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high as $4 million. and he has said he will campaign for
Newton said polling done before the amendment’s passage.
the session was encouraging, with more “That’s a huge asset and will make
than 60 percent showing support. If the a really big difference in the campaign,” “I THINK THEY [AT ATA]
campaign can merely hold its ground, Newton said. “He’s a very popular WERE KEY. THEY’RE A
it will succeed. To do that, it will need governor. He’s in support of this plan, FORCE DOWN HERE,
to show Arkansans how they’ll person- and this half-cent sales tax is part of
ally benefit. The Arkansas Department that plan, and so his willingness to stay AND TRYING TO PASS
of Transportation will present a 10-year engaged and help us see that through THIS WITHOUT THEIR
map showing coming improvements. will be, I think, really important. And SUPPORT WOULD HAVE
Cities and counties will also need to we’re very grateful for that.”
show voters how local roadways will The governor expressed support BEEN IMPOSSIBLE.”
improve. They’ll have a big incentive to for extending the half-cent sales tax
do so because they would see a 40 per- before the session, but the overall plan’s —SENATE PRESIDENT PRO
cent decrease in turnback funds in 2023 details took shape over time. Joe Quinn, TEMPORE JIM HENDREN,
if the tax isn’t extended. Arkansas Good Roads Foundation R-SULPHUR SPRINGS
“The ability to communicate how it executive director, said coalition mem-
matters to regular people is important bers wanted to ensure the final funding
and maybe something that we haven’t amount would be high enough to end
done very well before,” she said. “But the conversation about road funding for was agreeing that this was a quality of
if you start talking about being late to a while. The stakeholder groups were life issue, that this would have a very
piano practice or a school bus or things unified throughout the process. real impact on the future of our state,
that matter to average Arkansans, that “There was never a lot of dissen- and people were just doing the right
we’re not talking just about interstate sion, even with the door closed,” he thing. They were activating their mem-
commerce and capacity of the inter- said. “I mean, even in the discussions at bers and motivating their stakeholders
states, we’re talking about the road to the very heart of the session, everybody 
your house. People understand that, and
the majority of people are having a less
than fantastic experience on the roads
that they travel every day.” FULLY CONNECTED
Part of the campaign’s message will
be that voters will not be asked to pay
a new tax, but instead continue pay- Comprehensive
ing a tax they are already paying, albeit
one that was set to expire. Moreover,
this will be a permanent solution to a Safety Solutions & Services
pressing state problem. And unlike the
Connecting Arkansas Program, the tax
will raise funding on a pay-as-you go • Driver & Vehicle Files
basis rather than a bond issue, which
consumed 28 percent of the CAP’s • Log Violations
funding in finance costs.
• Drug & Alcohol Testing
ALLIES AND DISSENTERS • DOT Physicals
Hutchinson will be an important
ally. After spending his first term focus- • Driver Performance
ing on other priorities, he made high-
ways a campaign issue in 2018. Before
the session, he made it clear highways
would be one of his top priorities along 833.255.5046
with a top rate income tax cut, reducing
the number of state agencies from 42 to infostreamonline.com
15, and increasing teacher salaries. The
highway plan will be part of his legacy,

ARKANSAS TRUCKING REPORT | Issue 2 2019 ATR-third-page-ad-April.indd 1 4/2/2019 1:46:56 PM 39