Columns

Thanksgiving is fast approaching. Last year, more than 54 million Americans traveled for the festivities. With Thanksgiving, in the midst of the rushing and the race to cook huge meals, people stop to give thanks for what they have. It is part of a long tradition that has spanned many generations.

LITTLE ROCK – The Arkansas legislature has tried to apply lessons learned by other states when it enacted school safety laws over the past several years. The legislature also applied the best practices recommended by the School Safety Commission in 2018 and 2022.

The U.S. House of Representatives is back in business. In just three days, we passed appropriations legislation to fund the legislative branch and the Department of the Interior and provide military assistance to Israel, all while reining in reckless government spending and bureaucracy. When the phrase, “power of the purse,” is invoked, the appropriations process is where Congress, and especially the House, has an opportunity to exercise that power.

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State Capitol Week in Review,October 27, 2023

One in every five students has a language-based learning disability, most commonly dyslexia. Although dyslexia is such a common condition and much headway has occurred, all too often schools are not well equipped to diagnose and treat it. Until identification of dyslexia is done in a much more timely and consistent manner, students will continue to be prevented from getting the services and accommodations that are in line with scientific, evidence-based practices which will greatly benefit them in learning to read. The consequences of inaction can cause lifelong harm, including lower career wages, reduced graduation rates, and even increased rates of incarceration.

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We elect them and expect them to do the right thing. We expect them to act responsible. We expect them to act like adults and govern with wise and selfless actions. We assume they are honest and trustworthy. (Well, we used to have hope that was the case.) Accountability is the key to keeping our elected honest. We do that by watching what they do. The local meeting times and locations are published and usually the same time every month. We try to make them and report on significant items. The more public people present at the meetings the more reasonable and accountable they are. The best way to influence their decisions is to contact your representative on the court, council or board.

State Capitol Week in Review,October 13, 2023

It’s hard to put into words the evil that is plaguing the Middle East right now. On Saturday, we woke to learn that Hamas terrorists launched an unprovoked attack on Israel with no regard for the lives of civilian men, women, children, or babies. Many people have never experienced or even imagined the violence and evil inflicted on innocent Israelis by the Hamas terrorists. It is a disgrace to humanity.

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State Capitol Week in Review,September 29, 2023