GOP leader to back key budget vote
updated: 02/22/2012 1:07 p.m. Discuss
The top Republican in the Arkansas House says he’ll support a key vote on the state’s budget, but says he’s still far from an agreement with Democratic Gov. Mike Beebe over proposed spending cuts.
Lawmakers reject proposal to stop paying dues
posted: 02/22/2012 10:40 a.m. Comment 1
Arkansas lawmakers have rejected a proposal for the state to stop paying dues for membership in two national legislative organizations.
Lawmakers hope for progress on state budget
posted: 02/22/2012 7 a.m. Discuss
Arkansas legislative leaders say they hope to soon end an impasse over the state budget bill that’s been delayed over a Republican push to cut more in agency spending.
Beebe says GOP plan puts 61 jobs in peril
updated: 02/21/2012 10:44 a.m. Comments 37
Gov. Mike Beebe’s office says a Republican plan to cut $21 million from the budget could result in the layoff of at least 61 state employees and could affect services ranging from firefighting to the state Crime Laboratory.
GOP leader scoffs at agency moans
posted: 02/21/2012 4:23 a.m. Comments 5
The Republican leader of the state House of Representatives said Monday that claims from state agency heads that cutting 3 percent from their budgets will lead to layoffs and fewer public services are a sign that they are not taking his budget proposal seriously. He said there are ways to cut spending without losing jobs or services.
Burris: Cuts can be made without layoffs
posted: 02/20/2012 11:32 a.m. Comment 1
The top Republican in the Arkansas House says his proposal to cut $21 million from the state’s budget can be achieved without laying off state workers or interrupting services.
May 7 hearing set for Arkansas redistricting lawsuit
posted: 02/15/2012 9:54 a.m. Discuss
A federal judge has scheduled a May 7 trial over a lawsuit that challenges the boundaries of a newly redrawn state Senate district in eastern Arkansas.
Hubbard, in hospital, hopes to be back at Capitol today
posted: 02/15/2012 9:24 a.m. Discuss
A state lawmaker who was hospitalized after suffering shortness of breath is expected to be discharged Wednesday morning.
Budget plans’ delay irks GOP legislators
posted: 02/15/2012 5:47 a.m. Comments 2
A move by a House Democratic committee chairman Tuesday to hold off consideration of budget proposals by Republicans has some legislators talking about holding up consideration of the governor’s proposed state budget, too.
Arkansas Speaker: Don't 'reinvent the budget wheel'
updated: 02/13/2012 12:36 p.m. Discuss
Arkansas lawmakers are returning to the Capitol to consider a $4.7 billion budget that calls for increasing spending on Medicaid and public schools.
Lawmakers back restoring 20 forestry jobs
posted: 01/31/2012 11:18 a.m. Discuss
Arkansas lawmakers are backing a proposal to restore 20 firefighting jobs to the financially troubled Arkansas Forestry Commission, even though the recommendation doesn’t include a way to pay for them.
Lawmakers back $250K for economic development
posted: 01/24/2012 9:46 a.m. Discuss
Arkansas lawmakers have given initial approval to using $250,000 from the state’s surplus to pay for regional economic development partnership grants.
Beebe proposes $163 million increase in budget
posted: 01/17/2012 9:29 a.m. Comments 8
Medicaid and public schools are expected to receive the bulk of spending increases under an otherwise flat $4.7 billion budget that Gov. Mike Beebe is presenting to legislators.
