“I, ………..do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Arkansas, and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of………..,upon which I am now about to enter”.

Arkansas citizens are most certainly aware there have been a plethora of untoward conduct by some members, past and present, of Arkansas Legislative Assembly.

Wanting to demonstrate what an upstanding group of Arkansas legislators they are, said legislators authored a proposed piece of legislation HJR 1009 which is designed to enhance legislative ethics laws, among other things. The “among other things” is the crux of this piece.  HJR 1009 at the front-end bans legislators and constitutional officers from accepting gifts from lobbyists; banning corporate contributions to political candidates; establishing a commission to set salaries for legislators, etc.  Legislators know full well that Arkansans will welcome such an ethics enhancement and will not read the totality of HJR 1009 and eagerly vote yes.

Obviously, the proposed HJR 1009 demonstrates that state legislators, constitutional officers and judges are potentially corrupt and in all likelihood some that are absolutely corrupt; therefore forcing them to theoretically abide by their oaths of office.

On the back-end of HJR 1009 is the real unconstitutional deception and that’s being benevolent. The HJR 1009 proposal would allow legislators a total of 16 years in office instead of the current 14 year term limit voters approved in 1992.

The language contained in HJR 1009 that would increase term limits is added as a last addition to the proposed “ethics” bill. Citizens will be blindsided by the legislative deception that was orchestrated knowing full well that very few voting citizens will read the entirety of the ethics bill to finally get to the manipulated increase in term limits. This can only be described as a rogue legislative activity.   The proposal is unconstitutional.

Representative Warwick Sabin (D-LR) opines the proposal was thoroughly discussed in committees and on the floor in each chamber. Rep. Sabin failed to state that Arkansas citizens were not privy to such self-serving discussions: therefore could not disseminate their thoughts to their elected representatives.

Question:  Why would any of these elected officials propose to serve 16 years in the taxpayer trough?  Public Service or Self-Service? 

Now comes a state senator who apparently is unemployed (citizen legislator or professional?) and is championing HJR 1009 as an asset for better government.  The Senator in question is Jon Woods (R-Springdale) whose only credentials seem to be belonging to any number of social & political organizations, while claiming to be a “conservative”.

Senator Woods, in an age-old defense for spending a lifetime in the taxpayer’s trough, is the extension of term limits making it possible for legislators to gain more experience and knowledge in one chamber or the other.   Set aside a moment for a belly-laugh at this explanation.  Now the truth: His “experience and knowledge” statement is an affront to every Arkansan’s innate intelligence. What Woods is really saying; this affords politicians more time to manipulate and deceive, at the same time nesting in the squalor of Arkansas politics to extend their not so honorable quest for money & influence.

Do any of the readers of this piece know any elected, appointed government employee that is upholding his sworn oath to the two Constitutions?

HJR 1009 can only be described as self-serving corruption.  The Protection Racket in action.

Joe McCutchen
arkansasfreedom.net