licenses. Here, you have to have a framed certificate to repair a door, or sand a floor, or install insulation, or to be a head coach for the local high school baseball team. You can't apply makeup, legally, without a license.
Talk about bricks in the wall. Should Arkansas, or any state for that matter, be in the business of stifling job creation? Should Arkansas, or any state for that matter, make its business climate less attractive for those willing to relocate?
Some licenses make sense. (There are degrees to these things.) If you're going to serve us leg of lamb, or operate on our leg, let's see the license. But Arkansas goes too far. How would it hurt to get rid of some of these licensing requirements? Are we really doing anybody any good to require licenses for those shampooing our hair?
And for those licenses that remain, why not follow Arizona's path and accept licenses from other states? Surely we're not concerned that a baseball coach's license given in Missouri won't live up to our standards.
From 1990 to 2000, the census showed that Arizona was the second-fastest growing state in the Union. Its population is already twice that of Arkansas. And the only thing green there is the occasional organ pipe cactus. Folks there are doing something right.
Let's copy some of it. Such as this latest idea on professional licenses.
Editorial on 05/03/2019