LEARNS, taxes, transparency split GOP candidates in some Arkansas legislative primaries

From the Arkansas Advocate:

Tax cuts, school vouchers and the state Freedom of Information Act are all hot-button issues for several Arkansas Republicans vying for seats in the state Legislature, including several incumbents who are fighting to appear on the November ballot.

A few of the challengers in the upcoming primary have run for legislative offices before, have already served in the Legislature or have family ties to former lawmakers.

“This is the people’s job,” said Timmy Reid, a cattle farmer and contractor from Marshall who is running for the House for the fourth time since 2018. “…It doesn’t matter what I want — if the people of my district decide they don’t want [something], I’m not voting for it or supporting it.”

LEARNS, taxes, transparency split GOP candidates in some Arkansas legislative primaries

Dwain Hebda/Arkansas Advocate

The Arkansas State Capitol.

Arkansas attorney general approves FOIA amendment title

KUAR | By Josie Lenora

Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin has approved the title of a proposed amendment to enshrine the Freedom of Information Act in the state constitution.

The proposal was put forth by Arkansas Citizens for Transparency (ACT). The group hopes to get a constitutional amendment put on the ballot in November called the “The Arkansas Government Transparency Act.”

The law would enshrine the Freedom of Information Act in the State constitution. This comes after Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders made moves to weaken FOIA last year.

Arkansas attorney general approves FOIA amendment title

Daniel Breen/Little Rock Public Radio

Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin on Wednesday approved language of an amendment title to enshrine FOIA in the state constitution.

Auditor: Investigation into Arkansas governor’s lectern purchase unlikely to end this year

From the Arkansas Advocate:

The investigation into Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ controversial lectern purchase and effort to shield records related to her security detail likely won’t be finished this year, the lead auditor at Arkansas’ nonpartisan agency that investigates government spending said Wednesday.

Sanders’ office drew widespread attention in September for the purchase of a $19,000 lectern and carrying case from a Virginia-based event design and management firm with political ties to Sanders.

Attorney and blogger Matt Campbell of the Blue Hog Report has spent months using the state Freedom of Information Act to report and scrutinize Sanders’ use of state funds and resources. He posted an invoice on X (formerly Twitter) on Sept. 15 that showed the lectern was purchased in June. (Campbell is now a reporter at the Arkansas Times.)

Auditor: Investigation into Arkansas governor’s lectern purchase unlikely to end this year

Arkansas Legislature

Frank Arey, a staff attorney with Arkansas Legislative Audit, discusses an ongoing audit into Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ controversial lectern purchase and effort to shield records related to her security detail before the Legislative Joint Auditing Executive Committee on Wednesday, November 8, 2023.

Gov. Sanders sued by blogger Matt Campbell over FOIA denial

by Roby Brock (roby@talkbusiness.net)

Blue Hog Report blogger and attorney Matt Campbell said he filed a lawsuit in Pulaski County Court late Tuesday (Oct. 24) against Gov. Sarah Sanders for her office’s denial of a request for documents under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act.

The lawsuit, which Campbell said was filed late Tuesday afternoon but has not been processed by the court, claims the governor is in violation of the FOIA for not providing information requested. Sanders’ legal counsel, Cortney Kennedy, told Campbell the documents he was seeking are covered under the governor’s working papers exemption.

On Monday, Oct. 23, Campbell requested electronic copies by email of emails to or from First Gentleman Bryan Sanders, a copy of his Outlook calendar, and “bills of lading and other documents” that show the shipping or delivery of a $19,000 lectern ordered from Beckett Events.

Gov. Sanders sued by blogger Matt Campbell over FOIA denial

Freedom of Information Act advocates ready to unveil constitutional amendment proposal

by Roby Brock (roby@talkbusiness.net)

By next week, expect to see the first draft of a proposed constitutional amendment that would enshrine the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) into the Arkansas Constitution.

Appearing on this week’s edition of Capitol View, attorney David Couch – who has successfully led ballot initiative campaigns in recent years – said the group he is working with to place an amendment to protect Arkansas’ Freedom of Information Act into the state constitution should have a draft to share publicly.

“There has been a group of us that have been working diligently for the last few weeks on a draft of the amendment. I think that we’re probably going to release it early next week because since this is openness and transparency, we’re going to be open and transparent,” he said.

