Page 31 - ATR 2 2019 digital

in the governor’s conference room. The
case for a $400 million plan, which, he Governor Asa Hutchinson
says, was really a $500 million plan got AT-A-GLANCE
a lot of support among industry groups.
“But I reached the conclusion that
the most the people of Arkansas could Family: Wife, Susan; four children, Asa III, Sarah, John Paul and Seth;
afford would be a three-cent increase and six grandchildren, Asa IV, Abel, Malcolm, Ella Beth, Isabella and
in the gas tax. Industry was willing to John Pablo.
pay six cents on the diesel tax. When Favorite thing about Arkansas: It’s the people
you combine that with the other things, and I think the legislative session really speaks to the people of
it gives you a good start for a highway Arkansas that we’re not Washington politics. You have one third of the
plan, and then you add the $205 mil- Democrats voted for my tax bill. You’ve got the Senate majority leader
lion to the state from the half-cent Senate Pro Tem working on a EITC credit that many of the Democrats
extension of sales tax. That’s what I supported. So there’s just a lot of bipartisanship and probably the
thought we could do, what we could ask highway bill is a good reflection of that but I think it’s a spirit of
Arkansas. We can fight and be competitive, but boy, the pride in our
the people of Arkansas to support” state and the willingness to work together is what sets us apart.
Where did the 3- and 6-cent ceil-
ing come from? Best day on the job: Over at Children’s Hospital there’s
one wing that the children who are being cared for can look over and
“Quite frankly, it was polling data,” see the Capitol from their rooms. So every day as they’re recovering,
Hutchinson admits, that led him to the they’re looking at the Capitol. And so a number of times when they get
3-cent figure. “If you were going back out, the first thing that they want to see is the Governor’s office… I
to the people and asking for a nickel always bring them in, and for them to meet the Governor after they’ve
or more in gas taxes, the support went recovered from a serious illness over at Children’s Hospital and being
down fairly dramatically. They could able to inspire and encourage, those are good days.
support a modest increase. Three cents,
which is significant in terms of revenue
generated, was, to me, the sweet spot
that we could generate the support for
it. And I think it proved right, because
we got the votes for that. And of course,
the six cents is something that was
just a commitment from the trucking
industry who said, ‘This is what we can
handle.’”
Hutchinson says that any good
leader also has good instincts and expe-
riences that inform his or her decisions.
“I always go back to my rural roots of
my dad who happened to live on the “Good Roads Foundation, and from “She was a very tough negotiator.
farm and get in his truck and drive the Farm Bureau to the Asphalt Paving She was very clear on what was needed,
in to work. Well, people in Arkansas Association. But I was principally nego- and we were able, through the course of
live in rural areas, and then they will tiating with Shannon [Newton] and that weekend, to reach an agreement,”
drive into the cities to work. That 30, making sure that ... because they’re he says.
40 miles that they drive and how much taking the biggest hit … [Trucking is] Trucking wasn’t the only tough
they’re paying for gasoline makes a huge taking a six-cent increase, and if they’re negotiator. Legislators had strong opin-
difference in take home pay and provid- going to commit to six cents, then they ions on where the money would come
ing for your family.” wanted to make sure it’s something that from.
There were a lot of critical players they could get out and actively support.” Arkansas Speaker of the House
in the discussion. The highway com- From Arkansas Trucking of Representatives Matthew Shepherd
missioners were an important part of Association’s President Shannon wanted to make sure there was a
the messaging, and over that weekend, Newton, there was insistence that they contribution from general revenue.
Hutchinson was also working to brief get to a $300 million plan. That’s the Hutchinson agreed to tweak the plan to
them on his proposal. number that would make a six-cent die- satisfy those at the table without violat-
He lists other key stakeholders, sel tax increase worth it. 

ARKANSAS TRUCKING REPORT | Issue 2 2019 31