Major General Smedley Butler said “War is a Racket”, perhaps he should have expanded and said “Government is a Racket”.                                                                        March 26, 2011

Rep. Tracy Pennartz and her 39 fellow travellers have again betrayed the Constitution and middleclass Arkansans by voting to kill HB 2007—TO REQUIRE THE WRITTEN EXAMINATION FOR A DRIVER’S LICENSE TO BE ADMINISTERED IN ENGLISH ONLY. 

In this case Pennartz and others have put the corrupt Catholic Charities, employers of illegals, etc. ahead of the U.S. and Arkansas Constitutions. 

On the heels of the above betrayal comes another one of Gov. Mike Beebe’s and the legislature’s egregious attacks on taxpaying citizens by awarding an additional $55.1 million to the government school slush fund.  Recall that President Barack Obama and on his orders the Federal Reserve printed $90 million out of thin air, allegedly for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, also known as STIMULUS was transmitted to Beebe for distribution to Arkansas teachers as a “bonus”.   A bonus for what?  Nothing more than a vote buying scheme for Democrats. Recall that the $90 million was purported to be used for infrastructure and teachers laid off by the depression.  No teachers have been laid off in Arkansas.

An FOIA was filed on 12/27/10 with the Arkansas Dept. of Education to the attention of Dr. Tom Kimbrell pertaining to the disbursement of the $90 million.  Essentially the response was “we do not have that information”, “it will not be provided until it is audited”, “we do not know when the audit will take place”, “good luck”. 

To demonstrate the incredible abuse of Arkansans and the use of the $90 million “Stimulus”, look no further than the Fort Smith school district. Unbeknown to most folks, Fort Smith teachers have a negotiating team (as in government unions, note that no one represents the producers).  The negotiators claim they are entitled (entitled?) to $2,646,072 of the stimulus package.  Entitlement is the mindset, not only of welfare recipients, but of government employees.

The Fort Smith  breakdown has become known and follows:  Even though there has not been a budget shortfall in the Fort Smith district, the administration has dedicated $570,394,000 to retaining jobs. They are then going to award $222,775 to hire new employees (more government expansion).  Leftover to be divvied up to F.S. district employees is $1,852,903 as bonuses (for what? Certainly not success).  These funds will be distributed to certified & classified staff in the following manner:

Certified Staff = $800 (enjoined with this so-called bonus is a raise in base salary for the 2011-2012 school year of $486)

Classified Staff = $500, along with a Base Raise

Bus drivers =$260, along with a Base Raise   (Referencing bus drivers, does this mean teachers who also drive buses will get a second check?)

Shades of Madison!

In all likelihood, in addition to the unearned bonuses the teachers have and are receiving, they and other government employees will receive a 2% cost of living raise and possibly a 1.8% raise.  Giving teachers in addition to their bonuses, 2 raises and possibly a 3^rd.  Not bad for a failure rate of 51% of students who require remedial education upon entering a college or university.

Another slap in the face of Arkansas producers, i.e. those who generate the funds to keep the bloated, over-staffed, inept Arkansas state government afloat.   By giving all state employees a 2% cost of living raise and in that mix a strong possibility that the same individuals will also get a 1.8% raise.

Our former republic, in the throes of bankruptcy, and the governor & legislature have the audacity to bestow this type of unearned largesse to state employees as though they were an endangered species, and in the face of massive unemployment.  They show no respect for or gratitude to the constituencies they are hired to represent, this coupled with the fact that 35% of Arkansans are on some type of traditional welfare and thousands of illegals are wallowing in massive amounts of non-mandated welfare that citizens are not privy to, all compliments of the complicit Governor and feckless legislature.

Gov. Beebe has increased the size of state government by over 4,000 employees since he was elected.

The sad fact has become, if the citizens know the religion, the race, the political party and employment of a legislator, they will immediately know how that politician will vote.

The Democrat Party is rapidly deconstructing the United States of America, e.g. what used to be called public schools are now only indoctrination centers that enhance the quest for globalization.

Kindest regards,

Joe McCutchen

Fort Smith

Cc: citizens

arkansasfreedom.net