Freedom of Information Act advocates ready to unveil constitutional amendment proposal

Gov. Sanders signs FOIA bill, says she is not finished with ‘government efficiency’

by Michael Tilley (mtilley@talkbusiness.net)

A vastly different bill amending the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) than what she initially wanted has been signed by Gov. Sarah Sanders. The Arkansas House and Senate approved this week FOIA changes that address only a governor’s travel records.

The Arkansas General Assembly was called into Special Session on Monday (Sept. 11) to consider bills related to tax rate changes and what was then a bill that included broad changes to the state’s FOIA.

Gov. Sanders initially asked for a bill that would change FOIA provisions by including the federal exemption that would significantly limit the information available about the deliberations of officials at state agencies, recommendations about policy, and other governance matters. She said at the time the effort was about making the government more efficient.

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/09/gov-sanders-signs-foia-bill-says-she-is-not-finished-with-government-efficiency/

Gov. Sarah Sanders speaks about the Special Session Thursday before signing approved legislation into law. To the left is Sen. Bart Hester, R-Cave Springs and Senate president, and on the right is Rep. Matthew Shepherd, R-El Dorado and House Speaker.

Consensus elusive on changes to Arkansas’ FOIA; lengthy Senate hearing ends without a vote (Updated)

by Michael Tilley (mtilley@talkbusiness.net)

The struggle continues in the Arkansas Senate to come up with proposed Freedom of Information Act changes that will placate Gov. Sarah Sanders on one side and FOIA advocates on the other.

That struggle included a more than five-hour Senate committee hearing Tuesday (Sept. 12) on a new bill that had minor changes compared with the original proposal that was pulled Monday after public opposition caused some legislators to withdraw support.

Gov. Sarah Sanders wanted a bill that would change FOIA provisions by including the federal exemption that would significantly limit the information available about the deliberations of officials at state agencies, recommendations about policy, and other governance matters. The original bill would also exempt from FOIA any records about “planning or provision of security services provided to the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, the Attorney General, the Secretary of State, the Auditor of State, the Treasurer of State, the Commissioner of State Lands, members of the General Assembly, Justices of the Supreme Court, or Judges of the Court of Appeals.”

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/09/consensus-elusive-on-changes-to-arkansas-foia-lengthy-senate-hearing-ends-without-a-vote-updated/

Sen. Bart Hester, R-Cave Springs and Senate president, presents SB 9 to the State Agencies and Governmental Affairs Committee.

Lawmakers offer narrower change to Arkansas FOIA after bipartisan pushback

KUAR | By Tess Vrbin / Arkansas Advocate

After two days of bipartisan backlash against proposed changes to Arkansas’ Freedom of Information Act, lawmakers late Tuesday filed narrower legislation to exempt information related to security services provided to the governor and other state officials. It’s the third attempt in as many business days to alter the state’s 1967 public records law.

The first version of the legislation, filed Friday upon Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ call for a special legislative session this week, did not have enough support to advance in the House or Senate on Monday.

A second bill filed Monday night met opposition from nearly two dozen people Tuesday in a five-hour hearing before the Senate Committee on State Agencies and Governmental Affairs, which did not vote on the bill.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2023-09-13/lawmakers-offer-narrower-change-to-arkansas-foia-after-bipartisan-pushback

John Sykes/Arkansas Advocate

Jimmie Cavin, right, is escorted from the Senate State Agencies & Governmental Affairs Committee meeting by a State Capitol Police officer after being told to leave by committee chairman Sen. Blake Johnson, R-Corning. Cavin had been expressing his opposition to SB9, which would make changes to the state’s Freedom of Information Act when he and Johnson exchanged heated words.

AG Griffin says FOIA law needs to modernize

by Roby Brock (roby@talkbusiness.net)

Pointing to a need for privacy in sensitive situations, Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin said Sunday (July 2) the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) needs to change to adapt to modern times.

“One thing I want to mention that really is driving a lot of my interest here was the ransomware issue with Little Rock School District. The Little Rock School District was a victim of a ransomware [attack]. And the way the FOIA law is currently written, they have to discuss their strategy on dealing with ransomware in public. That’s ridiculous,” Griffin said. “That’s like asking the U.S. Army to strategize and plan a battle in public… We’ve got to change that.”

Griffin, who announced last month he was forming a working group of legislators and FOIA stakeholders to advise him privately, appeared on this week’s Capitol View and Talk Business & Politics programs. He said there was a legislative commission report from the year 2000 that contemplated technological changes that would require amending the FOIA law.

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/07/ag-griffin-says-foia-law-needs-to-modernize/

Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin.