Sarah D. Wire
State capitol reporter
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Recent Stories
Beebe sees service sag, layoffs in GOP plan
posted: 02/22/2012 6:22 a.m. Comments 4
The Republican budget proposal will likely lead to at least 61 workers being laid off and services being cut, including closing a police training academy in Northwest Arkansas, keeping state parks open fewer hours and less money for rural community grants, Gov. Mike Beebe said Tuesday.
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.
GOP plan took a vexing route, legislator says
posted: 02/17/2012 5:41 a.m. Comments 6
House Budget Committee Chairman Kathy Webb, D-Little Rock, said Thursday that she’s confused and frustrated that the House Republican leader proposed a budget that provides $21 million less than the governor’s budget, rather than working through the process for a single, bipartisan version.
GOP sees Beebe’s budget as cuttable
posted: 02/16/2012 6:06 a.m. Comment 1
The Republican leader of the state House of Representatives announced Wednesday that his party’s state budget plan would be about $21 million smaller than Gov. Mike Beebe’s, giving some agencies 3 percent less than what Beebe proposed.
May 7 trial set for challenge on district lines
posted: 02/15/2012 6:10 a.m. Discuss
On May 7, a panel of three federal judges will hear a lawsuit challenging whether the state’s Senate districts were drawn to dilute black voters’ strength, according to court documents.
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.
State kicks off ’12 fiscal session
posted: 02/14/2012 4:44 a.m. Comments 3
Gov. Mike Beebe urged lawmakers Monday to do what he said voters intended when they created fiscal sessions : Approve a state budget and go home.
Ex-parliamentarian back in advisory role
posted: 02/14/2012 4:29 a.m. Discuss
After stepping down from his position last fall after 39 years, House Parliamentarian Tim Massanelli returned Monday to the Capitol as a part-time consultant.
GOP’s Cotton raises most in 4th District
posted: 02/12/2012 5:16 a.m. Discuss
Republican congressional candidate Tom Cotton reports raising twice as much in contributions in the campaign as his three Republican opponents combined, according to reports filed with the Federal Election Commission.
Senator still seeking drug-court funding
posted: 02/11/2012 5:07 a.m. Discuss
A state senator said Friday that he will try again to get $3 million from a state Tobacco Settlement Commission fund to pay for drug courts in fiscal 2013 because the governor didn’t propose a way to fund the courts in his fiscal 2013 budget request.
