The House Caucus met yesterday to review possible rule changes for the body.  With a financial session beginning in 2010, legislators had been prohibited from raising money 30 days before or after the session.  The new rule eliminates fundraising only during the actual session.  Speaker Robbie Wills supported the measure.

Talking later to reporters, Wills said he did not propose banning contributions 30 days before and after fiscal sessions because that would have posed a problem for members seeking re-election. The fiscal sessions will convene in even-numbered years — i.e., election years.

“You get the calendar out and you back out 30 days from the end of the longest fiscal session, and you’re right up on a primary election,” Wills said. “With a 30-day before-and-after blackout, it’s not an inconvenience, it’s a hardship on a sitting member of the House of Representatives.”

In a peculiar move, House members voted against a measure that would have required them to travel the least expensive route for any out-of-state travel.  Members cited the impracticality of monitoring airfare, setting up unintended consequences.  Look for the proposal to return in a revised mannder.  Ann Clemmer (R – Benton) proposed the failed measure.

One year later, Gov. Beebe still believes the people of Arkansas got it wrong.  And he is not afraid to say so.  I guess with a 79% approval rating you can pretty well say what you want. 

Gov. Mike Beebe said today (Wednesday) he still opposes an initiated act voters approved last year banning unmarried couples from adopting or fostering children, and he thinks the law has hindered the state’s ability to recruit qualified parents.Selection of adoptive and foster parents “should be handled on a case-by-case basis based on what is the best interest of the child,” Beebe told reporters after signing a proclamation declaring November Adoption Awareness Month in the state.

The Family Council would have you believe that all kids that grow up in a “typical” household with a married mom and dad grow up to be perfect little angles.  But their executive director proves the theory wrong.  He grew up with a strong nuclear family, but Jerry Cox is still an enormous douchebag.