Your voice DOES make a difference!

When the word got out that a resolution would come before the Public Health, Welfare, and Safety Committee of the Garland County Quorum Court that would declare Garland County a Pro-Life County, the Democrat Party of Garland County (DPGC) spread the word – come to the meeting and make your voice heard.

That word spread quickly among county Democrats, and an estimated 70 people, most opposed to the resolution, crowded the court chambers for the meeting. Approximately 20 people signed up to speak, all but four of them in opposition to the resolution. DPGC Chair Erin Holliday and several other DPGC members spoke about their personal experiences and, more generally, about why they felt the designation “Pro-Life County” would not accurately reflect the county as a whole and how it would hinder tourism and the retention of younger residents. The crowd made it clear that the Quorum Court, in approving this resolution, would be overstepping its bounds. When the vote was taken, the motion to forward the resolution to the full Quorum Court was defeated 4-3.

 

Jones to speak April 8 Kickin' Blue Dinner

Come mingle with your fellow-Democrats and hear Chris Jones share his ideas to grow the Democratic Party and his vision for the future. The event is April 8, from 6-8 p.m. at the Saline County Fairgrounds, 406 Fairfield Road in Benton. The Democratic Club of HSV has filled one table and we’re trying to fill more. Tickets are $30 per person and if you’re interested in sharing a table with your fellow HSV Democrats, email HSV Dems President ‘Nita Brown. Lots of great raffle items!

 

What's our State Sen. Matt McKee been up to?

Wrongful death for abortions - Our own State Senator Matt McKee is one of the sponsors of House Bill 1174, which would allow prosecution for wrongful death for anyone who has or performs an abortion at any stage at any stage of development. The bill defines an unborn child as an “offspring of human beings from fertilization until birth.”  It declares an emergency in the state due to “the risks to unborn children and their lack of protection under the law.” The bill also proposes to repeal laws that allow someone to “solicit, advise, encourage or coerce a pregnant woman to abort her unborn child.” The Arkansas code would redefine a “person” to include unborn children from the moment of fertilization. This bill was referred to the House Judiciary Committee.

On the flip side, a bill by Rep. Nicole Clowney (D-Fayetteville) that would create a critical exception to Arkansas’s almost total ban on abortion bans failed as expected Tuesday in the House Health, Welfare and Labor Committee. Clowney’s bill would have allowed for terminations when fetal anomalies are incompatible with life. The committee’s No vote means women in Arkansas carrying fetuses that are certain to die, either before birth or within hours or days after birth, still have no option but to carry their pregnancies to term. Read More

Child Labor Laws loosened - McKee’s concern for fertilized eggs doesn’t extend to children’s protection under the Child Labor Laws. His sponsorship of House Bill 1410, which Sanders has now signed into law, loosens those Child Labor Laws to create the “Youth Hiring Act of 2023.” This means businesses can hire 14- or 15-year-olds and no longer be required to submit written proof to the Department of Labor to verify that the child is old enough to work and that their hours of work comply with the law. Children 14 and 15 years old were already able to get jobs, but the state Department of Labor recognized that their young age required another layer of protection in the hiring process. The bill, says McKee, is only to “restore decision making to parents concerning their children.” The bill apparently assumes that all parents are diligent about ensuring the safety of their children in the workforce. Many child advocates around the state wrote and called their legislators urging them to vote no.

You might remember that in February, the U.S. Department of Labor said they found 102 children ages 13-17 were found working overnight shifts in plants in Arkansas and across the country. Read More

Bill to reduce unemployment benefits - McKee has been a busy bee - he is a co-sponsor of a House Bill 1430, which has passed the House and Senate, that will place Arkansas at the bottom, tied with one other state, in its support for workers qualifying for unemployment benefits. It reduces the maximum period that a person can get unemployment benefits from 4 months to 3 months. This will result in a lower unemployment tax rate for employers.
Did Sen. McKee consider that this is being done while the wealthy are having their state income tax reduced, Arkansas state government has a record surplus, corporate profits are at all-time highs, and the price of food and other necessities are increasing dramatically? Maybe we should ask him! Matt.mckee@senate.ar.gov

 

Bill would require signatures from 50 counties for ballot petitions

If citizens want to get an amendment on the Arkansas ballot, they will need get signatures from voters in 50 counties instead of 15 if Arkansas House Bill 1419 (sponsored by Rep. Kendon Underwood, R-Cave Springs and Sen. Jim Dotson  R-Bentonville) is signed into law. This will make it more difficult to get an issue before the voters. The original bill would have required 75 percent of voters in 50 counties to sign the petition, but has since been amended to stick with the 50 percent of voters required in the Arkansas constitution.  READ MORE